We couldn't find anyone who would sell Thermax HD unless we bought Dow's entire minimum order from them, which is 1,100 sheets.
The good news is we found an alternative panel, Hunter Xci 286 (link to specs below). It has the same compressive strength and fire rating as Thermax HD and is available in smaller quantities, also it's cheaper than the quoted price for Thermax, but still relatively expensive at ~$33 / sheet. The foil on both sides is a metal foil. One side is highly reflective, the other is white. http://www.hunterxci.com/images/submittal_docs/XCI_286_lit.pdf On Jun 10, 2014 8:50 AM, "Hunter" <neversph...@gmail.com> wrote: > After months of searching we found out no one in the bay area will supply > you with thermax hd (if you were buying less than 150 sheets). We went with > Hunter xcl (?) which had similar fire properties. > On Jun 10, 2014 8:40 AM, "Dan March" <dr.dan.ma...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hey Tim ~ I'm also concerned with safety and look for materials that >> really do the job well.... and with a safety margin I'm comfortable with. >> The theoretical fire-related risks in a yurt with aluminized interior >> surface are scary with the lens effect and other concentrating potentials. >> Even - or in some hypothetical cases - without the foam board itself >> catching fire, just having any substantial amount of stuff burning in a >> heat-concentrating structure can get pretty intense. Thinking of keeping >> any flames out of there, myself. I like to cook but might have a separate, >> safer place to do it... also experimenting with more serious electrical >> power and using non-flame cooking stuffs like induction - which looks >> amazing btw. >> >> It appears to me that a well-constructed H15 (which, to me, means mitered >> corners - which really improve the integrity of tape joints & carrying >> through the structural properties of the skin over the foam, and also means >> well tied down and weak points like doorways reinforced) made => 1.5" >> thick board should stand up to an acceptably high percentage of possible >> weather on the playa. I don't think any weight difference is practically >> significant. I can lift a whole H15 either way if it's a package I can >> handle. >> >> I'm playing with Hexacomb board. It's quite a bit more rigid but needs >> waterproofing and possibly some help with insulation & reflection. It's >> pretty light and about half the price of HD. Also playing with hybrid >> systems - board captured by EMT TinkerToy. Hard to price that kind of >> stuff though... more of an art statement you live in... >> >> Re group buys, Home Depot might special order HD in some quantity, but >> probably not necessarily a huge amount, so I'm not counting that as much of >> a barrier. Costs a bit more but like you say... Either way, I can do the >> kits and accessories. >> >> ~ Dan >> >> >> On Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 9:24 PM, Tim <timcann...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> We'd be interested in a group order as well. >>> >>> I'm somewhat new to yurt building. I've read most of the guides but am >>> yet to read up on true side-by-side comparisons of each type of material >>> for playa use. I tend to "buy the best" if that makes sense, so I'm >>> attracted to HD. That said, is it actually that much better on the playa? >>> I'm also curious if it weighs much more, considering structural >>> implications for an H15. Thanks for any insight. Count us in if this *is* >>> the "best" option for the $$. >>> >>> >>> On Sunday, May 4, 2014 8:00:20 AM UTC-7, BurnerDan wrote: >>>> >>>> Safety is an issue. All campers need to be aware of the risks - >>>> especially of fire - in sleeping in many Playa constructs, but yurts have >>>> special dangers because of their materials and tightness. >>>> >>>> Is there any history of encouraging smoke alarm use and do any/all such >>>> units remain reliable under Playa conditions? >>>> >>>> On Saturday, February 1, 2014 6:06:59 AM UTC-8, Vinay Gupta wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> They're tougher. >>>>> >>>>> They're not that much more expensive. >>>>> >>>>> They won't catch fire. >>>>> >>>>> I feel like this would be a great year to actually fix the supply >>>>> chain issues around Thermax HD (or equivalents from other manufacturers), >>>>> do a container load bulk purchase, and start moving people off R-MAX etc. >>>>> until there's a comprehensive solution for the fire risk. I really want to >>>>> solve this problem before somebody gets hurt. >>>>> >>>>> http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Safety_Information >>>>> >>>>> Vinay >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Vinay Gupta >>>>> Free Science and Engineering in the Global Public Interest >>>>> >>>>> http://bit.ly/gupta_arc <http://bit.ly/gupta_arc%20>- the Gupta State >>>>> Failure Management Archive >>>>> http://bit.ly/gupta_ark - or see it directly on Archive.org >>>>> >>>>> http://hexayurt.com - free/open next generation human sheltering >>>>> http://hexayurt.com/plan - the whole systems, big picture vision >>>>> >>>>> "In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an >>>>> invincible summer" - Albert Camus >>>>> >>>>> Twitter/Skype/Gizmo/Gtalk/AIM: hexayurt >>>>> UK Cell : +44 (0) 7500 895568 / USA VOIP (+1) 775-743-1851 >>>>> >>>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "hexayurt" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to hexayurt+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> To post to this group, send email to hexayurt@googlegroups.com. >>> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "hexayurt" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to hexayurt+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> To post to this group, send email to hexayurt@googlegroups.com. >> Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "hexayurt" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to hexayurt+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to hexayurt@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hexayurt. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hexayurt" group. 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