Did you know that I’m passionate about fire protection? Instead of proving it with stories recounting soakings by numerous fire hydrant, fire pump, and deluge system tests, I will share more about fire sprinklers! (Working on solidifying my fire sprinkler nerd status!)
Automatic fire sprinklers have an over 150-year history, with Henry S. Parmelee being credited with (more…)
Every spring, the United States shifts the clocks forward one hour creating an extra hour of light in the evenings. However, this shift may be linked to a slight increase in fatal traffic accidents immediately following the time change. It is theorized that the increase in fatal traffic accidents is due to two things: people losing an hour of sleep and the low illumination conditions of morning commuters. (more…)
Did I lose you in the title? Fire alarms! Ah, those mysterious systems required by, discussed in, and described by hundreds of pages of sometimes baffling and circular code text. They can be intimidating to think about. Have you considered that these mysterious red boxes could have information helpful in a loss? Let me describe why it could be advantageous to have a knowledgeable person to check out the fire alarm system after a loss, and not just for fires. Just as an airplane’s black box may hold information (more…)
One of the more innovative products to emerge on the plumbing scene in the past 20 years or so (in my opinion) is the flexible supply connector. A lot of people have seen but probably not paid much attention to them under their sink or perhaps from the toilet supply valve to the toilet tank. Most have (more…)
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 (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, (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. (more…)
Hazard can be defined as a potential source of harm. Machine safeguarding seeks to protect people from these potential sources of harm. Often distance from a hazard will play a key role in providing a means of protection.
One would often think of distance as it relates to the location of a barrier guard from a hazard. ANSI B11.19, Performance Criteria for Safeguarding, defines safety distance as “the distance a safeguard is installed from a hazard such that individuals are not exposed to a hazard.” An example from ANSI B11.19 of the recommended distance of a slotted opening in a barrier guard from a hazard is shown (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! (more…)
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