Why Investing In A Smoke Detector Can Save Your Life.
A Smoke alarm or smoke detector have saved lots and lots of lives. Smoke detectors are a first line of protection against fire and can dramatically lower the possibility of dying in a property or home fire. Perhaps though they could be a nuisance when you burn things in the kitchen, A relatively inexpensive domestic smoke alarm sensor can mean that every family member escapes from a burning house without harm. Deterrence and prevention should always be a front line strategy of avoiding home accidents.
Exactly what are they?
A smoke alarm is quite simply an electrical circuit that gets interrupted by particles. A fire sends miniscule particles into the environment, when these very small particles reach the smoke detector they interfere with the electric circuit and signal a microchip. A smoke alarms microchip is programmed to submit a signal to trigger the alarm.
Best places to Install?
• Mount the smoke detector next to bedrooms - high on a wall or ceiling.
• Don't install them near air vents.
• Replace detectors that appear to bebeyond 10 years of age.
• For the best fire protection put in both the ionization detectors and photoelectric detectors.. One is for fast burning flames and the other for smoldering fires
Types of Smoke Detectors:
There's lots of options available for you to select the ideal smoke alarms for your apartment. They may be Battery Operated Smoke Detectors, 120V AC Hardwire Smoke Alarms, Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors, Ionization/Photoelectric Smoke Alarms, Smoke Alarms with Relays, Heat Detectors, Photoelectric Smoke Alarms, Strobe Light Modules-For Hearing Impaired and Wireless Smoke Alarm.
What benefits us best ?
Ionization smoke detectors respond first to fast flaming fires. Whilst, Photo electronic smoke detectors respond first to slow smoldering fires. Photo electronic models are best suited for living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. This is because these locations often contain big pieces of furniture, such as sofas, seats, beds, counter tops, etc. that's going to burn slowly as well as more smoldering smoke than flames. These detectors are also less likely to produce nuisance alarms than ionization smoke alarms.
Showing posts with label fire protection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire protection. Show all posts
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Saturday, 7 January 2012
Competency criteria for fire risk assessors released
A document setting out criteria against which the competence of a fire risk assessor can be assessed is now available.
Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors, published by the cross-industry Fire Risk Assessment Council, sets out the criteria that could be used by professional bodies and third party certification bodies to register or certificate fire risk assessors, and by organisations providing fire risk assessment services.
The document sets out broad criteria for fire risk assessors of both “simple buildings” – where the fire risk assessor might, for example, be an employee of the occupier – and “complex buildings”, which will require higher levels of knowledge understanding and preferably experience on the part of the fire risk assessor.
Under the criteria and other than in the case of simple, low risk premises, fire risk assessors would need to show “evidence of specialist training and experience, or membership of a professional body, or certification by a third party certification body.” They would need an appropriate knowledge of:
“Some members of the business community have suggested that it would be helpful for those who want to use the services of a commercial fire risk assessor to be able to access information on those with an appropriate level of competency in fire risk assessment, to help them comply with the legislation,” says the foreword to the document.
“There has also been growing concern regarding the competence of those who provide these fire risk assessments on a commercial basis (i.e. for a fee). Data from the English fire and rescue service suggests that the main compliance failure leading to enforcement action is a failure by duty holders to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This is coupled with the emergence of inadequate fire risk assessments for premises that have suffered multiple fatality fires.”
A companion document to help duty holders assess whether they can undertake fire risk assessments in-house or whether they should appoint an external specialist will be available shortly.
Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors, published by the cross-industry Fire Risk Assessment Council, sets out the criteria that could be used by professional bodies and third party certification bodies to register or certificate fire risk assessors, and by organisations providing fire risk assessment services.
The document sets out broad criteria for fire risk assessors of both “simple buildings” – where the fire risk assessor might, for example, be an employee of the occupier – and “complex buildings”, which will require higher levels of knowledge understanding and preferably experience on the part of the fire risk assessor.
Under the criteria and other than in the case of simple, low risk premises, fire risk assessors would need to show “evidence of specialist training and experience, or membership of a professional body, or certification by a third party certification body.” They would need an appropriate knowledge of:
- The assessment of risk from fire (appendix A)
- Applicable legislation (appendix B)
- Appropriate guidance (appendix C)
- Behaviour of fire in premises (appendix D)
- Effects of fire on people and behaviour of people in fire situations (appendix E)
- Means of escape (appendix F)
- Fire prevention (appendix G)
- Fire protection (appendix H – includes passive and active)
- Management of fire safety (appendix I)
“Some members of the business community have suggested that it would be helpful for those who want to use the services of a commercial fire risk assessor to be able to access information on those with an appropriate level of competency in fire risk assessment, to help them comply with the legislation,” says the foreword to the document.
