Gasoline siding is a term used by firefighters to describe highly flammable house siding that burns like gasoline if it catches on fire. Gasoline siding refers specifically to asphalt felt siding, which is petroleum-based and catches on fire quickly and burns hots. The siding is no longer used frequently in construction because it is so flammable. Gasoline siding was often made to look like brick. It was a popular material during the post-World War II housing boom, when returning GIs and a favorable market led to a massive upswing in housing construction. This boom made gasoline siding a common feature in houses across the country, and can still be found on older homes. Gasoline siding produces a special challenge for firefighters because of a phenomenon known as autoexposure: the siding allows the fire to climb up the outside walls of structure from floor to floor, spreading the fire much more rapidly than would happen in a house made out of a more fire-retardant material, such as bri
What is Gasoline Siding?
Answer:
Gasoline siding is an expression used by firefighters to describe asphalt felt siding which is very flammable.
House siding that burns like gasoline when it catches on fire is what is meant by the term gasoline siding. Firefighters used this phrase when describing asphalt felt siding. This type of siding isn’t used hardly at all anymore in building homes, because it is so flammable. The siding is petroleum based which makes it catch fire quickly and it burns very hot.
This type of siding was popular during the housing boom that took place after World War II. This siding was usually made to look like bricks and was a very common type of siding that was used in homes all over the United States. You can still find gasoline siding on some of the older homes that are still around.
The asphalt felt siding was composed of a mixture of ingredients, including felt, wood, asphalt and sandstone. The siding came in a variety of styles and colors and was embossed to look like brick. It was purchased as a single roll or as shingles. The problem with this siding is that over time it becomes brittle from drying out and will chip, erode and crack.
The reason that gasoline siding is such a challenge for firefighters is that it spreads very rapidly. This siding allows the fire to spread up the walls of a home quickly since it is not a fire retardant material like brick is. Not only does this siding catch fire quickly; it also produces a thick black smoke that can be harmful if inhaled.
A homeowner is not required to remove gasoline siding and replace it with something else. However, they should be aware of the dangers and flammability of asphalt felt siding.