Non-combustible buildings
Why is the street in the first picture so wide? Why such a poor use of land? The answer can be found in the fire hydrant lost in the high grass on the right. As discussed in Jim Bacon's op-ed article Design by Fire Truck, the Fire Marshall wants wide roads so he can maneuver his fire trucks with ease in the event of a building fire. Incidentally, this photograph is of a partially finished suburban subdivision. This is as far as they got before the 2008 crash brought a halt to new sprawl.
In contrast consider this ten-year old built street in Prince Charles' Poundbury.
Built with comparable concern for public safety, instead of demanding wide streets to Park and turn around large fire apparatus, public safety was achieved by the use of non-combustible materials; a different outlook on how to protect people and property.
In a ten year period, Poundbury's Dorset Fire & Rescue Service reported no building fires... Why not?
Because the buildings are Masonry Noncombustible. When one builds to the standards of the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) Class 4 and the International Building Code (IBC) Class II-a, public safety is attained not by having easy access by big trucks to put out fires, but by making buildings that do not burn. If the floors, ceilings and roofs are made noncombustible then the only thing that can burn are the contents... furniture, curtains, etc. If all rooms have sprinklers, this further reduces the risk to public safety. Finally if the exterior walls and roof of each building have a fire resistance rating in excess of four hours, then any fire that does break out will remain contained within that building and not spread.
Wouldn't you like to live with low home insurance rates, safe, quiet structures, and a great family-friendly community? Join us.
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