[Cob] Thermal attic/PET offgassing?

[Shody Ryon]

Hi Jill
I hope that it is ok if I point out the benefits of thermal storage in 2L+/- plastic bottles. It is not something I have come up with out of thin air; as far as I know, http://www.thermalattic.com/ is the origin of the idea, and it seems to have been well thought out, considering the inventor is very intelligent and has been designing and building solar heated homes for 25 or 30 years! 
I remember as a child, being introduced to science with a number of experiments. One was boiling water in a paper cup over a torch. The rim pf the cup burned off, however the rest of the cup remained in tact. 

Plastic, when exposed to fire can produce some toxic fumes, especially PVC which was commonly used in carpet and water supply lines in the USA. When a person dies or gets injured from smoke inhalation, I suspect that it might involve fire with PVC (poly vinyl chloride) products. At any rate, anyone who is in a fire, I was informed by a plumber (?) years ago, should get as low to the floor as possible, if the floor isn't smoking, and breath the air from that location.

While carpeting may have some insulating qualities, It appears to me that the benefit of the thermal storage using this system out weighs the potential hazards.

Laren has stated that the plastic bottles, filled with water has the potential of helping to extinguish a fire, and could target a fire below if the hot air from the fire rose straight up and melted the plastic bottle. 

I fail to see possible fire as reason not to have plastic water bottles placed high in one's home.

However I do enjoy reading and responding to reasons not to build a thermal attic.

Typically, combustible items are located in a home, including matches, oil, books, paper and a computer.
If a roof fire is real possibility and the fire protection angle is not "bought" by the project manager, thermal storage could be located in a large "thermal closet", under the floor or in a fireproof out building. Alternatively, if anyone has experience with their plastic water bottle catching fire, please share that experience.

Come to think of it, I had a glass water bottle begin to start a fire in the front of my car; it had focused sunlight on the seat back and the seat was smoking! I happened to notice it before real damage occurred.

The thermal attic is not supposed to be exposed to sunlight.

If it is ok to discuss this on this list, I am happy to, if anyone would prefer to contact me off list, you are welcome to

Shody

--- On Sun, 4/5/09, Jill Hogan <jill.hogan at mat.org.za> wrote:

> From: Jill Hogan <jill.hogan at mat.org.za>
> Subject: Re: [Cob] Thermal attic/PET offgassing?
> To: "Shody Ryon" <qi4u at yahoo.com>, coblist at deatech.com
> Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009, 4:03 PM
> 
> 

> Can't see plastic bottles would give you this
> protection in fact know someone to 
> my horror uses plastics bottles to light his
> barbecue.
>  
> We predominantly use this 
> method now.
>  
> Regards Jill
> McGregor Alternative Technology Centre
> "MAT"
> 023 625 
> 1533
> www.mat.org.za
>