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Thomas Reynolds
Feb 26, 2008, 5:51:48 PM2/26/08
to
As I was a fire fighter in another lifetime, I have an interest in things
which can kill firemen. Here is one of interest to firemen and home owners
equally. For the last 10-15 years, home have been built using a
technique/materials called "Lightweight Construction." Well, what this
means is newer houses burn completely in about half the time older houses
take to just get rolling. We could typically save a house so it could be
rehabilitated rather than demolished if we could get into it quickly and
fight it from the inside. The "lightweight construction" houses give
firefighters only a few minutes inside before they must withdraw or die in
their boots. some of the materials used are composites and light laminates
with solvents and glues I guess which go off like rocket fuel. Anyway,
something to know when buying a house. Our county has required all new
house construction to have sprinklers just like commercial construction as a
result of what they are seeing. People have had very little time to escape
and they saw totally demolished houses in 15 minutes...nothing but the
foundations left. VA recently lost a fireman who couldn't escape a new
house before it totally collapsed on him.
which can kill firemen. Here is one of interest to firemen and home owners
equally. For the last 10-15 years, home have been built using a
technique/materials called "Lightweight Construction." Well, what this
means is newer houses burn completely in about half the time older houses
take to just get rolling. We could typically save a house so it could be
rehabilitated rather than demolished if we could get into it quickly and
fight it from the inside. The "lightweight construction" houses give
firefighters only a few minutes inside before they must withdraw or die in
their boots. some of the materials used are composites and light laminates
with solvents and glues I guess which go off like rocket fuel. Anyway,
something to know when buying a house. Our county has required all new
house construction to have sprinklers just like commercial construction as a
result of what they are seeing. People have had very little time to escape
and they saw totally demolished houses in 15 minutes...nothing but the
foundations left. VA recently lost a fireman who couldn't escape a new
house before it totally collapsed on him.
Laury
Feb 27, 2008, 10:14:53 AM2/27/08
to
"Thomas Reynolds" <tom.re...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:8K0xj.6119$xg6.1865@trnddc07...
> As I was a fire fighter in another lifetime, I have an interest in things
> which can kill firemen. Here is one of interest to firemen and home
> owners equally. For the last 10-15 years, home have been built using a
> technique/materials called "Lightweight Construction." Well, what this
> means is newer houses burn completely in about half the time older houses
> take to just get rolling.
Is there a way to tell if your house was constructed in this manner?
Do they still have 2x6es and so on?
My house was built 12 or 13 years ago. One of the features that I
like is that it has a smoke/CO detector systems hardwired throughout
the house. If one goes off in the basement, it goes off in every room
in the house.
Recently my daughter and her husband had several guests over. As
the guests were getting ready to leave everyone was lingering in a
hallway talking, which actually set off her CO alarm. At least we know
it works!
Laury
Thomas Reynolds
Feb 27, 2008, 10:46:19 AM2/27/08
to
"Laury" <la...@coxxx.net> wrote in message
news:%7fxj.58371$Ft5....@newsfe15.lga...
monoxide. I can't tell you how many times we found gas fired furnaces or
hot water heaters (oil is rarely used around my area) which were not
properly vented and as a result, carbon monoxide levels were very high.
Folks would wake up with headaches and be exhausted during the day. I never
used scientific tools since I smoked in those days. I would simply test
with smoke coming off a cigarette and see if it was drawn up the flu when
the furnace or water heater *was running.* Even a lousy flu will take smoke
up when the furnace is off or everyone would have died the first night they
lived there. And a flu which starts out working can be ruined by mice etc.
Thomas Reynolds
Feb 27, 2008, 11:09:28 AM2/27/08
to
never needing batteries to be replaced (I have seen fires with crispy
critters where the alarms didn't sound due to lack of batteries). On the
other hand, many, many fires start from electrical shorts which almost
immediately render hard wired alarms useless, i.e., they never sound. The
best approach is a combination. One place where redundant systems can save
your life, especially if you can't trust yourself to replace batteries.
Funny thing about denial regarding your house burning down is that denial
stops the first time your boot sinks into the belly of a crispy critter you
hadn't realized was there. The next day you might just go out and buy
alarms and a kitchen fire extinguisher etc. Regarding how to tell if your
house was built using "lightweight construction" I think I would go into the
attic and look at the trusses and joists and same thing in the
basement/crawl space. If structural materials seem to be laminates I would
simply assume it. After all, what can you do except to exercise more
caution and be clear with everyone to simply run out instantly in case of
fire which is good to do in any case. If it is really important to you,
hire a house inspector for a small fee (after all, you are not buying a full
inspection) to look around and determine the construction method.
Grumpy AuContraire
Feb 27, 2008, 12:02:27 PM2/27/08
to
Laury wrote:
...
