To the editor: When considering updates to building codes for better fire resistance, it’s crucial to recognize that opting for tilt-up concrete structures might not be the ideal solution. One reason for this is these buildings’ increased rigidity, which makes them vulnerable in the face of earthquakes.
Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the American Welding Society’s Structural Welding Code received a Seismic Addendum. This update was created to address concerns about the rigidity of steel-frame buildings, which had experienced fractures during the quake. On the other hand, wood-frame buildings possess a degree of flexibility that can enhance their resilience.
There are practical strategies available that can significantly minimize the risk of embers infiltrating and igniting structures. Implementing these can greatly reduce the intensity of a fire.
Sincerely,
Alan Johnson, Seal Beach
Alan Johnson is a retired certified welding inspector and formerly served on the American Welding Society’s committee focused on structural welding.
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To the editor: The question isn’t whether it will happen, but simply when it will happen. And the reality is, it’s not hard to foresee.
For those residing in fire-vulnerable regions, all imaginable precautions can be taken—from clearing brush to a distance of 100 feet from buildings to installing irrigation systems and cultivating fire-retardant plants. However, even with all these measures, the risk persists.
It’s perplexing why insurance companies offer policies in these high-risk areas, and it’s even more baffling how municipal authorities in places like Los Angeles still allow homes to be constructed there.
While wood is flammable and steel can melt, even homes built of concrete with tile roofs can only withstand wildfire conditions for so long.
Regards,
Dave Simon, North Hollywood
Dave Simon is a landscape architect.
