Ewa Beach, Hawaii - Ohana ChemDry, an Ewa Beach-based company that specializes in carpet cleaning Oahu, has garnered an impeccable reputation for itself among local community members. For tourists, the last thing they probably associate with one of Hawaiis hottest tourist spots is carpet cleaning, but for locals, Ohana ChemDry has quickly become a household name.

People often turn to professional carpet cleaning services when they suspect the flooring underneath them may be contributing to their allergies, are selling the home soon, or they might just like a thorough cleaning every now and then. But many carpet cleaning companies result to using harsh chemicals that can actually irritate allergies and pose a threat to children and pets. The carpet gets cleaned, but the side-effects arent worth it for many homeowners.

Thats why Ohana Chem-Dry has cultivated the reputation that it has as the best cleaning service in Oahu for both residential and commercial properties. Part of Chem-Dry, the worlds largest carpet cleaning service, the Ewa Beach location has managed to stand out and make a name for itself. While the companys main service claim is that they remove 98% of allergens from carpets and furniture and 89% of airborne bacteria, thats not what customers love most.

Ohana Chem-Dry is a firm believer in the use of eco-friendly products, so much so that theyve been Certified Green by the FDA. Their non-toxic cleaning solutions are safe for children and pets, and along with the companys fast and professional service, their natural products and environmentally conscious methods have become many customers favorite thing about them.

The companys mission is based on the fact that less water in their clients carpets results in more for the nations reservoirs. Chem-dry is non-toxic and safe for both pets and children, as well as those who suffer from allergies. These factors help Ohana Chem-Dry to helpfurther their mission of creating healthier homes and a better world.

The positive attention that Ohana ChemDry has received for their carpet cleaning in Oahu is uncommon, to say the least, but the company hopes that it can keep up the pace and continue to keep the number of negative reviews from customers at virtually zero. Their environmentally friendly practices have sat particularly well with residents of the island, and so the company hopes to keep expanding on those practices and finding new ways to go green.

Media Contact Company Name: Ohana Chem-Dry Contact Person: Frank Kelso Email: fkelso@ohanachemdry.com City: Ewa Beach State: Hawaii, 96706 Country: United States Website: http://ohanachemdry.com

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Oahu Carpet Cleaners Become Community Favorite - Press ... - Digital Journal (press release)

By Rusty Bradshaw Independent Newsmedia

Being a retirement community or triple digit heat keeps crime down in Sun City.

A community homeowner found this out the hard way last week. At around 7 a.m. June 20 Maricopa County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to a home in the 10600 block of West Connecticut Avenue for a report of a suspicious male in the area, according to Sgt. Calbert Gillett, Maricopa County Sheriffs Office spokesman. The homeowner then reported to 911 dispatch the man had forcibly entered her home through a patio door and would not leave.

She said that she had never seen the man before and did not know who he was, Mr. Gillett stated in an email.

The homeowner feared for her safety and left the residence to call 911 from the street. The suspicious male had barricaded himself inside her residence, according to Mr. Gillett. Deputies made numerous attempts to contact the barricaded suspect and after approximately one hour, the male, identified as Paul Termini, was taken into custody without injuries and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail on multiple charges.

While some Sun City residents leave for other locales during the hot summer months, others remain in the community. Sun City Posse officials offer a number of tips to help homeowners enhance security at their homes. Toni Ashby, Block Watch co-coordinator, said the first safety measure is to keep all doors and windows locked. She said in the case of patio doors, residents can put a wooden or metal rod in the track for the sliding door to keep the door from being opened if the lock is compromised. There is also a peg lock available by drilling a hole through the frames of both metal doors where they intersect (but not through to the outside of the exterior portion of the frame) and inserting a peg.

Having hinges on the outside of your doors is also to be avoided, Ms. Ashby said. Those can be removed by people trying to get into the home.

Inserting two large screws into the door jam, sticking out about one inch and matching holes in the door when closed, would keep it from being removed even if the hinges were taken off, Ms. Ashby said.

Homeowners can also keep a heavy duty flashlight or a strobe light accessible. Light can scare away an intruder and a strobe will confuse them long enough for the resident to escape, Ms. Ashby said.

Another thing people can do is keep their car fob near them at all times and they can hit the panic button if there is an intruder, she explained. That noise will usually scare them off.

She also suggested keeping some lights on in the home, even when residents are asleep.

Ms. Ashby also suggested residents not open the door to anyone they do not know.

You can always ask for a telephone number so you can verify that person at your door is who they say they are, she said.

Block Watch

Sun City residents can also help improve the safety in their neighborhood by joining the Block Watch, coordinated by the Posse.

The more Block Watch signs we have out there the better, Ms. Ashby said.

Residents in the Dawn Lake area have more than 35 signs in their neighborhood, she added. While Block Watch numbers increased significantly earlier in the year, the rise has slowed to a trickle with winter visitors away during the summer.

Block Watch is a program designed for residents to look out for each other, according to Ms. Ashby.

It is not being nosy neighbors, its being helpful neighbors, she quoted her co-coordinator, Jean Schmidt, as saying during program presentations to residents, clubs and organizations.

Residents or groups that want to have a Block Watch presentation made can call the Posse at 623-972-2555. We want residents to pay attention to what belongs in their neighborhood so they can recognize when something doesnt belong, Ms. Ashby said.

She added residents are encouraged to leave a duplicate key to their home with a trusted neighbor, not just a relative in another state.

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Sun City Posse offers home safety tips after incident - YourWestValley.com

Magic City Brewing Co. the Barberton nanobrewery with a heavy metal bunny with piercing purple eyes as its logo quietly opened last weekend.

Putting money in the bank compared to spending it is excellent, founder and brewer Jay Graham said.

