Depth perception is an essential aspect of interacting with and navigating the world for people. Depth perception is the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions (3D). It allows people to judge how far away objects are, how they relate spatially to one another, and how they can successfully interact with them. Depth perception is a critical aspect of vision that enables activities like Read More
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) finalized energy efficiency standards for residential gas furnaces in late 2023. These new standards are slated for implementation in late 2028. The last time the DOE raised the efficiency rating of gas furnaces was in 2007, when the minimum efficiency for gas fired furnaces was raised from 78% to 80% efficient.
Let’s look at what efficiency means in this context. In simple terms, Read More
As we ring in the new year 2025, a significant change is coming for several heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems that are currently used in both residential and commercial applications. The 2020 American Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Act is bipartisan legislation that was signed into law. The AIM legislation empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the production and consumption of hydroflourocarbons HFCs by 85 percent by the year 2035. Read More
A smoke alarm milestone birthday party!
No kidding, I’m passionate about fire protection! To prove it, I could tell you stories about the damage I have seen from various failures from freezes to fire pump cooling to what happens when a fire hydrant’s weep holes are clogged…. But instead, I will tell you about smoke alarms!
Although it’s still new in my head, my home just turned 10 years old. The decade has seen the replacement of two household appliances and at least one HVAC repair… now what? A paint and décor refresh? Maybe, but that’s not what the fire protection engineer is thinking! It’s time to replace the smoke alarms! Read More
When we step out onto the road as pedestrians, most of us assume that we are easily visible to oncoming drivers. However, research shows that pedestrians frequently overestimate their visibility, especially at night or in low-light conditions. This overconfidence can lead to dangerous situations, contributing to accidents and fatalities. Understanding why pedestrians overestimate their visibility is crucial for improving road safety and preventing accidents. Read More
Trick-or-treating is a fun and festive activity, but it comes with certain hazards that can pose risks to children and even adults. In addition to vehicle and pedestrian collisions and accidents, tripping and falling while trick-or-treating is a common hazard, especially for children navigating unfamiliar and dimly lit areas at night.
Children and adults can face tripping hazards on walkways while trick-or-treating.
Tripping hazards can be mitigated through compliance with walkway safety standards such as ASTM F 1637-2021: Standard Practice for Safe Walking Surfaces. ASTM F1637 is a standard that provides Read More
Trick-or-treating is a fun and festive activity, but it comes with certain hazards that can pose risks to children and even adults. In addition to trip and fall hazards while trick-or-treating, there is also an increased risk of vehicle/pedestrian collisions due to the increased pedestrian activity in the roadway at night.
Child trick or treating during Halloween in the roadway.
At night, there are two significant problems facing drivers that contribute to pedestrian/vehicle collisions: Read More
What materials are suitable for installation in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) plenums? Let’s first define a plenum. The 2021 edition of the International Mechanical Code (IMC), a subset of the International Building Code (IBC), defines a plenum as “an enclosed portion of a building structure, other than the occupied space being conditioned, that is designed to allow air movement, and thereby serve as a part of an air distribution system.” Read More
Fire protection is an expanse that I am both fascinated by and passionate about. To prove it, I could show you my sprinkler collection… the old ones, the new ones, the sizes, the features! But instead, I will share some information to show you the relationship between fire protection systems and other systems that you may have never thought about!
Fire protection, suppression, and alarm systems often do not act alone. They can be in cahoots with life safety systems or other equipment or building systems to mitigate fires and help firefighters. Many, but not all, of these functions are associated with fire alarm systems. Many, but not all, of these functions are customary and expected. Some of these functions will automatically reset when the alarm or system is reset, but not all! Read More
Many sites that are protected by fire sprinklers will have at least some amount of private underground fire water piping. Its purpose is to make water available for fire protection or suppression at a needed flow and pressure. Its presence is usually quietly evidenced by the connected objects that occasionally surface along its course, like valves, fire department connections and private hydrants, termed appurtenances. Underground water piping commands attention, though, when Read More
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