Building Materials in Tahoe

Unedited version of 08-07 Tahoe Mt. News story


By Kathryn Reed

“In general, most structures do not have appropriate roofing and siding material. Between 5 and 97 percent of these structures have decks and overhanging unenclosed features where embers can be trapped and ignite a home. Defensible space is also lacking around most structures (between 21 and 97 percent).”
That information is verbatim from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s chapter on Fuel Reduction and Forest Restoration Plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin as it relates to houses in and around the Angora Fire area.
TRPA employees went through the entire basin in 2004 to gather data for the study. They looked at what houses are made out of, roofing materials and defensible space.
“It was to get a sense of building materials, flammability of structures and how much defensible space had been done,” TRPA spokeswoman Julie Regan said.
In the report, North Upper Truckee is divided into three areas – Chiappa, North Upper Truckee-Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Angora Highlands-Tahoe Mountain. The structural rating for all these areas is moderate.
The report says 58 percent of the Chiappa area does not have defensible space, 66 percent for N. Upper Truckee-LT Boulevard and 81 percent for Angora-Tahoe Mt. When it comes to houses with flammable unenclosed structures, it’s 84, 90 and 88 percent, respectively.
TRPA doesn’t have oversight of building materials, it’s up to California and Nevada to makes those rules. From there the city or counties around the Lake have oversight.
Neither Bob Green nor Larry Lohman with El Dorado County’s building department chose to return phone calls as of press time, even though the more than 200 houses that were wiped-out in June are in their jurisdiction.
However, Ron Ticknor, building official with South Lake Tahoe, was forthcoming with information.
“Wood framed construction is the most predominate form of current construction, on occasion we will see a mixed construction of metal and wood, log homes and we have seen Styrofoam Block, plastic block, these types of construction are contained in the building codes,” Ticknor emailed the Tahoe Mountain News. “The example you have given of hay bail or adobe are being built throughout the country, however these types of construction are not contained in the Building Codes and approved for our area ….”
California’s building regulations change as of Jan. 1. Local building and fire officials are reviewing the rules.
Insurance companies have downgraded some California communities because building standards have slipped, according to the state Building Standards Commission. The upgraded standards may mean insurance companies will offer premium credits to homeowners, which is something for Angora victims to consider as they rebuild.
“Fire and panic safety standards are maintained at a high level for California, and include additional wildland-urban interface fire protection standards for vulnerable structures located in areas prone to wildfires such as those recently experienced in Lake Tahoe,” reads a July 24 press release from the Buildings Standards Commission.
Victims of the fire who get permits by the end of the year will not have to meet the new regulations.
“We will see changes for exterior related construction and fire protection such as walls, windows, number of openings, siding, venting, decks and eaves are the major components,” Ticknor said of the new regs.
Shake roofs are still allowed in the city, though it’s been four years since one has been installed, according to Ticknor.
“Most paints are now latex water based instead of the older more flammable mineral based paints, however common paints do not provide fire resistance,” Ticknor said. “There are products on the market that are fire resistance treated or non-combustible materials such as cement based siding. There are products on the market that can be applied to wood products and provide fire ratings to the material available through paint stores.”
The burn area is not unique in its structural composition or terrain.
“The South Lake Tahoe FD has the largest amount of development in the
Tahoe Basin, with approximately 21,750 individual housing and commercial buildings,” according to TPRA. “The steepness of some of the areas contributes to the speed with which an out of control fire can gain momentum and outstrip personnel to control the leading edge of fire front.”
Three years ago the agency found 18 to 56 percent of the structures lacking “appropriate” roofing materials, along with 87-100 percent having flammable siding.