Graham and his wife, Erica, who both grew up in Barberton, launched the brewery in a small storefront at 161 Second St.

They debuted with five solid beers that have received positive reviews so far: Dilligaf IPA, 2nd Street Pale Ale, Mark It Zero American wheat, Dark Empress Imperial Chocolate Stout, and Hive Devil, a saison made with buckwheat honey and black pepper.

Graham, a big tattooed guy who enjoys heavy metal music, hopes to build up the portfolio to eight beers with several rotating brews.

Magic City employs a one-barrel brewing system.

This is just the starting point, Graham said.

Magic City, which carries the tagline Join us further down the rabbit hole, already has plans for a second brewery in the neighborhood dedicated strictly to producing sour beers. Graham also wants to upgrade to a three-barrel system and create an outdoor patio in the adjacent alley.

As for the building itself, the brewery entrance features recessed windows with display areas on both sides of the front door. Right now, those areas are empty but Graham is deciding how to fill the space.

Inside, Magic City features an L-shaped bar with lime-green chairs, plenty of wooden picnic tables and a tin ceiling. The small brewing system is in the back and out of sight from customers.

Its the 12th brewery to open in Summit County, with many more in the planning stages. Its also the first in Barberton, with a second one, Ignite Brewing Co., set to open nearby on West Tuscarawas Avenue.

Magic City will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. It also will be open on Sundays at some point. For more details, click here.

Excerpt from:
Magic City Brewing opens doors in Barberton - Akron Beacon Journal (blog)

1721 GRAND CYPRESS BLVD., CLEARCREEK TWP.

Finished lower level, 3-car garage, wine cellar are features

With rich woodwork, grooved hardwood floors, stone walls, wrought iron railings and wagon-wheel coffer ceiling, this two-story home has many hidden treasures within its rustic elegance.

Listed for $949,900 by Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors, the brick home at 1721 Grand Cypress Blvd. has about 7,410 square feet of living space within three levels. The house sits on a 1.21-acre, corner lot with tree-lined back yard, circular driveway, three-car garage, composite deck and water fountain.

Formal entry has stone wall accents, wrought iron railing accenting the open staircase and dark hardwood flooring. The formal dining room off to the right has a wagon-wheel coffer ceiling with chandelier.

On the opposite side of the foyer wall is a two-story stone fireplace with wrought iron railings accenting the second-floor loft. A full wall of windows allows for plenty of natural light.

A coffer ceiling accents the kitchen with granite countertops and breakfast bar. Stonework surrounds the industrial-grade oven with gas cooktop and water faucet. Tucked behind a wall near the stove is a walk-in pantry with two walls of shelves. A buffet counter has a bread-warmer. Two dishwashers flank the larger double-sinks and a vegetable sink is within the center island. Off the kitchen are a breakfast room with access to the rear deck and a hearth room with corner gas fireplace.

A hallway near the kitchen leads to a half bath, garage access and staircase to the finished bonus room above the garage. The room has four dormer window nooks, cathedral ceiling and two walk-in attic accesses.

Back on the main floor, the main bedroom has a private hallway with built-in shelves, closet and access to the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom has a tray ceiling, a gas fireplace and access to the rear deck. A door opens to a spiral staircase that leads to the lower-level office.

The private bathroom has two separate vanities with single sinks, a make-up desk, whirlpool tub, a walk-in dual-head ceramic shower and a walk-in closet with built-in organizers. A second bedroom suite is on the main floor and has a walk-in closet and private full bathroom.

Two bedrooms, a Jack-and-Jill bath and a loft are located upstairs. Both bedrooms have private single-sink vanities and share access to the tub/shower.

At the bottom of the staircase to the lower level is a slate-flooring room where a wrought iron gate opens to a wine cellar and a door opens to a theater room. A hallway has access to a sauna, an exercise room with rubber floor and cedar walk-in closet, and the office with private spiral staircase, corner gas fireplace and daylight windows.

The center of the lower level has a family room with built-in bookcases surrounding a gas fireplace, patio doors that open to the paver-brick patio and access to a dining room. A kitchenette has a peninsula bar that seats six. There is a staircase that leads up to the three-car garage.

A fifth bedroom has daylight windows and a full private bath.

Directions: Ohio 48 south of Lytle-Five Points, east on Grand Cypress Boulevard

Home highlights: About 7,410 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, five full baths, 1 half bath, 5 fireplaces, sauna, theater room, hardwood floors, coffer ceilings, first-floor main bedroom, bonus room, walk-out lower level, loft, wet bar, wine cellar, 3 HVAC systems, wood windows, deck, patio, 3-car garage, circular driveway, 1.21 acre lot

Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors

http://www.GreaterDaytonHomes.com

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5-bedroom home has special spaces - Dayton Daily News

09:57 Monday 03 July 2017

Rogue traders will be warned against working in Ryton-on-Dunsmore with numerous signs and stickers handed out to residents.

Warwickshire County Councils Trading Standards, supported by Warwickshire Police, will be launching a no rogue trader zone in hotspots across the village.

Trading Standards officers will issue residents with no rogue trader door/window stickers and information booklets, following the theme of staying safe from cowboy traders.

Street signage will reinforce the message and act as a warning to rogue traders that they will be reported if they attempt to trade in the area.

Portfolio holder for community safety Cllr Howard Roberts said: Rogue traders are a menace, pressurising residents to have work carried out on their homes and gardens that is often unnecessary and always overpriced and poorly carried out.

No rogue trader zones have proved very successful in deterring rogue traders and bogus callers where they have been established across the county.

Im delighted that a no rogue trader zone is now being launched in Ryton-on-Dunsmore to help protect often very vulnerable and elderly residents from doorstep crime.

