I Wonder If

[echnidna]

I Wonder If it is economically possible to build a relocateable fire safety shelter that could withstand bushfires.

[wheelinround]

I Wonder If it is economically possible to build a relocateable fire safety shelter that could withstand bushfires.

Bob
Why build one when a shipping container is ideal, although these can take some serious heat whats inside has been know to combust. The solve the problem of moving to
Cheap as chips for approx $2k a 25ft x 8.5ft w for approx $2k try e-pay


Ray

[Groggy]

I should imagine you could easily build a heat reflector type shed out of iron on the frame of a trailer. It would need iron on the outside to defend against combustibles and raw heat, have several very thick layers of insulation, be able to be strongly anchored to the ground and have an air supply inside plus water etc. You would have to have skirts reaching the ground so you did not get heat underneath and turn it into a grill. Even then it would only be suitable till the fire had flashed over. Having fought some serious fires first-hand the best defence for a novice is still flight well beforehand. They simply cannot comprehend the heat and ferocity of a wildfire so they underestimate it.

If you want to stay I reckon the best defence is a proper in-ground shelter, even then lack of oxygen and smoke can be a killer. I would not feel comfortable in something like this either.

[Shedhand]

Bring back under-slab basements with an emergency supply of compressed air bottles and breathing masks. Wouldn't need a big supply as any fire will soon pass over a burned out house. Would add little to the cost of a home construction I'd think. Only in bush-fire prone areas.

[echnidna]

that would work but it won't help people in existing houses.

ps I'd love a basement but I'm not gunna dig a room out by hand

[Gra]

One of the guys that survived yesterday, did use a shipping container, it was encased in cement He had to use a wet towel to open the door after the fire front had passed it was that hot.

[RETIRED]

Bring back under-slab basements with an emergency supply of compressed air bottles and breathing masks. Wouldn't need a big supply as any fire will soon pass over a burned out house. Would add little to the cost of a home construction I'd think. Only in bush-fire prone areas.

The biggest problem with this is that the house collapses on top of it.

[mic-d]

What about a reflective insulated shield that floated on water? Throw it in the swimming pool and get under it. A hose to a bottle of compressed air under water provides air and a positive pressure to keep ash etc out. Could be used in a pool, dam. Made small or large for a community pool. Don't have a pool? Establish a community network of equipped pools to retreat to.


Cheers
Michael

[fxst]

I'm with groggy on this one. Having fought a couple bushfires in my youth the safest thing is run away from them and hope your insurance co is honest.
How erver if ringed by fire which can and has happened then a safe shelter would be niceto have. The problem then is people would stay as why run if we have a shelter??
I would still evacuate and hope any lowlife taking advantage would be consumed by the flames..get em ready for the afterlife......if there is one of course

[echnidna]

I'm with groggy on this one. Having fought a couple bushfires in my youth the safest thing is run away from them and hope your insurance co is honest.
How erver if ringed by fire which can and has happened then a safe shelter would be niceto have. The problem then is people would stay as why run if we have a shelter??
I would still evacuate and hope any lowlife taking advantage would be consumed by the flames..get em ready for the afterlife......if there is one of course

I totally agree with Groggy & you, one bushfire is enough,
But if you get caught by surprise before you can SAFELY evacuate it would be practical to have a last minute fallback position.

[echnidna]

The cellar idea could work but as mentined debris could be a problem exiting.
You could also have a cellar under a shed, or perhaps even use a mechanics pit in a garage or shed.

[RETIRED]

Many moons ago when I was a mere lad I was involved in fighting the fires in the Otways.

Through no fault of our own we got trapped and the fire nearly engulfing us.

The crew captain at that time was an old fire fighter. He told us to dig a slit trench and get in, cover ourselves with a blanket or canvas beaters and pull dirt over ourselves leaving the blanket to cover our faces.

The fire came over the top of us and destroyed the truck but we all survived albeit with some minor burns.

[bsrlee]

Shipping containers by themselves are too high - too much surface exposed to radiant heat. Also carbon steel is too good a conductor. I've seen a few that have been thru' minor fires and they went 'woof' - even had welded patches fall off.

A 'portable' shelter would be a low structure, with crawl in access only, lie down on the floor. Probably dual wall stainless steel (a relatively poor conductor) with a layer of 'blown' aluminium oxide - the stuff they use for pottery kiln walls - between the skins.

The under floor 'atomic bunker' has a lot going for it for most people. Just plan it when building a shed or doing some other renovation, dig a big hole, concrete walls & floor, access/escape tunnel that leads away from any buildings, basic cast bench seating, trap door in roof to load supplies in when things get hairy. There are quite a few on-line articles from the 1950-60's era on DIY atomic shelters for some ideas.

If you don't need it constantly stocked up you could use a concrete inground rain tank as the basis, just pump out the water when you need to hide, lower in supplies & essentials thru' the roof hatch then 'fort up' until the threat has passed.

[echnidna]

The problem with underground is how do you keep them down.
I've seen empty concrete septic tanks float up after a long wet spell

[mic-d]

swimming pool swimming pool swimming pool

that's my other cat cassie, her turn for a while...
Cheers
Michael