Is my roof radiation proof ?

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Hi

I would like to know if my roof is good enough against fall out or radiation proof as a good shelter or I need more to add to it like sand or other material ?

1- is build on log-structure covered with one inch pine plank 2- no 15 black paper,

-- Nasseri (ibmcc@colba.net), September 12, 1999

Answers

Nasseri,

A roof on a log structure will not be protection against radiation contamination.

Radiation contamination is like dust, it's everywhere, in the air, in the soil, on plants, on the fur of animals.

Aside from a shelter with an air cleaning system, I'm not aware of anything that will protect you from radiation fall out.

I read recently a civil defense sheet from the 50's, claiming that a broad brim hat would protect you....but I don't think even that will do it.

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.net), September 12, 1999.


http://www.oism.org/nwss/index.htm

check out this free, online book! very good! eddy

-- eddy (xxx@xxx.com), September 12, 1999.


Nasseri,

No, it is not. Read through the above-mentioned book for further info. Multiple inches of dirt plus protection against "reflected" or shine are a few details you will learn about. Take care!

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), September 13, 1999.


Log structure with 1"plank,black paper, heat reflector paper, 3" Styrofoam, steel deck, 6" concrete, with rod every 6" covered with tar membrane. This is the roof of the shelter and the floor of the house.

-- Nasseri (ibmcc@colba.net), September 13, 1999.

Nasseri:

The answer to your question "Is my roof protection against radiation" is complex. In some situations your roof can provide valuble protection against some types of fallout. The biggest protection that it gives is by increasing the distance between you and any fallout. Remember that the radiation danger falls off as the square of the distance between you and the radiation source.

Remember to keep all doors and window shut, get a good geiger counter see:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001BOi

Radiation is a hot button subject for many people, and they have opinions that may overstate the problem. If a nuclear bomb goes off next door, you may be toast, but if San Francisco were to be ground zero (I live in San Jose) then radiation would probably not be a big problem at my house as the prevailing winds are from off shore eastward (not south) There would be alot of things that I would do to prevent contamination of my person, and I would stay indoors for awhile.

There are other problems associated with nuclear pile meltdown and emited gasses and such. Are you mostly worried about nuclear exchanges or Power Plant Meltdowns?

I would be happy to try to answer your questions if you do not want to post them, I monitor this email address on a regular basis.

Good Luck.

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.



Nasseri;

In your last post you infered that this is a "basement" under your house and you have 6" of concrete in the "ceiling" of the shelter? If you really have the Wood, styrofoam, and concrete, this is a pretty good shelter for almost all types of fallout. Can you post more info on the construction.

If you have a conventional roof (and are out of the blast zone) and 9-10 feet between the wood roof and the concrete and the top of your shelter, I tell you now, I have been in bomb shelters that were not as well constucted! Make sure you have filtered air and you are set!

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.


The shelter is the basement of the house. The side of the foundation is covered with sand the same foundation has 3" extruded polystyrene as insulation outside, the concrete is covered with two coat of tar, the foundation is 8" thick structure of the ceiling of the shelter is made of log. One log of 18" diameter on big side and 12" on the small side 24 feet long support in the middle with a post of 18" diameter. Those big beam support smaller-ones 8-10" diameter every 3 feet & on the top of that we have nailed 1" thick pine-plank covered with tar paper no 15, over that an aluminium heat reflected paper, on the top of that we have put extruded polystyrene type 4, over that steel deck 1/32 2" air, 3" concrete, over that 6" concrete in the thick part and 4" in the thin part. All are armed with 5/8 metal bar every 6" in two layers. stick on the concrete a rubber tar membrane.

The log house will be build on the top of the basement or shelter, the log are used for the construction have average of 16" of diameter & another floor of 1 1/2" will be put on the membrane. The second floor will have the same wood structural as the basement. The roof will have log structure covered with plank insulated R 40, the finish of the roof will be flat thin. the window not decided yet.

if you have any advise for air filter for the basement ? We have already installed car fan 12 volts to remove polluted air from toilet.

-- Nasseri (ibmcc@colba.net), September 13, 1999.


Nasseri;

Let me see if I understand your description. You have a basement shell which is dug down into the earth. The walls of this "basement" are concrete.

On top of this "basement" you have a roof made of wood rafters Plank, and (this is important that I get this right) then a steel plank layer covered by 6" of concrete.

Then a log house stucture has been built on top of this "Basement" Shelter.

If this description is correct you have a very good shelter for fallout and if you add blast doors it would provide a good bomb overpreasure shelter as well! The 6" of concrete as well as the wood will provide good radiation protection, as well as the stucture above.

If the "house" is not removed by a blast, it will keep most of the fallout well away from the top of your shelter. This is a very good thing. The earth around the basement will keep radiation away from the sides. You may find that any radiation field caused by fallout outside would be greatest near where the basement concrete meets the ceiling. Stay towards the center of the shelter.

Look at the above mentioned book for forced Air Filters, It will improve your shelter greatly to have a clean air source. The fall out monitor in the above book is also a good addition if you do not buy a geiger counter.

Good luck you have a great start!

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), September 14, 1999.


Thanks for your reply. Merci

-- Nasseri (ibmcc@colba.net), December 27, 1999.

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