Trading Standards surveyed residents in the hotspot area. Most of the residents were aged 60 or over and almost three-quarters were at home for most of the day.

Of the residents who responded, 63 per cent said doorstep sellers were a nuisance in the area.

Two-thirds had had people knocking on their doors in the last year asking them to buy something or offering to do work for them.

Many of the residents reported doorstep callers had been persistent, aggressive, dishonest, intimidating, and intrusive.

One resident told the council officers, when she refused to open her front door, the rogue trader broke her gate to try to enter via patio doors.

Another cut down trees in a residents garden, despite being asked not to and stole ladders.

Rogue traders were also reported to have banged loudly on doors and not taken no for an answer.

PCSO Matt Havelock, of the Rugby rural central police safer neighbourhood team, added: Rogue traders call at your door and offer to do work on your home or garden that will be either unnecessary or vastly over-priced.

They have no formal training to carry out the work. Some have links with distraction burglars.

Dont ever go to a bank or cash point with the trader; legitimate traders would never do this and never allow anyone to pressure you into agreeing to have work carried out.

Do not open the door if you do not know the caller.

If you ask them to leave and they dont call 101 or 999 in an emergency.

If you do think your property needs some work, talk to a relative or friend who can help you find a reputable trader.

Never agree to any work or sign anything on the spot and if you are not sure, dont open the door.

Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to Trading Standards rapid response team via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040506.

Link:
Putting off rogue traders in Ryton - Rugby Advertiser

This article is about the complete fire protection system. For the device that actually discharges water, see Fire sprinkler.

A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection method, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected. Although historically only used in factories and large commercial buildings, systems for homes and small buildings are now available at a cost-effective price.[1] Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with over 40 million sprinkler heads fitted each year. In buildings completely protected by fire sprinkler systems, over 96% of fires were controlled by fire sprinklers alone.[2]

Leonardo da Vinci designed a sprinkler system in the 15th century. Da Vinci automated his patron's kitchen with a super-oven and a system of conveyor belts. In a comedy of errors, everything went wrong during a huge banquet, and a fire broke out. "The sprinkler system worked all too well, causing a flood that washed away all the food and a good part of the kitchen."[3]

Ambrose Godfrey created the first successful automated sprinkler system in 1723.[4] He used gunpowder to release a tank of extinguishing fluid.[4]

The worlds first modern recognizable sprinkler system was installed in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the United Kingdom in 1812 by its architect, William Congreve, and was covered by patent No 3606 dated the same year.[5] The apparatus consisted of a cylindrical airtight reservoir of 400 hogsheads (~95,000 litres) fed by a 10-inch (250mm) water main which branched to all parts of the theatre. A series of smaller pipes fed from the distribution pipe were pierced with a series of 12-inch (13mm) holes which pour water in the event of a fire.[6]

Merit Sprinkler Company states the history as:[7]

From 1852 to 1885, perforated pipe systems were used in textile mills throughout New England as a means of fire protection. However, they were not automatic systems, they did not turn on by themselves. Inventors first began experimenting with automatic sprinklers around 1860. The first automatic sprinkler system was patented by Philip W. Pratt of Abington, MA, in 1872. Henry S. Parmalee of New Haven, Connecticut is considered the inventor of the first practical automatic sprinkler head. Parmalee improved upon the Pratt patent and created a better sprinkler system. In 1874, he installed his fire sprinkler system into the piano factory that he owned.

Frederick Grinnell improved Parmalee's design and in 1881 patented the automatic sprinkler that bears his name. He continued to improve the device and in 1890 invented the glass disc sprinkler, essentially the same as that in use today.[8]

"Until the 1940s, sprinklers were installed almost exclusively for the protection of commercial buildings, whose owners were generally able to recoup their expenses with savings in insurance costs. Over the years, fire sprinklers have become mandatory safety equipment"[7] in some parts of North America, in certain occupancies, including, but not limited to newly constructed "hospitals, schools, hotels and other public buildings,"[7] subject to the local building codes and enforcement. However, outside of the US and Canada, sprinklers are rarely mandated by building codes for normal hazard occupancies which do not have large numbers of occupants (e.g. factories, process lines, retail outlets, petrol stations, etc.)

Sprinklers are now commonly installed in other buildings including schools and residential premises. This is largely as a result of lobbying by the National Fire Sprinkler Network, the European Fire Sprinkler Network and the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association.

Building regulations in Scotland and England often require fire sprinkler systems to be installed in certain types of properties to ensure safety of occupants.

In Scotland, all new schools are sprinkler protected, as are new care homes, sheltered housing and high rise flats. In England all high rise buildings over 30m must have sprinkler protection. In 2011 Wales became the first country in the world to make installation of fire sprinklers in new homes mandatory. The law will apply to newly built houses and blocks of flats, as well as care homes and university halls of residence. This law will be enforced from September 2013.[9]

Sprinklers have been in use in the United States since 1874, and were used in factory applications where fires at the turn of the century were often catastrophic in terms of both human and property losses. In the US, sprinklers are today required in all new high rise and underground buildings generally 75 feet (23m) above or below fire department access, where the ability of firefighters to provide adequate hose streams to fires is limited.[citation needed]

Sprinklers may be required to be installed by building codes, or may be recommended by insurance companies to reduce potential property losses or business interruption. Building codes in the United States for places of assembly, generally over 100 persons, and places with overnight sleeping accommodation such as hotels, nursing homes, dormitories, and hospitals usually require sprinklers either under local building codes, as a condition of receiving State and Federal funding or as a requirement to obtain certification (essential for institutions who wish to train medical staff).[citation needed]

While there is very little specific federal legislation regarding building codes, which are generally left to local jurisdictions, the federal government has used its funding and monetary clout to strongly encourage fire safety standards in construction.

