4 ms·
My understanding of Shou Sugi Ban is basically to create a charcoal layer on the wood, so its unclear to me how that would prevent it burning, as charcoal is de
by benj111 8y ago
My understanding of Shou Sugi Ban is basically to create a charcoal layer on the wood, so its unclear to me how that would prevent it burning, as charcoal is designed to burn. At best I can see it increasing the ignition temperature.
- chipsa 8y agoIt's not fully charcoal (fully carbonized). Wood is mostly two compounds: cellulose and lignin. They undergo thermal decomposition at different temperatures. By partially burning the exterior, you decompose the cellulose, and when you attempt to set it on fire again, it's harder to light, because you no longer have the cellulose decomposition to provide fuel, but have to get to a higher temperature for the lignin to decompose. It's charred, but not charcoal. And yes, mostly it just makes the ignition temperature go up. But that's half the battle for fireproofing. You're mostly not trying to stop it from ever burning, but giving people enough time to evacuate, or the firefighters to put it out with water.