What is a Properly Functioning Fire Extinguisher?
A properly functioning fire extinguisher in the right place at the right time can make the difference between a small fire and a disaster. Although your place of business should have a licensed contractor inspect and tag your extinguishers every 12 months, NFPA 10 requires additional inspections. Fire extinguishers shall be inspected when first placed […]
Read MoreUL300 Kitchen Hood Systems
Prior to 1994, most commercial cooking involved animal fat. These deep fryers were poorly insulated which made cooking temperatures inconsistent. The extinguishing unit that protected those kitchens was a dry-chemical system which would smother the fire. Today, vegetable oils are used in commercial cooking. These vegetable oils heat to cooking temperatures very quickly. Today’s deep […]
Read MoreFire and Life Safety is Not a Commodity
Fire and life safety is not a commodity. It is also commonly not on the forefront of people’s mind because it is easily misunderstood. It can also be confusing when trying to become compliant with local fire codes and requirements. Some companies focus more on fire safety if their insurance provider audits regularly or if […]
Read MoreHow to Winterize Your Fire Sprinkler System
Winterizing fire sprinkler systems is a critical service needed to reduce the chance of issues associated with damage to piping caused by freezing. Without checking your system, cold weather can cause your fire protection system to cease to function – or worse, burst! Fire Sprinkler System Testing FLSA suggests inspecting and testing wet, dry, and […]
Read MoreNFPA 13 Restructured for 2019 Edition
This reorganization was done to better match and align with the fire sprinkler system design/analysis processes, as opposed to current and past editions which tended to jump around. Relevant information has been grouped together to limit that “jumping around.” Redundancies have been removed from the standard wherever possible to avoid confusion. This is especially true […]
Read MoreResidential & QR Sprinklers vs Heating Vents
One common problem we hear about with our residential projects is the location of sidewall sprinklers and the allowable distance away from heat vents or hot air diffusers. NFPA 13, 2016 edition (and prior) provides guidance for this situation in Table 8.3.2.5(c). (NFPA 13R Table 6.2.3.3.3 has the same values) In most cases, whether the […]
Read MoreElectronic Sprinklers – Technology Update
Electronic sprinklers? What are they and what are they for? Johnson Controls/Tyco have recently introduced electronic sprinklers into the market which are being touted as the next big thing for storage protection… and in some cases, maybe they are. Let’s start with what they are: The sprinkler itself is a K-17 ESFR (TY7626) which is […]
Read MoreFire Pump Test Frequencies: Weekly, Monthly? When Exactly?
In recent editions of NFPA 25, the requirements for no-flow (churn) test frequencies have changed for electric motor driven fire pumps (only). Diesel engine driven fire pumps have always been required to run weekly for 30 minutes. This allows the engine to establish a running speed and confirm that no problems exist such as overheating […]
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