In 1990 the US Congress passed PL-101-391, better known as The Hotel and Motel Fire Safety Act of 1990.[10] This law requires that any hotel, meeting hall, or similar institution that receives federal funds (i.e. for a government traveller's overnight stay, or a conference, etc.), must meet fire and other safety requirements. The most visible of these conditions is the implementation of sprinklers. As more and more hotels and other public accommodations upgraded their facilities to enable acceptance of government visitors, this type of construction became the de facto industry norm - even when not directly mandated by any local building codes.

If building codes do not explicitly mandate the use of fire sprinklers, the code often makes it highly advantageous to install them as an optional system. Most US building codes allow for less expensive construction materials, larger floor area limitations, longer egress paths, and fewer requirements for fire rated construction in structures protected by fire sprinklers. Consequently, the total building cost is often less by installing a sprinkler system and savings money in the other aspects of the project, as compared to building a non-sprinklered structure.

In 2011, Pennsylvania and California became the first US states to require sprinkler systems in all new residential construction.[11] However, Pennsylvania repealed the law later that same year.[12] Many municipalities now require residential sprinklers, even if they are not required at the state level.[13]

Renewed interest in and support for sprinkler systems in the UK, largely as a result of effective lobbying by the National Fire Sprinkler Network, the European Fire Sprinkler Network and the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association,[citation needed] has resulted in sprinkler systems being more widely installed. In schools, for example, the government has issued recommendations through Building Bulletin 100 that most new schools should be constructed with sprinkler protection. In 2011 Wales became the first country in the world where sprinklers are compulsory in all new homes. The law applies to newly built houses and blocks of flats, as well as care homes and university halls of residence.[14][15] In Scotland, all new schools are sprinklered, as are new care homes, sheltered housing and high rise flats.

In the UK, since the 1990s sprinklers have gained recognition within the Building Regulations (England and Wales) and Scottish Building Standards and under certain circumstances, the presence of sprinkler systems is deemed to provide a form of alternative compliance to some parts of the codes. For example, the presence of a sprinkler system will usually permit doubling of compartment sizes and increases in travel distances (to fire exits) as well as allowing a reduction in the fire rating of internal compartment walls.

In Norway as of July 2010, all new housing of more than two storeys, all new hotels, care homes and hospitals must be sprinklered. Other Nordic countries require or soon will require[citation needed] sprinklers in new care homes, and in Finland as of 2010 a third of care homes were retrofitted with sprinklers. A fire in an illegal immigrant detention center at Schiphol airport in The Netherlands on 27 October 2005 killed 11 detainees and led to the retrofitting of sprinklers in all similarly designed prisons in The Netherlands. A fire at Dsseldorf Airport on 11 April 1996 which killed 17 people led to sprinklers being retrofitted in all major German airports. Most European countries also require sprinklers in shopping centers, in large warehouses and in high-rise buildings.[citation needed]

Each closed-head sprinkler is held closed by either a heat-sensitive glass bulb or a two-part metal link held together with fusible alloy. The glass bulb or link applies pressure to a pipe cap which acts as a plug which prevents water from flowing until the ambient temperature around the sprinkler reaches the design activation temperature of the individual sprinkler head. In a standard wet-pipe sprinkler system, each sprinkler activates independently when the predetermined heat level is reached. Thus, only sprinklers near the fire will operate, normally just one or two. This maximizes water pressure over the point of fire origin, and minimizes water damage to the building.[16]

A sprinkler activation will do less water damage than a fire department hose stream, which provide approximately 900 litres/min (250 US gallons/min). A typical sprinkler used for industrial manufacturing occupancies discharge about 75-150 litres/min (20-40 US gallons/min). However, a typical Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinkler at a pressure of 50psi (340kPa) will discharge approximately 380 litres per minute (100USgal/min). In addition, a sprinkler will usually activate within one to four minutes of the fire's start, whereas it typically takes at least five minutes for a fire department to register an alarm and drive to the fire site, and an additional ten minutes to set up equipment and apply hose streams to the fire. This additional time can result in a much larger fire, requiring much more water to extinguish.

By a wide margin, wet pipe sprinkler systems are installed more often than all other types of fire sprinkler systems. They also are the most reliable, because they are simple, with the only operating components being the automatic sprinklers and (commonly, but not always) the automatic alarm check valve. An automatic water supply provides water under pressure to the system piping.

Dry pipe systems are the second most common sprinkler system type. Dry pipe systems are installed in spaces in which the ambient temperature may be cold enough to freeze the water in a wet pipe system, rendering the system inoperable. Dry pipe systems are most often used in unheated buildings, in parking garages, in outside canopies attached to heated buildings (in which a wet pipe system would be provided), or in refrigerated coolers. In regions using NFPA regulations, wet pipe systems cannot be installed unless the range of ambient temperatures remains above 40F (4C).[17]

Water is not present in the piping until the system operates; instead, the piping is filled with air at a pressure below the water supply pressure. To prevent the larger water supply pressure from prematurely forcing water into the piping, the design of the dry pipe valve (a specialized type of check valve) results in a greater force on top of the check valve clapper by the use of a larger valve clapper area exposed to the piping air pressure, as compared to the higher water pressure but smaller clapper surface area.