“There has also been growing concern regarding the competence of those who provide these fire risk assessments on a commercial basis (i.e. for a fee). Data from the English fire and rescue service suggests that the main compliance failure leading to enforcement action is a failure by duty holders to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This is coupled with the emergence of inadequate fire risk assessments for premises that have suffered multiple fatality fires.”
A companion document to help duty holders assess whether they can undertake fire risk assessments in-house or whether they should appoint an external specialist will be available shortly.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Fire Brigade hosts community safety event
London Fire Brigade has hosted a fire safety event helping teach schoolchildren about the hazards that can be found in the home.
The brigade hosted the nation’s biggest national competition, the UK Rescue Challenge London 2011, at the capital’s ExCel arena. In addition, it also ran a Community Safety Village to showcase the work the UK’s biggest fire service carries out in local communities.
On the first day of the two-day event, nearly a thousand schoolchildren from local primary schools across Newham visited the village. They were shown a number of demonstrations, including a schools’ team workshop, a ‘sniffer’ demonstration by the brigade’s fire investigation dogs and a hot fat fire exercise.
A state of the art Hazard House, outfitted by IKEA, was created to help children learn about potential fire hazards in the home.
During the second day, firefighter families and friends from across the UK as well as the general public came along to learn about fire safety and various community initiatives run by the brigade.
London Fire Brigade’s community safety partnerships manager, Kathryn Bloomfield said: “The Community Safety Village was a huge success. We were very pleased with the feedback from both, members of the public and the visiting schools, and are now looking forward to starting Community Safety preparations for next year’s World Rescue Competition, to be hosted by the brigade in 2012.”
Residential fire sprinklers are a great option for home fire safety.
The brigade hosted the nation’s biggest national competition, the UK Rescue Challenge London 2011, at the capital’s ExCel arena. In addition, it also ran a Community Safety Village to showcase the work the UK’s biggest fire service carries out in local communities.
On the first day of the two-day event, nearly a thousand schoolchildren from local primary schools across Newham visited the village. They were shown a number of demonstrations, including a schools’ team workshop, a ‘sniffer’ demonstration by the brigade’s fire investigation dogs and a hot fat fire exercise.
A state of the art Hazard House, outfitted by IKEA, was created to help children learn about potential fire hazards in the home.
During the second day, firefighter families and friends from across the UK as well as the general public came along to learn about fire safety and various community initiatives run by the brigade.
London Fire Brigade’s community safety partnerships manager, Kathryn Bloomfield said: “The Community Safety Village was a huge success. We were very pleased with the feedback from both, members of the public and the visiting schools, and are now looking forward to starting Community Safety preparations for next year’s World Rescue Competition, to be hosted by the brigade in 2012.”
Residential fire sprinklers are a great option for home fire safety.
Friday, 21 October 2011
Sony LCD televisions pose potential fire threat
elevision owners are being advised to have their small screens checked after reports that they may be a fire hazard.
Sony UK has set up a safety and rework programme after reports that some of its Sony Bravia LCD televisions are at risk of becoming a fire hazard due to faulty components. In Japan, a limited number of products might contain a component affected by a quality issue, which in some cases might over-heat and ignite inside the television.
Those affected are 40-inch models manufactured between 2007 and 2008. Owners of the Sony KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660, KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000 and KDL-40X3500 are being told to book their televisions in for a free inspection at a Sony service centre.
Sony UK said: “The issue came to our attention through reports in Japan that a limited number of products might contain a component affected by a quality issue, which in a rare number of cases might over-heat and ignite inside the television and possibly result in the melting of the upper casing of the television
“To date, there have been no reports of any damage to other property or physical injuries.”
Sony UK has set up a safety and rework programme after reports that some of its Sony Bravia LCD televisions are at risk of becoming a fire hazard due to faulty components. In Japan, a limited number of products might contain a component affected by a quality issue, which in some cases might over-heat and ignite inside the television.
Those affected are 40-inch models manufactured between 2007 and 2008. Owners of the Sony KDL-40D3400, KDL-40D3500, KDL-40D3550, KDL-40D3660, KDL-40V3000, KDL-40W3000, KDL-40X3000 and KDL-40X3500 are being told to book their televisions in for a free inspection at a Sony service centre.
