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More Pyrolysis

I don't mean to hijack Steve's blog on Pyrolysis, but it is an issue that I wanted to address anyway. I know Steve is desperate to stay ahead of me in points so he can have these:) The following pictures are of perhaps the best example of Pyrolysis that I have seen. These pictures were from a four unit Apartment building built in the 30's. All of the units had these ancient electric wall heaters and the woodwork behind the metal frames of the heaters was all charcoal. One of the unit's residents was so aware of the potential safety hazard that all of their curtains where held away from the heaters with rocks on top of the curtain ends on the window sills above the heaters. I think the hardest thing to understand is why didn't the building go up in flames? This is one of those things that are not going to be an immediate hazard, but over time a "perfect storm" is brewing. pyrolysis

The digital thermometer is reading the wood temperature above the heater. pyrolysis

Charles Buell

www.buellinspections.com

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector on 01/26/2008 09:21 AM

Comments (7)

pyrolysis, fire safety, electrical safety, overheating, seattle home inspectors, ashi, nachi, inspection education

Originally posted at: Seattle Home Inspector's Blog: More Pyrolysis

Post is included in group: Property Inspection Discussion

7 Comments on More Pyrolysis

JAN

2008

HHHmmm, That is interesting. Can't say I've ever seen that before. Thanks for sharing.

Sean Allen

Interesting, as well. Wood at that temp must be close to starting a real fire.... Pyrolysis, I never heard the word.

The word in the title caught me too. But yes, older buildings present some unique challenges in the inspection.

Vickie Nagy http://www.besttrivalleyhomes.com/

Hi Charlie, That is the most severe case of pyrolysis I've ever seen. I sure wouldn't want to be a tenant in that place trying to keep warm this winter. The place ought to be condemned!

Charlie,

As a courtesy, I will link to your blog to help you out. Since I have way more points than you it will probably help you immensely. Ha! My problem with you is not points, it is that you keep posting photos from the various shantys you live in, for points, so it kind of seems like easy points for you. I actually have to leave my house to get pictures.

Seriously -- Pyrolysis, weird topic for both of us to be writing about on the very same day. I almost never think about skin disorders.

Five minutes later: We are linked, blog to blog.

JAN

2008

Charles, Good post! In all my years of inspecting, I have never run across this phenomenon. You guys over there on the west coast must use different types of heating systems than we use over here in the hills. I will tell my inspectors about this and keep an eye out for this myself. 8-}

JAN

2008

Charlie,

If you look at that chart provided in my blog, that reading of 238 is in the alarming range big time. It is higher than the readings I showed.

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