When one or more of the automatic sprinkler heads is triggered, it opens allowing the air in the piping to vent from that sprinkler. Each sprinkler operates independently, as its temperature rises above its triggering threshold. As the air pressure in the piping drops, the pressure differential across the dry pipe valve changes, allowing water to enter the piping system. Water flow from sprinklers, needed to control the fire, is delayed until the air is vented from the sprinklers. In regions using NFPA 13 regulations, the time it takes water to reach the hydraulically remote sprinkler from the time that sprinkler is activated is limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. In industry practice, this is known as the "Maximum Time of Water Delivery". The maximum time of water delivery may be required to be reduced, depending on the hazard classification of the area protected by the sprinkler system.[18]

Some property owners and building occupants may view dry pipe sprinklers as advantageous for protection of valuable collections and other water sensitive areas. This perceived benefit is due to a fear that wet system piping may slowly leak water without attracting notice, while dry pipe systems may not fail in this manner.[citation needed]

Disadvantages of using dry pipe fire sprinkler systems include:

"Deluge" systems are systems in which all sprinklers connected to the water piping system are open, in that the heat sensing operating element is removed, or specifically designed as such. These systems are used for special hazards where rapid fire spread is a concern, as they provide a simultaneous application of water over the entire hazard. They are sometimes installed in personnel egress paths or building openings to slow travel of fire (e.g. openings in a fire-rated wall).

Water is not present in the piping until the system operates. Because the sprinkler orifices are open, the piping is at atmospheric pressure. To prevent the water supply pressure from forcing water into the piping, a "deluge valve" is used in the water supply connection, which is a mechanically latched valve. It is a non-resetting valve, and stays open once tripped.

Because the heat sensing elements present in the automatic sprinklers have been removed (resulting in open sprinklers), the deluge valve must be opened as signaled by a fire alarm system. The type of fire alarm initiating device is selected mainly based on the hazard (e.g.pilot sprinklers, smoke detectors, heat detectors, or optical flame detectors). The initiation device signals the fire alarm panel, which in turn signals the deluge valve to open. Activation can also be manual, depending on the system goals. Manual activation is usually via an electric or pneumatic fire alarm pull station, which signals the fire alarm panel, which in turn signals the deluge valve to open.

Operation - Activation of a fire alarm initiating device, or a manual pull station, signals the fire alarm panel, which in turn signals the deluge valve to open, allowing water to enter the piping system. Water flows from all sprinklers simultaneously.

Pre-action sprinkler systems are specialized for use in locations where accidental activation is undesired, such as in museums with rare art works, manuscripts, or books; and Data Centers, for protection of computer equipment from accidental water discharge.

Pre-action systems are hybrids of wet, dry, and deluge systems, depending on the exact system goal. There are two main sub-types of pre-action systems: single interlock, and double interlock.

The operation of single interlock systems are similar to dry systems except that these systems require that a preceding fire detection event, typically the activation of a heat or smoke detector, takes place prior to the action of water introduction into the systems piping by opening the pre-action valve, which is a mechanically latched valve (i.e. similar to a deluge valve). In this way, the system is essentially converted from a dry system into a wet system. The intent is to reduce the undesirable time delay of water delivery to sprinklers that is inherent in dry systems. Prior to fire detection, if the sprinkler operates, or the piping system develops a leak, loss of air pressure in the piping will activate a trouble alarm. In this case, the pre-action valve will not open due to loss of supervisory pressure, and water will not enter the piping.

The operation of double interlock systems are similar to deluge systems except that automatic sprinklers are used. These systems require that both a preceding fire detection event, typically the activation of a heat or smoke detector, and an automatic sprinkler operation take place prior to the action of water introduction into the systems piping. Activation of either the fire detectors alone, or sprinklers alone, without the concurrent operation of the other, will not allow water to enter the piping. Because water does not enter the piping until a sprinkler operates, double interlock systems are considered as dry systems in terms of water delivery times, and similarly require a larger design area.

A foam water fire sprinkler system is a special application system, discharging a mixture of water and low expansion foam concentrate, resulting in a foam spray from the sprinkler. These systems are usually used with special hazards occupancies associated with high challenge fires, such as flammable liquids, and airport hangars. Operation is as described above, depending on the system type into which the foam is injected.

"Water spray" systems are operationally identical to a deluge system, but the piping and discharge nozzle spray patterns are designed to protect a uniquely configured hazard, usually being three-dimensional components or equipment (i.e. as opposed to a deluge system, which is designed to cover the horizontal floor area of a room). The nozzles used may not be listed fire sprinklers, and are usually selected for a specific spray pattern to conform to the three-dimensional nature of the hazard (e.g. typical spray patterns being oval, fan, full circle, narrow jet). Examples of hazards protected by water spray systems are electrical transformers containing oil for cooling or turbo-generator bearings. Water spray systems can also be used externally on the surfaces of tanks containing flammable liquids or gases (such as hydrogen). Here the water spray is intended to cool the tank and its contents to prevent tank rupture/explosion (BLEVE) and fire spread.

Water mist systems are used for special applications in which it is decided that creating a heat absorbent vapor is the primary objective. This type of system is typically used where water damage may be a concern, or where water supplies are limited. NFPA 750[20] defines water mist as a water spray with a droplet size of "less than 1000 microns at the minimum operation pressure of the discharge nozzle." The droplet size can be controlled by the adjusting discharge pressure through a nozzle of a fixed orifice size. By creating a mist, an equal volume of water will create a larger total surface area exposed to the fire. The larger total surface area better facilitates the transfer of heat, thus allowing more water droplets to turn to steam more quickly. A water mist, which absorbs more heat than water per unit time, due to exposed surface area, will more effectively cool the room, thus reducing the temperature of the flame.

Operation - Water mist systems can operate with the same functionality as deluge, wet pipe, dry pipe, or pre-action systems. The difference is that a water mist system uses a compressed gas as an atomizing medium, which is pumped through the sprinkler pipe. Instead of compressed gas, some systems use a high-pressure pump to pressurize the water so it atomizes as it exits the sprinkler nozzle.[21] Systems can be applied using local application method or total flooding method, similar to Clean Agent Fire Protection Systems.

inside bulb

This chart from the fire safety standards indicates the colour of the bulb and the respective operating temperature.

