I would like to know how exatcly to "scale" have you built the house??? Did you use 2x4's? If so, that is not to scale. I only say this because I've noticed regular shingles on the roof, You should build the scale house with 1x2's, 1/4" sheetrock, have shingles made half the thickness, doors and windows made of half the thickness of the regualr vinyl windows, as well as the glass in the windows! I've read a good poing in a post, you had a 1 room house, make it more complicated guys!!!!!! outside siding should also be thinner, etc, etc, you get my drift. Get a manufacturer(if you don't already have one) to custom build these products for you, I'm sure they'd jump at the chance to have credit on your show!!! thx!!!
Mebbe they have this problem with hurricanes in coastal areas, but I think this is a one-off on tornado precautions we used in the midwest. We were taught to open the windows on the opposite side of the house that the wind was coming from to avoid implosion or at least imploded windows. There's a new myth to bust, courtesy of the Cray
I agree with cray100. I am also from the midwest and have heard the same, but with a slight difference. I have heard that with the wind speed of tornadoes being much faster, and therefore creating more of a "suction" effect than the blowing effect of a hurricane, that the pressure INSIDE the house builds up and causes the structural damage if the windows are closed. That's why we were told to open the windows, to release the internal pressure buildup.
Couple of thoughts: 1) I agree that the house was not to scale if you used 2x4 construction. What thickness plywood did you use? Probably much beefier relative to the surface area of that small house. 2) My recollection of the myth is in tornadoes and the differential in pressure. If the windows are closed and the pressure outside the house drops dramatically, the house pops like a balloon.
As someone who lives in Alaska, I've actually heard trees explode and have seen bark that has ruptured from the sap bursting out. I will admit to not actually seeing the tree explode, but I have seen/heard the results.
I went through hurricane Hugo in "89" in S.C. I put pencils and pens under the windows except one the one i forgot to put one under got blown out and the door was shut when we went back. It was a trailer in a small park with hurricane straps as was required by law. Our trailer was left in tact and on foundation andwas ok but others was off foundations. Is that a simular to your findings?
goldentouch and dredding have a point. For the scale model on this episode, the scale in question shouldn't be wall area vs. window area, it should be component thickness versus windward surface area. The windows should be made of proportionally thinner glass than regular windows, and the wall and bracing materials should be similarly shrunk in thickness.
You guy are going to get a lot of comments about the roof and the hurricane idea. It's not the wind, although it contributes, it's the significant drop in pressure in and around a hurricane that creates a vacuum with a low pressure area above the house and a high pressure area within the house which pulls the roof off. Well built, with well sealed windows, does not allow for the equalization of pressures. It’s actually the pressure differential that pulls a roof off…..and the reason why you want to leave at least 1 window open on the leeward side of the moving storm.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: mod_ivy,
You guys are going to get a lot of thoughts about the roof and the hurricane idea. It's not the wind, although it contributes, it's the significant drop in pressure in and around a hurricane that creates a vacuum with a low pressure area above the house and a high pressure area within the house which pulls the roof off. Well built, with well sealed windows, does not allow for the equalization of pressures. It’s actually the pressure differential that pulls a roof off…..and the reason why you want to leave at least 1 window open on the leeward side of the moving storm.
When I was in elementary school and we would have a tornado drill (or on the rare occasion a real tornado warning) the class would file out into the halls and do the duck and cover your head routine, all but one student who was assigned to be the one who made sure all the windows in the classroom were open. I wonder if the differences in hurricanes and tornados (higher wind speeds, shorter duration, smaller storm size and the fact that damage is caused primarily from extreme winds) would make any difference in the outcome of windows open verses windows closed.
The house used was a commercial backyard "playhouse." Not one scratch-built by the MBs. Infact, in one of the scenes of them putting it together you can see Jamie holding the instruction book for it.
I suspect that House doesn't have the same internal structure as a real house. That's to say the play house's frame and "skeleton" is not like a real house's. Frankly speaking, they're more sturdly built not to mention the house's construction sizes wouldn't have been scaled either and it being "built to code" leaves be dubious.
In watching the hurricane wind tests I noticed that the building materials (wood, windows, shingles, etc) and hardware (nails, screws, nuts & bolts, etc)were not scaled down. They appeared to be of normal thickness for something full size. They also need to be scaled down as well in order to be a true representation and provide accurate data. (I.E. a 1/4 scale building needs 1/4 sized nails, screws, etc). Otherwise all you've done is build a super-strong dollhouse that will survive a hurricane. Just something to be considered. Great show. Never miss an episode.
I did not hear any mention of the word TORNADO in this episode. You may (in fact) be endangering viewers by NOT making it VERY clear that TORNADOES AND HURRICANES are very different - and different actions are required. Due to the drastic (and extremely fast) air pressure drop involved with a TORNADO, houses DO (in fact) explode if air pressure inside the house is not allowed to equialize QUICKLY with the sudden and drastic drop in air pressure caused when a TORNADO passes over a house. Which is why those of us who live in "TORNADO ALLEY" (southern mid-west) are taught (at an early age) to open "some" windows in a house if/when a TORNADO is coming. This is NOT a myth - this is a fact.
Amazingly, everyone missed (once again) why scale was an issue: because the test structure had to fit into the area of action of the Medusa. The Medusa did not produce winds half the speed and strength of a Category 2 hurricane--they were full strength winds.
Scale was a poor choice of words for the Mythbusters, since that is not what they did (or had to do). They had to shrink the structure to fit the machinery, but otherwise maintain its strength.
Forums 