> Recently my daughter and her husband had several guests over. As
> the guests were getting ready to leave everyone was lingering in a
> hallway talking, which actually set off her CO alarm. At least we know
> it works!
>
Horrors!!! Call Al Gore! CO2 will kill us all!!!!!
<kaff kaff sputter...>
JT
Laury
Feb 27, 2008, 12:05:18 PM2/27/08
to
news:YWfxj.13749$Sw6.551@trnddc06...
Ours also have batteries. I thought that all hardwired systems did. My
parents are in a brand new condo right now and their system is the
same. In fact, you can't remove the battery without the alarm going
off.
We test our system every time my husband cooks. :)
Laury
Laury
Feb 27, 2008, 12:09:58 PM2/27/08
to
news:fBfxj.6575$Dz4.6080@trnddc01...
>> That alarm is alarming since people give off carbon *dioxide* not carbon
> monoxide. I can't tell you how many times we found gas fired furnaces or
> hot water heaters (oil is rarely used around my area) which were not
> properly vented and as a result, carbon monoxide levels were very high.
> Folks would wake up with headaches and be exhausted during the day.
>> That alarm is alarming since people give off carbon *dioxide* not carbon
> monoxide. I can't tell you how many times we found gas fired furnaces or
> hot water heaters (oil is rarely used around my area) which were not
> properly vented and as a result, carbon monoxide levels were very high.
> Folks would wake up with headaches and be exhausted during the day.
She's a nurse and he's a firefighter. You can't imagine how overkill
they are about such things.
But you're right about the monitor. I bet several cars were heating up
right outside the door.
Laury
Thomas Reynolds
Feb 27, 2008, 12:17:12 PM2/27/08
to
news:xLgxj.58372$Ft5....@newsfe15.lga...
>>>
>>> Laury
>> I should add advice about hard wired alarms. They have advantages such
>> as never needing batteries to be replaced (I have seen fires with crispy
>> critters where the alarms didn't sound due to lack of batteries). On the
>> other hand, many, many fires start from electrical shorts which almost
>> immediately render hard wired alarms useless, i.e., they never sound.
>> The best approach is a combination.
>
> Ours also have batteries. I thought that all hardwired systems did. My
> parents are in a brand new condo right now and their system is the
> same. In fact, you can't remove the battery without the alarm going
> off.
>
> We test our system every time my husband cooks. :)
>
> Laury
You can simply assume your parents' condo uses the lightweight construction
method. I think it a good idea to make the detector's as you describe
yours. Perhaps it is the way it is done for all hardwired ones these days,
but it certainly wasn't when I was buying. In any event, the battery
powered alarms are excellent if you make sure to replace the batteries once
a year even if the batteries seem good (that applies to your combination
alarms too as the batteries are all you have when the power goes out...the
purpose of the batteries). Use the remaining life in replaced batteries to
power noncritical devices like radios or flashlights. Even if you toss
them, the cost of safety is maybe $10-15 a year (maybe less).
>>>
>>> Laury
>> I should add advice about hard wired alarms. They have advantages such
>> as never needing batteries to be replaced (I have seen fires with crispy
>> critters where the alarms didn't sound due to lack of batteries). On the
>> other hand, many, many fires start from electrical shorts which almost
>> immediately render hard wired alarms useless, i.e., they never sound.
>> The best approach is a combination.
>
> Ours also have batteries. I thought that all hardwired systems did. My
> parents are in a brand new condo right now and their system is the
> same. In fact, you can't remove the battery without the alarm going
> off.
>
> We test our system every time my husband cooks. :)
>
> Laury
method. I think it a good idea to make the detector's as you describe
yours. Perhaps it is the way it is done for all hardwired ones these days,
but it certainly wasn't when I was buying. In any event, the battery
powered alarms are excellent if you make sure to replace the batteries once
a year even if the batteries seem good (that applies to your combination
alarms too as the batteries are all you have when the power goes out...the
purpose of the batteries). Use the remaining life in replaced batteries to
power noncritical devices like radios or flashlights. Even if you toss
them, the cost of safety is maybe $10-15 a year (maybe less).
A
Feb 27, 2008, 1:18:57 PM2/27/08
to
> We test our system every time my husband cooks. :)
LOL! "It's always barbecue when hubby cooks."
;-)
- Anne
Laury
Feb 27, 2008, 1:38:21 PM2/27/08
to
"A" <hennypen...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:hennypennynospam...@10.0.1.197...
>
>> We test our system every time my husband cooks. :)
>
>
> LOL! "It's always barbecue when hubby cooks."
>
> ;-)
Cooking rules for men:
1. Absolutely no cooking during hockey games.
2. Or any other sports.
3. Or Jeopardy.
4. No cooking with oil on top of stove.
Other than that, he's pretty handy in the kitchen. :)
Laury
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