Sprinkler systems are intended to either control the fire or to suppress the fire. Control mode sprinklers are intended to control the heat release rate of the fire to prevent building structure collapse, and pre-wet the surrounding combustibles to prevent fire spread. The fire is not extinguished until the burning combustibles are exhausted or manual extinguishment is effected by firefighters. Suppression mode sprinklers (formerly known as Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers) are intended to result in a severe sudden reduction of the heat release rate of the fire, followed quickly by complete extinguishment, prior to manual intervention.

Most sprinkler systems installed today are designed using an area and density approach. First the building use and building contents are analyzed to determine the level of fire hazard. Usually buildings are classified as light hazard, ordinary hazard group 1, ordinary hazard group 2, extra hazard group 1, or extra hazard group 2. After determining the hazard classification, a design area and density can be determined by referencing tables in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The design area is a theoretical area of the building representing the worst case area where a fire could burn. The design density is a measurement of how much water per square foot of floor area should be applied to the design area.

For example, in an office building classified as light hazard, a typical design area would be 1,500 square feet (140m2) and the design density would be 0.1 US gallons per minute (0.38l/min) per 1 square foot (0.093m2) or a minimum of 150 US gallons per minute (570l/min) applied over the 1,500-square-foot (140m2) design area. Another example would be a manufacturing facility classified as ordinary hazard group 2 where a typical design area would be 1,500 square feet (140m2) and the design density would be 0.2 US gallons per minute (0.76l/min) per 1 square foot (0.093m2) or a minimum of 300 US gallons per minute (1,100l/min) applied over the 1,500-square-foot (140m2) design area.

After the design area and density have been determined, calculations are performed to prove that the system can deliver the required amount of water over the required design area. These calculations account for all of the pressure that is lost or gained between the water supply source and the sprinklers that would operate in the design area. This includes pressure losses due to friction inside the piping and losses or gains due to elevational differences between the source and the discharging sprinklers. Sometimes momentum pressure from water velocity inside the piping is also calculated. Typically these calculations are performed using computer software but before the advent of computer systems these sometimes complicated calculations were performed by hand. This skill of calculating sprinkler systems by hand is still required training for a sprinkler system design technologist who seeks senior level certification from engineering certification organizations such as the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET).

Sprinkler systems in residential structures are becoming more common as the cost of such systems becomes more practical and the benefits become more obvious. Residential sprinkler systems usually fall under a residential classification separate from the commercial classifications mentioned above. A commercial sprinkler system is designed to protect the structure and the occupants from a fire. Most residential sprinkler systems are primarily designed to suppress a fire in such a way to allow for the safe escape of the building occupants. While these systems will often also protect the structure from major fire damage, this is a secondary consideration. In residential structures sprinklers are often omitted from closets, bathrooms, balconies, garages and attics because a fire in these areas would not usually impact the occupant's escape route.

If water damage or water volume is of particular concern, a technique called Water Mist Fire Suppression may be an alternative. This technology has been under development for over 50 years. It hasn't entered general use, but is gaining some acceptance on ships and in a few residential applications. Mist suppression systems work by using the heat of the fire to 'flash' the water mist cloud to steam. This then smothers the fire. As such, mist systems tend to be highly effective where there is likely to be a free-burning hot fire. Where there is insufficient heat (as in a deep seated fire such as will be found in stored paper) no steam will be generated and the mist system will not extinguish the fire. Some tests have shown that the volume of water needed to extinguish a fire with such a system installed can be dramatically less than with a conventional sprinkler system.[22]

In 2008, the installed costs of sprinkler systems ranged from US$0.31 $3.66 per square foot, depending on type and location. Residential systems, installed at the time of initial home construction and utilizing municipal water supplies, average about US$0.35/square foot.[23] Systems can be installed during construction or retrofitted. Some communities have laws requiring residential sprinkler systems, especially where large municipal hydrant water supplies ("fire flows") are not available. Nationwide in the United States, one and two-family homes generally do not require fire sprinkler systems, although the overwhelming loss of life due to fires occurs in these spaces.[citation needed] Residential sprinkler systems are inexpensive (about the same per square foot as carpeting or floor tiling), but require larger water supply piping than is normally installed in homes, so retrofitting is usually cost prohibitive.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires in hotels with sprinklers averaged 78% less damage than fires in hotels without them (19831987). The NFPA says the average loss per fire in buildings with sprinklers was $2,300, compared to an average loss of $10,300 in unsprinklered buildings. The NFPA adds that there is no record of a fatality in a fully sprinklered building outside the point of fire origin.[citation needed] However, in a purely economic comparison, this is not a complete picture; the total costs of fitting, and the costs arising from non-fire triggered release must be factored.

The NFPA states that it "has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a completely sprinklered building where a sprinkler system was properly operating, except in an explosion or flash fire or where industrial fire brigade members or employees were killed during fire suppression operations."

The world's largest fire sprinkler manufacturer is the Fire Protection Products division of Tyco International.[citation needed]

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Fire sprinkler system - Wikipedia

Irrigation sprinklers are sprinklers providing irrigation to agriculture, crops, vegetation, or for recreation, as a cooling system, or for the control of airborne dust, landscaping and golf courses. The sprinkler system irrigates the field and thus it is widely used in sandy areas as it checks the wastage of water through seepage and evaporation. Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water which is similar to natural rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground. The pump supply system, sprinklers and operating conditions must be designed to enable a uniform application of water.

Sprinklers that spray in a fixed pattern are generally called sprays or spray heads. Sprays are not usually designed to operate at pressures , due to misting problems that may develop.

