PIRF= a new floor system to incrcase lumber sales

EALERS across the country will be feeling the impact of a new crawlspace-type floor system now being used by a number of builders in California, where the system has recently been granted approval.

The system, which will increase the amount of wood used in housing, was approved by the California Energy Commission after research by the Western Wood Products Association. several other industry trade associations and manufacturers showed that the Perimeter Insulated Raised Floor was at least as energyefficient as the slab floor.

Also called PIRF, the system has insulation installed against the interior of the perimeter foundation stemwall instead of insulating directly under the floor in the traditional way. Also, under-floor ventilation is reduced while a vapor retarder is placed over the ground in accordance with building code requirements.

WWPA s interest in promoting the system lies in the fact that a home built using the PIRF instead of a slab floor uses an estimated additional 2,200 feet of lumber. Lumber industry figures show that California's energy regulations, which made crawlspace homes more expensive to build than those on concrete slabs, were costing the industry nearly 100 million board feet a year.

The PIRF system was approved by the tough Cal ifornia Energy Commission earlier this year, and since then some 10 California builders have begun installing the system in their developments and another 30 are considering it. In addition, a home using a PIRF system will be part of a Street of Dreams project in Blackhawk, near San Francisco, Ca.

The significance of the PIRF system to non-California builders and retailers is that, time and again, California has proven to be a trend setter for the building industry. There is no reason to suppose that this case will be any different. Another factor is that the PIRF system is energy efficient. In an era of increasing energy consciousness and attendant regulations, that is a consideration of growing importance.

In addition, of course, a crawlspacetype floor has always been the floor of choice for most home owners because of its warmth in winter, its coolness in summer and its overall comfort. It has also been the choice of many builders who view crawlspace-type floors as additional selling points.

Putting it in historical perspective, WWPA s field representative Richard C. Connell notes that raised wood floors were the "only floors to speak of in California until the 1950s and 60s. That's when homebuilding became so competitive that everyone turned to the cheapest flooring techniques possible. Crawlspaces began to disappear in new homes, especially those built by volume builders, although most custom houses have continued to incorporate raised floors."

Now, of course, with the PIRF system, builders in California at present, and potentially elsewhere, can offer their customers a feature formerly found almost exclusively in custom homes.

Story at a Glance

New crawlspace-type floor system approved in California being used in numerous developments nationwide adoption anticipated... lumber use increases 2,200tI. per home.

The Wood Products Promotion Council which includes the American Plywood Association, American Wood Council, National Forest Products Association, Southern Forest Products Association and Western Wood Products Association, is including PIRF on its agenda for 1987. Florida will be a targeted market for promotion. The council also will sponsor revision of a residential installation manual for PIRF.

The profits for dealers in this are obvious. Those wishing to know more about the PIRF system can order copies ofthe PIRF Residential Installation Manual, at 65 cents each, from WWPA, 1500 Yeon Building, Portland, Or. %2O4.