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S2EP7: Learning From the LA Fires: The Critical Design Flaw That's Destroying Homes
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Less than 2% of homes survived the devastating LA fires, and they all share one critical feature that most builders ignore.
Four months after the LA fires destroyed over 16,000 homes across 50,000 acres, a clear pattern has emerged among the few structures left standing. I've been analyzing what separates the homes that survived from the thousands that burned to the ground. So let's chat about it, because the answer may not by what you expect.
The common denominator isn't expensive fire-resistant materials or elaborate sprinkler systems. It's the attic design. While most homes burned from the inside out due to their ventilated attics acting like wind tunnels that pulled in fire embers and fueled the flames, the surviving homes had sealed, non-combustible attics that prevented embers from entering and eliminated the airflow that feeds fires.
This isn't just a California problem. Ventilated attics create issues in every climate zone, from ice damming in freezing climates to mold problems in humid areas.
In today's episode, we're chatting about:
• Why ventilated attics act as fire accelerants during wildfires
• The specific design features that saved homes in both LA and Laguna Beach fires
• How sealed attics solve problems beyond fire resistance in every climate
• Why retrofitting existing homes requires careful architectural planning
• The construction cost considerations and performance benefits of sealed attics
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