High-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans require little energy to ventilate large commercial and industrial buildings, and their use can result in considerable cost savings to business owners. But do they compromise fire safety? What are the codes requiring? Read more
California has been leading in the areas of energy efficiency, energy conservation and environmental protection. Striving to implement improved codes and standards in support of this effort, the state approved a new eco-friendly green building code in 2010. The so-called “CALGreen” is the first state-adopted green code; it will go into effect this month. Read more
The metallic particles in the smoke emitted by fireworks can pose a health risk to people who suffer from asthma, new research shows. The Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research conducting this study published the report of this research in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. “The toxicological research has shown that many of the metallic particles in the smoke from fireworks are bio-reactive and … Read more
The Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication System (GHS) is in the process of being adopted by the US. Compliance with the new provisions will impact content and format of MSDS’es. Do you understand the changes and how they may impact your business? Read more
ESFR (Early Suppression, Fast Response) sprinkler systems, have been rightfully touted as one of the best solutions and best investments in warehouse storage. But are ESFR systems an all-inclusive solution to warehouse protection? Is it the “miracle cure” to all warehousing problems? Read more
Klausbruckner & Associates is announcing the final part of a three-part series on “High-Piled Storage” seminars. On December 9th, presented are methods of protecting rack storage, palletized storage, solid pile storage, and shelf storage of commodities. Included are recommendations on high-piled plan review procedures. Issues such as solid shelfing on racks and specific application including retail and wholesale protection options are discussed. Read more
Xtralis, a maker of Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) solutions, conducted a series of fire tests in a warehouse setting to demonstrate the capabilities of three smoke detection technologies, an air-sampling solution, a spot-type detector and a beam detector. Read more
An unusual new industrial testing product from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a cigarette designed to burn stronger than others, will be used by manufacturers of home furnishings to test the fire resistance of their products. In 1970 NIST started studying the fire starting properties of then available tobacco products. Read more
On November 4th 2010 Klausbruckner & Associates will be presenting a seminar on “Sprinkler Protection for Storage of Ordinary Combustibles NFPA 13 2010 Edition.” Changes between the 2002 and 2010 Editions of the standard will be addressed. This seminar will review in light of these changes basic knowledge, such as definitions of rack and palletized storage, to more complex topics, such as Read more
UPS Flight 6 emergency landed last week near Dubai. About 20 minutes after taking off from Dubai, the crew sought to return, reporting smoke in the cockpit and trouble maintaining altitude. The plane was unable to make an emergency landing in Dubai on its first pass, then began losing altitude and crashed inside a UAE military camp. Read more
In-rack sprinklers are used when ceiling sprinkler only protection is no longer adequate to protect the rack stored commodities. Well known disadvantages of current in-rack sprinkler designs are (1) additional costs and (2) additional risks of damage of the sprinkler heads during loading and unloading [...]
The Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication System (GHS) is in the process of being adopted by the US. Compliance with the new provisions will impact content and format of MSDS’es. Do you understand the changes and how they may impact your business? (more…)
According to OSHA and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board1 over the last 35 years more than 450 accidents involving dust have killed nearly 130 workers and injured more than 800. Between the years of 2008 and 2012 alone, a total of 50 combustible dust accidents2 [...]
FM Global updated their Data Sheet 8-9 with new high-piled rack storage protection schemes. These new protection options can reduce installation costs by as much as 50%. Large-scale fire tests were used to validate these alternative designs. They demonstrated that large orifice sprinklers and higher [...]
Xtralis, a maker of Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD) solutions, conducted a series of fire tests in a warehouse setting to demonstrate the capabilities of three smoke detection technologies, an air-sampling solution, a spot-type detector and a beam detector. (more…)
NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) initiated a two-phase study on the effects of obstructions on the ESFR sprinkler system’s ability to suppress fires. Phase one, which was primarily a literature review on the topic, was completed in 2014 and the fire test results from [...]
The risk of asphyxiation, a condition of insufficient supply of oxygen to the body, is difficult to assess because of many factors that can contribute to an oxygen deficiency. However, these factors can be measured and used to calculate the risks that can lead to [...]
New layout of NFPA 13 may be beneficial for new users of the standard, but it can also create confusion and dismay for experienced users.
