Next Generation Home Wind- and Fire-Resistant Structural Specifications - 12/20/2004 - House Energy Efficiency

Next Generation Home Demonstrates Wind- and Fire-Resistant Structural Specifications

Manufactured by Indiana-based All American Homes, the 2,000-square-foot home will feature the latest in building technologies and materials, smart home automation, safety and energy efficiency. In the wake of an unusually destructive hurricane season, the home will also contain many features designed to help safeguard home owners against hurricanes and wildfires.

With “Safe and Sound” as its theme, the home is being built to the specifications of Tampa’s Institute of Business and Home Safety's “Fortified for safer living” program, which is a set of structural specifications that exceed the building code in most regions. Disaster-resistant features include:

• Simonton’s StormBreaker Plus windows, which are made of laminated glass and steel-reinforced frames that can withstand flying debris up to 134 mph and extreme negative and positive wind pressures
• Metal strapping that ties the roof, walls and foundations together securely so that if wind does enter the home it won’t blow off the roof
• Norbord Windstorm OSB sheathing, which provides additional wall bracing and extends from the very top to the very bottom of the wall
• Decra strone-covered metal roof shingles that don’t burn and are warranted to stay in place in 120 mph winds

Other safety features in the home include:

• Secure door and window locks and an electronic home security system that can be monitored by a third-party monitoring service or checked and controlled by the home owner from anywhere in the world
• A whole-house surge protector and a back-up electrical power generator
• An automatic water shutoff valve to protect the home against flooding from burst pipes
• A whole water purification system and a state-of-the-art air cleaner
• An innovative weather radio that provides automatic alerts

The home's amenities include environmentally friendly Icynene foam insulation, a Tonight’s Menu Intelligent Oven combination refrigerator and oven that cooks or cools food and a UNICO high-velocity air heating and cooling system that distributes air through 1.5-inch tubes.

“Systems-built construction allows us the flexibility to build custom homes with an assortment of special features, such as those that will go into the NextGen Home,” said Steve Kerr, president of All American Homes. “Because we build a high quality home that’s also strong and safe, we provide home owners with tremendous security on their investment.”

The home is located in the parking lot of the Orange County Convention Center next to the west entrance.