SUBS #7:
Disadvantages And Advantages

D:    Curved surfaces are a real pain to make with plywood.
A:     Other materials such as fiberglass would make excellent curves and could bolt up to standard geometry. For instance, quarter, half, and full round "panels" would allow turrets, columns, rounded corners and other useful design features.

D:    If you simply must have that octagonal turret with the onion dome, I'm afraid that's a special order, and we don't make it.
A:    If you have your fabricator design it in the the modular universal geometry, it will bolt right up to standard parts.

D:    A essential design feature is 6" square "chimneys" which, during a fire, could, in fact, become . . . chimneys!  Isn't this a serious design flaw and a terrible safety hazard?  What would Smokey say?
A:    That chimney/plenum is there to run the fire sprinkler pipe up to the roof through, and you probably want it open so the water from the fire sprinkler at the top will go all the way to the ground, but you could fire block the vertical plenum anywhere you want by bolting a connector in "sideways", which would prevent you from running pipes or wires.  However, you could also use foam fire stop after wires and pipes are installed if you want sealed plenums.

D:    I never heard of it before.
A:    It never heard of you either.

D:    It COSTS up to TWICE as much for MATERIALS
        for the SUBS SHELL as that "code" building shell.
A:    It's easier and faster to put up . . .
A:    . . . so you save some of that extra material money on labor.
A:    You can build indoors during rain and assemble on a clear day.
A:    You [almost] can't screw up. [How much is that worth?]
A:    You can take it down and . . .
        . . . whatever you want . . .
        . . . sell it; move it; loan it; redesign it.
A:    It's HOW many times stronger than that "code" building?
A:    Strength per dollar is HOW much compared to the "code" building?
A:    The shell of the building is HOW much of the total cost?
A:    The shell provides HOW much of the strength and protection?
A:    There's a HURRICANE coming or . . .
         . . . there's a really BIG EARTHQUAKE and . . .    
         . . . ?? *NOW* HOW much would you pay ??

D:    SUBS is made of steel and wood.  That's bad.  Steel is a strategic non-renewable natural resource, and wood is a critical component of our sadly declining near-extinction irreplaceable precious rain forest biosphere heritage.   It's almost an eco-crime to even think about desacralizing and using up these tender gifts from holy mother earth.
A:    The building is 100% recycleable.  When you are through with it you can take it apart and . . .
         . . . make another building.
A:    If you are REALLY through with it you can melt down the steel and make . . .
        . . . more steel.
A:    You can also burn the wood to make carbon dioxide . . .
        . . . which trees use to make . . .
        . . . more trees!

Bill Dur <billdur@net-prophet.net>

modular.systems * Simple Universal Building System * "Superior By Design"