Paris- Notre Dame Cathedral on fire

[rattlsnak]

[Crowbob]

I couldn't comprehend the images when I saw Notre Dame of Paris burning.

I've been to The Vatican. St.Peter's is stupefying. I hadn't known what the word meant.

A year of art history also first exposed me to Notre Dame and The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres.

Instantly, words uncharacteristicly religious came out of my mouth.

'Oh, my God in Heaven.

[drcoastline]

It was reported this morning that it is believed the fire was caused by an electrical short in a service elevator used for the construction.

It was also stated the Cathedral did not have any insurance. There is a law that Government owned buildings are exempt due to cost. It would be cheaper to just pay for the damage when it occurs.

[wayne robson]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I saw a video once somewhere when a aerial drop of water was done to a car and if almost flattened the car. Water dropped from air was not a viable solution and very well could have done a lot of damage on top of the fire.

Dropping water on burning trees in a forest is just not the same thing.

I have to wonder, when the replace those beams, will they use steel? I would hope so. Steel will last a lot longer than wood.

I would think the Catholic church can write a check to pay for the damage. Especially with millions in donations to boot.

Glen, i respectfully disagree with your statement that-- steel will last a lot longer than wood, history will tell you the opposite.,mature dry oak is probably one of the best woods, for strength,resistance to mould, rot, and non movement,and european oak is different to other oaks around the world. A good example to help you is the golden gate bridge,built 1937experts say it only has about 120 years left,before total resto,all steel ,even with 24 hours maintance .Other examples is ships that have sunk hundreds of years ago,made of steel and lebanese cedar, found the steel gone and wood still solid,also to finish, do you think the steel in your Porsche will be still here in 850 years, regards.

[group911@aol.co]

Originally Posted by jrj3rd

The Cathedral is not owned by the Catholic Church but it would not surprise me that they are part of the rebuild effort. The cathedral is the most visited historical site in the world from what I read last night. 13 million visitors a year at 10 euro a head. You can bet it will be rebuilt. Since most of the interior was saved it will be interesting to see how quickly the doors open to get the cash flow restarted.

I was just there in December and I don't remember paying 10 euro to get in

[wayne robson]

Bob , no the church is free, but $10 to go up around the tower etc.

[group911@aol.co]

Originally Posted by wayne robson

Bob , no the church is free, but $10 to go up around the tower etc.

I see. So, 13 million people didn't actually pay 10 bucks a head to get in.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

When you look at the picture things don't seem too bad on the surface. The wooden roof was basically a waterproof cover over the stone ceiling. The stone ceiling is still mostly in place. Basically the 'cover' has burned away.

I had the opportunity in the early 1990's to walk on a similar structure. It was a groin arch vault ceiling of a castle, just one layer thick (no catwalks) made of smaller stones interlinked in a diamond pattern.

Early in the day they were letting small groups up there, but then restricted entrance and kicked us all out of there.

Such a structure is to form a ceiling and not intended to have crowds walking on it or a roof bearing on it.

A very eerie feeling for me, but some of the undergrad students were oblivious to the dangers and I could see them concentrating their load by cloistering in small groups.

I tried telling my instructor but he was even a bigger idiot and joined them. There must have been over 1,000 lbs of human flesh in just over a one square meter area, I really think these idiots got the rest of the group kicked out.

Point is, do not confuse roof with ceiling.

And yea, that intense of a fire can suck all the moisture out of masonry/stone/brick and especially the mortar joints leaving it crumbly and powdery with no strength. These things can be tested for, removed, replaced and restored as required. Might have to number every stone, take it apart and then put it all back together but it can be done.

[RWebb]

Donate - Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

[VincentVega]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

It was reported this morning that it is believed the fire was caused by an electrical short in a service elevator used for the construction.

It was also stated the Cathedral did not have any insurance. There is a law that Government owned buildings are exempt due to cost. It would be cheaper to just pay for the damage when it occurs.

I dont know a thing about the business but why? No one interested in writing a policy? govt just doesnt want to pay? Or they know folks will step up if/when needed?

[fintstone]

Government (and lots of large businesses) usually "self-insures" as it is generally a lot less expensive than buying insurance (insurance companies must make a profit). Imagine insuring that massive structure with no sprinkler system for 800 years.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

I dont know a thing about the business but why? No one interested in writing a policy? govt just doesnt want to pay? Or they know folks will step up if/when needed?

The Government doesn't want to pay. The report stated it would be cost prohibitive for them to try and insurance all of the historical buildings, monuments, statues, etc. It would be cheaper to just pay to repair if or when damage occurred.

[Tervuren]

Insurance only makes sense if you either cannot afford the loss or a property is collateral; in the latter case it makes sense for the lender to require the borrower to have it.

There is a lot about this building I've learned from this event.

[DanielDudley]

They have already got about a billion dollars pledged. Probably some other good causes that could use your help right now, including three burned down churches in the US.

Still a shame. It will be good to see things put right.

[Baz]

[sc_rufctr]

Thanks Baz. I watched that earlier today... Right now it's too good & too clean but in time it should "normalize".

What's that old saying? "It's only original once".

[flatbutt]

I am amazed that they found people with the skills to do that restoration.

[sc_rufctr]

They probably "imported" them using incentives or they were on loan ($$$) from the UK.

[KFC911]

That is amazing .... both the work done and the timeframe.

Thanks!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by KC911

That is amazing .... both the work done and the timeframe.

Thanks!

Throw enough money at a project and things can get done fast and right.