when they came out with computer programs and could analyze down to 10 significant figures are the buildings the engineering community scratched their head and said we did too good of a job. optimize it. >> we're near second. there is an interesting older building that is a tall steel frame building that was badly damaged. >> it was cracked. exterior walls were cracked. it was repaired. i was retained by the owner to investigate the building. in the robeling steel institute report it was identified as damage identical to the '89 damage. what was fascinating is the fire damage inside. they had steel shutters and wire

class. the floors where they closed the windose h windows had no fire damage. and without the windows closed had fire damage. >> in reading the reports, is that fire spread happens through openings and windows. we have lots of belliuildings w openeni openenings. if it was built that way we don't knock on the door say together is a hazard. it was built that way during the time. they're burning buildings with a fire-proof paint. if you coordinate that with wire glass or shutters or some kind of opening protection. i want to tell a story about the building across the street. in the 1989 earthquake, it was damaged. the whole facade was cracked. you can look up there.

maybe we can get shots. the cracks, you can see them underneath, between the windows, these are classic earthquake cracks. the owner of the building at the time didn't know what to do. we had it wrapped with chain link fence and had to close off a lane of mission street for a while. the owner couldn't figure out what to do. the building was so important to him and an emotional part of his life, that he hung on to it even though he had to make payments on it and paying money to do bracing. it finally drove him into bankruptcy. he died. his estate sold the building. buildings are more than buildings. they become part of people's lives. there are other issues. when engineers look at a building and say it is a crack here and it represents that. it is the first step, we have found. in all the earthquake, the important question is what does this mean to the owner and

people that use it and how will it fit back into the pattern of life. >> in '06, a lot of people committed suicide because they lost everything. >> it is not just the financial loss. it is the other loss that is meaningful. >> your homes, belongings. >> which is one of the reasons that pat and i say look at the marginal cost difference of improving your home or building to the point you can plan to use it after an earthquake. >> sleep in it. >> a home to go to and bed to lie in even if it has repair. >> that is a standard people ought to think about. >> the standard you ought to retrofit your house to is at the end of the nice you can climb into your bed. may not take a bath or shower but you can sleep in your bed. >> this is where we have an all-week centennial convention to commemorate the earthquake but to look at the new advances

in engineering and risk analysis and what it means for public policy. one of the things interesting is at this convention we see new products and technologies being brought forward. in my 25 years as a building inspector this is the most interesting. where something has changed. this is fire-proof paint they're demonstrating here. the building at the end, and the building at this end were both filled with some material, wood and excelier and stuff to start a fire. they lit them at the same time. four or five minutes ago. the building on the end is painted with regular latex paint on everybody's house. the building next to that is painted with latex paint. >> that is catching fire now. >> we can simulate the fire spread from house to house. and we anticipate unfortunately

again. the next 2 buildings are coated with the fireproof paint. many companies make this stuff. this is a particular brand made international fire resistance. >> they were generous to do the mock up for us. >> they have done this at the request of the building department. we have seen that the building at the end, just painted with latex paint is just about gone. the building next-door is catching fire and will burn through the wall shortly. the building at this end show smoking as the material inside burns. we will see where it goes from there. here we have someone from california oes and fire department. put your hand right up against the wall it is not even too hot to touch. thei the implications of this are dramatic. providing fire resistive barriers is quite expensive. it requires sheetrock. >> pouring off the siding and

putting it back. in san francisco we have zero lot lines. it is impossible. they have equipment to slide in and apply this material. >> we have used it a lot in san francisco for historic buildings where we want to preserve the detail. the trim and cove and ornamentation. you can improve the fire resistanceness of the building by having it applied by spray. >> we have tom here who is in charge of the fire training. what do you see going on >> four buildings made of the same material but protected by the same paint. >> now we have three buildings. >> yeah, three. there was four. >> right. this problem where we have fire spread from one building to the next building that is a san francisco problem? >> yeah, in fact, there is probably more gap here between these buildings than there is in our normal --

>> which is usually a half an inch to an inch. >> right. >> sometimes they're separated at the ends and the fire is contained within the gap. you have a chimney build up. >> one of the things to point out they're using normal combustibles to start the fire which is wood and straw. in the year 2006 in people's home the normal combustible is not a class a material it is class c, which is the polystyrenes and foam materials. so the natural produced on the interior of the building is greater than what you see here today. >> if we fill this with sofa and couches. >> computers, kid furniture, teddy bears. >> okay. what is happening with the one with fireproof paint. i am amazed it is reflecting the heat. put your hand on the side and it is deflecting it away. >> there is a flame inside.

>> can we put our hand up there. >> at your own risk. >> i can. sure i can. not gonna catch fire. so the paint reflects the heat and also i understand it foams up and makes a protective foam layer as well. it is amazing stuff. >> we will be here quite a while. >> the fire is still burning inside strongly. the first building that they had the same materials, same construction, lit them at the same time. that one is nothing left. >> yeah. >> this has yet to ignite. it is offgassing and reflecting all the energy. >> in the middle, we are waiting to see if the fire spreads. it is spreading from the one end down. >> the second one has the same material for exposure. it is comparing two buildings with the same protection, against two buildings with the same protection for the main fire building, one for exposure

and next to it. the second one is catching. >> we have environmental factors effecting this. we have wind blowing in a certain direction. the exposure on the one next to it not really any heat. this is a good demonstration. >> the interesting deal right off the bat is that one burned down and this one -- >> has yet to ignite. >> i see spoke. >> just the products inside that are burning. >> wow. very exciting. >> so i can imagine -- i'm with the building department, there are real implication for providing fire resistive safety in buildings if we can figure out how to properly apply it and make sure people don't cut holes in it. >> there are fire service and dynamics that go there. the building industry and manufacturers love the late weight trusses and guszet plates, things that perform

great until you expose them to fire. firemen have to walk on these. >> more firemen have been killed because of building collapses than ever documented before. there are buildings engineered strong under normal conditions. add the fire component to it, and the fire -- the line is for a firefighter, the building is your enemy. know your enemy. if you know how it is put together you know how it will come apart. now you add this product -- >> a new unknown. i am not saying this is going to effect the building, but what is the offgassing right now. >> i read the test reports. there are issues. we have to look at the issues together. >> the second building finally caught. the material is available. it is not, i believe intended to be used as an exterior -- you have to overpaint it because it

doesn't have a uv protective barrier in it yet. if you put it up and overpaint it or put it between two buildings where there is no sunshining, it is okay. here is the guy that invented this stuff. this is a dramatic exhibition, are you satisfied. >> if we had more wind the other building would have flashed over sooner. it is still, to see it really engage this other building and you will see how will the coating holds up. i am impressed. >> everybody is. what is happening to the coated building. >> it is containing the fire to the room of origin. the crib in here is going out on its own. no flame spread or flash over. >> what kind of uses have you used this? what kind of buildings. >> we have done elderly care facilities, hospitals, schools, a lot of church retrofits, litigation retrofits in which we

bring up the walls to one and two-hour code. >> it is listed for one and two hour based on how thick you apply it. >> yes. we're good on lasting plastic, wood, foam, sheetrock. lasting structures. >> i will put my hand on here. it is definitely getting warm, getting hot. but not too hot to touch. in fact, the source of ignition inside is almost out. okay. that is about it for today. building san francisco walking tour. very exciting. we get to end with a splash, a blast here. >> someone else has to clean up. i love those kind of parties. >> they're putting out what is left of that and keeping it from blowing around. thank you all very much. we will see you next month for more exciting san francisco building stories. i don't know what they'll be.

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