Higher pressure sprinklers that themselves move in a circle are driven by a ball drive, gear drive, or impact mechanism (impact sprinklers). These can be designed to rotate in a full or partial circle.

Rainguns are similar to impact sprinkler, except that they generally operate at very high pressures of 40 to 130lbf/in (275 to 900 kPa) and flows of 50 to 1200 US gal/min (3 to 76 L/s), usually with nozzle diameters in the range of 0.5 to 1.9inches (10 to 50mm). In addition to irrigation, guns are used for industrial applications such as dust suppression and logging.

Many irrigation sprinklers are buried in the ground along with their supporting plumbing, although above ground and moving sprinklers are also common. Most irrigation sprinklers operate through electric and hydraulic technology and are grouped together in zones that can be collectively turned on and off by actuating a solenoid-controlled valve.

Home lawn sprinklers vary widely in their size, cost, and complexity. They include impact sprinklers, oscillating sprinklers, drip sprinklers, and underground sprinkler systems. Small sprinklers are available at home and garden stores or hardware stores for small costs. These are often attached to an outdoor water faucet and are placed only temporarily. Other systems may be professionally installed permanently in the ground and are attached permanently to a home's plumbing system. An ingenious domestic sprinkler made by Nomad called a 'set-and-forget tractor sprinkler' was used in Australia in the 1950s. Water pressure ensured that the sprinkler slowly moved across a lawn.[1]

Permanently installed systems may often operate on timers or other automated processes. They are occasionally installed with retractable heads for aesthetic and practical reasons (making damage during lawn mowing or other maintenance less likely). These often are programmed to operate on a schedule and irrigate a piece of land in zones.[2]

Underground sprinklers function through means of basic electronic and hydraulic technology. This valve and all of the sprinklers that will be activated by this valve are known as a zone. Upon activation, the solenoid, which sits on top of the valve is magnetized lifting a small stainless steel plunger in its center. By doing this, the activated (or raised) plunger allows air to escape from the top of a rubber diaphragm located in the center of the valve. Water that has been charged and waiting on the bottom of this same diaphragm now has the higher pressure and lifts the diaphragm. This pressurized water is then allowed to escape down stream of the valve through a series of pipes, usually made of PVC (higher pressure commercial systems) or polyethylene pipe (for typically lower pressure residential systems). At the end of these pipes and flush to ground level (typically) are pre measured and spaced out sprinklers. These sprinklers can be fixed spray heads that have a set pattern and generally spray between 1.52m (715ft.), full rotating sprinklers that can spray a broken stream of water from 612m (2040ft.), or small drip emitters that release a slow, steady drip of water on more delicate plants such as flowers and shrubs. use of indigenous materials also recommended.[3]

Rotator style pivot applicator sprinkler

End Gun style pivot applicator sprinkler

The first use of sprinklers by farmers was some form of home and golf course type sprinklers. These ad hoc systems, while doing the job of the buried pipes and fixed sprinkler heads, interfered with cultivation and were expensive to maintain. In the 1950s a firm based in Portland, Oregon Stout-Wyss Irrigation System, developed the rolling pipe type irrigation system for farms that has become the most popular type for farmers irrigating large fields. With this system large wheels attached to the large pipes with sprinkler heads move slowly across the field.[4]

Most irrigation sprinklers are used as part of a sprinkler system, consisting of various plumbing parts, pump unit,[5] piping and control equipment. Outdoor sprinkler systems are sometimes used as a deterrent against homeless people. This sprinkler system was programmed to drench unsuspecting sleepers at random times during the night. Local businessmen soon copied this system in an effort to drive homeless people away from public sidewalks adjacent to their businesses.[6]

In 2014, it was reported that use of common garden hoses in combination with spray nozzles may generate aerosols containing droplets smaller than 10 m, which can be inhaled by nearby people. Water stagnating in a hose between uses, especially when warmed by the sun, can host the growth and interaction of Legionella and free-living amoebae (FLA) as biofilms on the inner surface of the hose. Clinical cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever have been found to be associated with inhalation of garden hose aerosols containing Legionella bacteria. The report provides measured microbial densities resulting from controlled hose conditions in order to quantify the human health risks. The densities of Legionella spp. identified in two types of hoses were found to be similar to those reported during legionellosis outbreaks from other causes. It is proposed that the risk could be mitigated by draining hoses after use.[7]

An underground sprinkler system about to be installed

Irrigation sprinkler watering crops.

An oscillating sprinkler watering a lawn

An irrigation sprinkler in action

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Irrigation sprinkler - Wikipedia

In 1996, Dean Rodgers served active duty for the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

We regularly had droughts because we had limited water, said Rodgers, who now is Amherst County's administrator. [The state] limited the amount of lawn water you could use during certain hours.

Rodgers would go to work on base at around 7:30 a.m. and said he didnt have time to run home and water his lawn during those hours.

Rodgers and a co-worker, William Dick, worked in the same office in the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence.

Dick originally came up with the idea for a new sprinkler system and showed it to Rodgers, who suggested he attach a connector pipe to make it rotate, Rodgers said.

Rodgers said what makes the sprinkler system, dubbed Quick-Snap, different from others is that consumers never have to put it away.

It's an industrial-grade, professional sprinkler head, which are not available as end-of-hose sprinklers because they are designed to operate from buried piping, he said.

Buyers can snap a hose onto the Quick-Snap and water pressure pushes a riser up five inches above the ground. The stream spouts water 17 to 40 feet at 2.5 gallons per minute. The rotation can be set 40 to 360 degrees.

Rodgers said the sprinklers are similar to those contractors install but cost about $2,000 less because a contractor would have to put in the in-ground pipes and connections to have a pop-up sprinkler system.Retailers sell Quick-Snap products for between $20 to $40.

