"can't say any words but tear
very complicated mood,especially when reading the first reply(the post about your family)
the second advice may to be investigated for feasibility,imagine if those collapsed building are all built of straw bales how many people could be still alive.
pity there are no "if" in the world."
"we are all human beings~"
"people's hearts are all the same~~~
the most original sensibilities are beyond the obstacle of language or country.
"great love of mother" (many replies with understandings and thanks like above,I'll pass over some and talk about the replies about the building advice )
"Americans and Canadian build there house with wood.I think it's because they have more wood when the bricks are more expensize,only the public establishments are built of reinforced concrete.
though the straw bales house may decrease the damage of hurricane and earthquake cause(there are much hurricane in USA),but such buildings have more hidden trouble of fire.The wood will burn to ash if on fire.
there are no beauideal way.To use which materials shoud depends on which is more practical."
"Wood house's most trouble is not only fire,but also termites,that's more terrible."
"Noway,it will cause fire.
And fire often happend after quake(for leak of gas)
There are plenty of fire in the Hanshin earthquake of japan just because there are too many wooden house there."
"America and Canada's house are all wooden because the bricks are more expenseve than boards.I also think the building made of timberwork is much safer in quake.But that's too expensive in China.And big buildings like hospital is hard to use timberwork for too many problems.
My elementary school in China is made of concrete.It was built before 1950s and still good in 1990s.
My high school in Canada is built in 1970s,leak of rain,rat disease,mildew,ererything."
"It is said those straw bales are dealed with in particular ways ......are fire-proof and mothproof......but not cheap......"
"I lived in western coast of north America,here is also active district of earthquake.
Most civilian's house are made by timberwork,and most house are below 4 storied.
Only public and high buildings are made of armored concrete.
It's true the fireproofing is most important here.
So the fire fighting power here is very strong,acting quickly.And buildings all have sensor of smoke and water spray gear,even the dwelling house.But in China only public buildings have such gears installed.
Respecting the fact that all these stuff are not suitable for China.
First of all,the Population density is a impassable obstacle .If all the buildings in China are low leveled. Then maybe all the people on earth will have nothing to eat.But for sure it's possible to take into account to make some school buildings with low level desigh if the condition is proper.
And industry of Forest in North America is very good,while Canada is the big country who export Wood.But to make plenty of timberwork in China is not reasonable.the circumstance problem in China has been very grimness.I think its better to adjust measures to local conditions,in proper place and maybe school could use,and the fireproofing services should be prepared entirely.
Last is also about fire,here all the warm and cooking are by electric and ruled by flat,which easy to avoid fire.But in China,natural gas is the most used resource of kitchen,which makes fire more easy to happen.
Wish there are more professional to find out,for now let's do our best to help the victims of the disaster area."
Well,I sum up the replies ,the difficulty is that fire and population restriction sound make it impossible to build most buildings with such timberwork materials.But if in proper place and with good fireproof maybe it's good to some specific building like schoo.Well,the cost is a problem also.
Sorry I am not good at translating. the original post in the chinese forum
Thank you for translating these responses. Yes, there is strong sympathy here for the suffering of the people. It has made China much more real for many of us.
Regarding straw bale home construction, people should Google this topic to learn more about it. Properly build SB homes are very fire resistant. Have you ever taken a big bunch of newspapers and tried to burn them. It is not so easy. They burn on the edges and then the fire goes out. The bales are very solid. They do not burn well, and on the outside you can cover them with stucco, or a layer of concrete for fire protection. On the inside you can use mud adobe, stucco, drywall, or wood. The straw itself is a waste product that is often burned. We use much natural gas in this country for heat. This is not a problem for strawbale construction.
I have an article on the internet titled “Strawbale and Solar for a Sustainable Earth: An Ideal Marriage”. It can be reached at http://ecobusinesslinks.com/straw_bale/straw_bale_solar_sustainable_development.htm
I will be happy to communicate with anyone who has a serious interest in straw bale technology. They can Private Message me at FR.
Regarding feasibility of straw bale home construction in China.
Comment #1428 is a perfect example of the kind of village construction where straw bale construction would be a good solution. Easy to do and not resulting in the kind of collapse of homes shown there.