One balcony
One potted plant
One cigarette disposed of into potted plant
One fire
Ten Million dollars in damages
Sixty condo’s destroyed or severely damaged.
Hundreds of people lose homes, possessions.

Zero loss of human life
Zero loss of fur kids.

Cheap building construction blamed by some-vinyl siding and OSB and defective fire walls to blame?

Time to ban smoking on balconies? Or plants?

From CTV News Edmonton

Read more: http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/damage-estimate-for-condo-fire-increases-to-10m-1.1928218#ixzz38Ot0dd9p

This slide presentation by Jim Katen of the Oregon Association of Home Inspectors discuses waterproof decks and their issues.

Take a look by clicking here to OASHI.org‘s website page

It appears that Skyline Building Systems Inc of Alberta Canada has become the first manufacturer to get an ICC-ES report on a non rated deck system.

What’s a non-rated deck? A non-rated deck is one that doesn’t meet any fire resistance classification requirements.

ICC-ES recently changed AC-39, the acceptance criteria that regulates/guides the decking industry. It used to be that one had to have a deck coating that was at least Class A or B, now with ICC-ES’ new AC-39, they have opened the door to any manufacturer bringing in traffic coatings that are only tested for Durability, Wind Uplift Resistance and Impact resistance.

Read Skyline’s ICC report here; pay attention to 1.0 Properties Evaluated 

Now read Desert Brand’s ICC report here; pay attention to 1.0 Properties Evaluated.

See the difference? One is fire rated, one is not. Which would you rather have on your deck?
ICC-ES is just looking for more income; the more manufacturer’s they can “sell” a report to, the more $ they make. Only makes sense to open reports up to non fire rated products for them.

But it makes no sense whatsoever for the public. Unethical manufacturer’s (I can think of one who might fit that description, in my opinion) could mis-use this type of report. More likely unethical or unknowing contractors could use this type of report to dupe a client.
 Non-rated products will certainly find their way onto walkways and decks that are supposed to be rated. Whose ass will it be when a person loses their life because of that? Walkways and decks are supposed to be rated for fire in almost every case I am aware of.
We’ll see… 

A leak blamed on my new deck coating is actually from the cleanout on the drainpipe…it's cracked and drips when the line is full of water!
Bill leys

here lies the remains of a railing base on a ocean facing condo in ventura ca. rip ole friend!
Bill leys