Rodgers has invested about $100,000 in the business but said he has yet to make money off the product because he pours all profits back into the business.

Each year it grows, so I have to buy more inventory, he said.

Quick-Snap sold about 500 products a year for the first 10 years, but now it sells about 5,000 to 6,000 a year around the world, Rodgers said.

Rodgers said he began by making a few sprinklers in his living room and selling them.

By the end of the summer, Dick said he couldnt keep doing it while he had a day job, but I said, Yeah I think I want to keep it going, and I may even get it patented.

Rodgers got permission from Dick and set up a licensing agreement; each year Rodgers sends Dick a royalty check. Rodgers patented the product three years later in 1999.

Ive been selling it ever since, he said. I spent years going to trade shows and trying to pitch it to big manufacturers.

Thats when Amazon.com, Sams Club and other retailers added Quick-Snap to their product lines.

Retailers are interested, but not manufacturers, Rodgers said. The in-ground sprinkler manufacturers see us as a threat to their customers the contractors who install in-ground systems. The end-of-hose sprinkler manufacturers consider Quick-Snaps as unmarketable because it would force their customers to dig a hole to use the product.

So, Rodgers manufactures the product himself. But with a busy life working as Amhersts County administrator, Rodgers said he is ready to sell the business.

It keeps me busy, he said. There are two or three hours every night bookkeeping in regards to sales and ordering parts and supplies, he said.

Sams Club now is running a market test of Quick-Snap sprinklers, buying 160 units for 25 stores, including the Lynchburg location.

They are going to see how well they sell, Rodgers said. Im hoping they sell so they will pick up the product and sell it again.

Though Sams Club wont release numbers on how well Rodgers product is selling, spokesperson Laura Poss said the retailer often tests new products.

Were certainly excited were getting to share a local product with that community and they can test it, she said.

She said Sams Club encourages people to bring in their products and talk to managers about getting them on shelves to see if theyre a good fit.

We make ourselves really available to other entrepreneurs to get their product on the shelves and start a conversation, she said.

She said there are several ways the future of Quick-Snap could go in Sams Club.

Its varied depending on what the product is, but there could be an opportunity to spread to that market if its successful, she said.

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Amherst County administrator invented, patented sprinkler system - Lynchburg News and Advance

The sprinkler system at the six-story, 83-unit Treadmark complex in Dorchester that went up in flames Wednesday remains the focus of a fire department probe, with the building owner claiming an inspection was set for yesterday.

Part of our investigation is what was operational and what wasnt, Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said last night. The fire was on the roof and sixth-floor only ... its all still part of our investigation.

Fire Commissioner Joe Finn added earlier yesterday that the sprinklers being offline was a major contributing factor to the fire that caused an estimated $45 million in damage.

Sprinkler systems are supposed to be turned on two floors below the work area for buildings under construction, Finn added.

Developer Jim Keefe of Trinity Financial said the sprinkler and life safety systems were installed and were slated to be tested (yesterday). They could not have been activated until approval was received.

The wood-frame apartment and condo block on Dorchester Avenue, which was nearing completion with units already under agreement, had condos listed for $339,000 to $539,000. MacDonald said the building is a total loss.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh said he was grateful no one was hurt in the fire and said he wanted more information before commenting on the buildings wood construction being a potential factor.

I dont know if theres a risk, theres thousands and thousands of these units built all over Massachusetts that we dont have an issue like this, Walsh said. Obviously with buildings made of wood, yeah, you have to be careful.

Keefe backed the wood framing, saying hes confident in this building methodology. He said no final decision has been made on the next step for the complex.

Many units in the building had already been rented or sold. Walsh said the city will set up an operation inside City Hall to work with any families who might have planned to move and were displaced.

Joe Dwinell and Dan Atkinson contributed to this report.

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Sprinkler system a focus in Dorchester fire probe - Boston Herald

Even with opposition from neighbors, the massive project to replace and widen parts I-70 in Denver will begin next year.

Anusha Roy, KUSA 10:12 PM. MDT June 26, 2017

(Photo: KUSA)

KUSA - Even with opposition from neighbors, the massive project to replace and widen parts I-70 in Denver will begin next year.

The Colorado Department of Transportation could spend around $5 million on a sprinkler system designed to put out fires on a certain section of the new road.

This is for a section of I-70 in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood north of downtown.

RELATED:I-70 expansion given the green light despite neighborhood objections

RELATED:Feds sign off on $1.2B overhaul of I-70 across north Denver

The highway will drop 30 feet below ground from Columbine to Clayton, then crews will build a steel and concrete cover so that a park can go on top.

CDOT says they have to put in these sprinklers to comply with fire safety regulations for the roughly 1,000 feet that will be enclosed.

(Photo: KUSA)

"We are talking about heat detection systems, video cameras, a sprinkler system that can run 30 minutes of continuous water and then fill up stand pipes so when the fire department gets there they can have immediate access to water," CDOT's RebeccaWhite said.

Neighbors who are walking distance from the highway and opposed to the project now have more questions.

"I'm just worried about a deep hole and gathering so much water down there," Luis Gomez said.

CDOT says new drainage has to be built when lowering the interstate to make space for rain, melting snow and the sprinkler water. The technology doesn't come cheap.

"It's a lot more cost-effective to do it now than retrofit it," White said.

(Photo: KUSA)

The money was already part of the $1.2 billion budget, CDOT says.

"If we are rebuilding an interstate for public safety, we have to consider everything," White said.

The sprinkler system is similar to the one in the Eisenhower tunnel that cost $20 million, which covers a larger area.

CDOT says around a dozen cities have similar enclosed highways.

Construction is expected to start next year.

2017 KUSA-TV

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Sprinkler system in I-70 widening project could cost $5 million - 9News - 9NEWS.com