Sony UK said: “The issue came to our attention through reports in Japan that a limited number of products might contain a component affected by a quality issue, which in a rare number of cases might over-heat and ignite inside the television and possibly result in the melting of the upper casing of the television
“To date, there have been no reports of any damage to other property or physical injuries.”
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Draft risk assessors' guidance on passive fire protection
Draft guidance on passive fire protection for fire risk assessors has been launched for consultation by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.
The consultation document is aimed at supporting the passive fire protection elements of fire risk assessments under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and its national equivalents in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
According to the association, fire risk assessors have been asking for information in one simple guidance document that uses a common sense approach when evaluating passive fire protection for means of escape.
The consultation closes on 31 October.
The consultation document is aimed at supporting the passive fire protection elements of fire risk assessments under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and its national equivalents in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.
According to the association, fire risk assessors have been asking for information in one simple guidance document that uses a common sense approach when evaluating passive fire protection for means of escape.
The consultation closes on 31 October.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Fire Sprinklers Cost
The cost of residential fire sprinklers has become affordable to most. According to present estimates, installing a fire sprinkler in residences will cost between $1 and $1.5 per square feet of built-up area for a new house. For an already built house the costs may be higher. The cost of installation is expected to drop as the sprinklers get accepted by more customers and with the reduction in the production costs. The use of PVC pipelines which are common in residences are cost effective and can bring down the cost further. Unlike metal pipes they are rust free too. If the fire sprinkler is installed while constructing a new house or while renovating an existing one, only minimal amount of labor and piping is required as the ceilings, attics and walls can be easily accessed at these stages.
Home fire sprinklers are smaller when compared to the conventional industrial and commercial versions and they can be installed without being easily noticed and matched with the interior color scheme. The water required by residential fire sprinklers is much lesser than commercial and industrial fire sprinkler systems. You need not lay separate pipelines for residential fire sprinklers as it can be connected to the existing pipelines.
By installing sprinklers at various points in residences such as kitchen, living room, attic and other places, the activation of the system in case of fire can be localized to the area where the fire occurs. This ensures ease of control, saves water and also reduces the damages caused by water. There is also a saving in home insurance premium offered by insurance companies for homes with fire sprinkler systems to the extent of 10% to 15%. Maintenance cost of home fire sprinkler system is also relatively less.
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
How do fire sprinklers work?
People often ask how fire sprinklers work, usually their only education has been what they have seen in the movies so i thought i would write this short article to help educate those who wish to know.
Firstly, when a fire has started the heat and smoke rise upwards. When this heat and smoke hit the ceiling it spreads across the ceiling causing what is commonly known as a ceiling jet.
Fire sprinkler heads are positioned either on the ceiling or high up on the walls of a room . They act as plugs for the water in the pipe work, the pipe work connects all the heads to the water supply. Fire sprinkler heads have either a glass vile filled with gases and liquid that expands under a specific heat or a fusible link that melts upon contact with a specific heat, the heat required varies depending on which type of head is used but generally around 70c.
When the heat around an individual sprinkler head reaches 70c it will actuate releasing the water over the area consumed by the fire, not every sprinkler head will start. Smoke cannot start fire sprinklers releasing water either.
Depending on what water supply is used it will either keep running ( system attached to the water main) or run until the tank runs dry (pump and tank system).
After the fire has been put out and the building is considered safe the used sprinkler head/s can be easily replaced and the system re-commissioned by a qualified installer.
Check out the video at the bottom of the page for a graphic explanation.
Firstly, when a fire has started the heat and smoke rise upwards. When this heat and smoke hit the ceiling it spreads across the ceiling causing what is commonly known as a ceiling jet.
Fire sprinkler heads are positioned either on the ceiling or high up on the walls of a room . They act as plugs for the water in the pipe work, the pipe work connects all the heads to the water supply. Fire sprinkler heads have either a glass vile filled with gases and liquid that expands under a specific heat or a fusible link that melts upon contact with a specific heat, the heat required varies depending on which type of head is used but generally around 70c.
When the heat around an individual sprinkler head reaches 70c it will actuate releasing the water over the area consumed by the fire, not every sprinkler head will start. Smoke cannot start fire sprinklers releasing water either.
Depending on what water supply is used it will either keep running ( system attached to the water main) or run until the tank runs dry (pump and tank system).
After the fire has been put out and the building is considered safe the used sprinkler head/s can be easily replaced and the system re-commissioned by a qualified installer.
Check out the video at the bottom of the page for a graphic explanation.
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