SCIP BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
Photo by Matt Doolin
To not discuss SCIP buildings in light of the recent California fires would not do justice to this show. It is important at this time to emphasize the high fire rating of this building system.
The SCIP building system has a fire rating of 4 hours. Studio RMA designs SCIP buildings with a lightweight composite concrete roof that adds to the integral strength of the building, it also upgrades the fire rating of the roofs.
According to firefighters, flying embers that land onto wood overhangs, eaves and roofs are often the cause of a building burning. Through new initiatives by California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the State wants to create more fire-safe homes, and SCIP is being brought back into the foreground.
The Links
The basic idea of SCIP stems from shell concrete building methods. This was very popular in the 60s and 70s in California. The first SCIP buildings were developed by Victor Weizman in Pasadena, California. The inherent strength, and the ease of maintenance of the building system got the US Army's attention, which started using the system in the Pacific. After SCIP buildings in Guam successfully withstood Typhoon Pamela in 1976 more SCIP structures were built. The large expansion of SCIP buildings in South Asia, Australia, and The Pacific is most likely a result of this.
In the United States SCIP buildings came into the foreground after four SCIP homes built by Jimmy Carter's Habitat for Humanity successfully withstood hurricane Andrew in 1992.
As a result of the 1993 Malibu fires, SCIP homes started to emerge in larger numbers in California. There are now over 1200 SCIP homes built in California alone.
The Cradle to Cradle principles are brilliantly described by William McDonough in this book
After the chemical company BASF came out with a new Styropor technology for construction that meets the stringent Montreal Protocol regulations for environmentally sound products, the building system started to be recognized for its non-toxicity. The entire building system is made of recycled materials with a concrete layer added. The concrete technology is advancing towards new eco binders (geo polymers) that replace the Portland cement.
William McDonough, author of the Cradle to Cradle principle, pointed out the recycling capabilities of SCIP and its environmental advantages.
Studio RMA
SCIP Advantages
Produced with recycled and sustainable materials.
Fire rating up to 4 hrs.
Seismic design can be up to 8 on the Richter scale.
Can withstand hurricane winds of 200 MPH.
Reduces construction time of the building, lowering costs of construction loans.
Heat insulation starts at R-40 upwards [2x4 framing walls is R19, Roofs R-30.]
High sound buffer, also between floors and rooms.
No termite and vermin problems.
If designed well, a SCIP building can compete with 2x4 framed structures.