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Preparing Your Commercial Property for Winter:
Tips to protect and ensure longevity of the building
As winter approaches, property owners, facility managers and building maintenance supervisors should take precautionary steps to ensure their buildings are prepared for whatever weather conditions Mother Nature may bring.
RCI, Inc., the leading international association of professional consultants, architects, and engineers who specialize in the specification and design of roofing, waterproofing, and exterior wall systems, recommends a few simple, proactive steps to help endure winter’s harshest weather conditions, including sleet, hail, snow and high winds.
Inspect the roof annually at a minimum:
Before the cold weather arrives, inspect the roof for potential weak spots, leak points and loose building envelope components. Roofs subject to routine traffic should be fitted with walkway protection mats and inspections increased to twice yearly. Roofs that become covered with autumn leaves should be inspected three times annually.
Ensure the roof and drains are clear of obstruction and fully functioning:
Remove any debris or vegetation growing on the roof and cut back tree limbs that may touch it. Branches that brush a roof can abrade or even puncture its surface. Clear gutters of fallen leaves to prevent drain overflowing as they can cause a roof to collapse.
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Bridging Technology
Copper continues to be the standard for residential wiring needs
On any given Sunday, why would anyone brave sub-zero degree temperatures at a football game when they could watch it in the comfort of home on a giant plasma flat screen with Dolby surround sound?
Why drive to the mall to buy your favorite artist’s new album when, in seconds, it can be legally downloaded on your home computer?
Why wake up and log on to your desktop when you could stay in bed and surf the Web wirelessly on your laptop?
Advances in technology are enabling us to create new routines and cast off the old ones. Each is anchored in convenience, can be performed with a mouse click, and completed while still in PJs.
Even as power and prevalence of internet connections, home theater and entertainment systems grow, one constant remains the bridge to newer technology: copper. Read the Complete Story »
Spring Has Sprung: Is Your Backyard Kid-Friendly?
With the winter season finally behind us, families are heading straight for the outdoors. Kids with cabin fever are anxious for some fun in the sun. But before planning your next barbeque, take the time to check for potential safety hazards that may be lurking in your own backyard. These helpful tips are a good starting point for keeping your family safe this summer.
Outdoor Wiring
Outdoor parties often include indoor appliances like radios and blenders that require electricity. This can present risks for adults and children alike. Basic indoor electrical safety rules apply outside the home as well. It’s important to remember to always install plastic safety covers in unused outlets to prevent little fingers from getting inside them, and replace any cracked or frayed electrical cords. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association recommends the following precautions for dealing with outdoor power:
• Make sure outdoor electrical fixtures are weatherproof
• Don’t use electrical appliances outdoors when the ground is wet unless they have been rated for that kind of use
• Never run extension cords across lawns, walks or driveways and only use extension cords rated for outdoor use
Gauging the Difference
In Home Wiring, Lower Gauge Means Greater Power
Someday you may need new electrical wiring in your home and the electrician may ask if you want 12 AWG or 14 AWG (American Wire Gauge). You may not know what this means, but opt for the lower number. When it comes to electrical wiring, a lower gauge number means larger wires with lower electrical resistance, and that translates into greater load-carrying capacity.
It also means better power quality. Fatter wires produce less waste heat and less “voltage drop,” which simply means they can transmit full, unimpeded power for critical applications such as home entertainment and the home office. With 12-gauge wiring, lights will flicker less. Moreover, fatter wires provide room for growth—that is, they allow homeowners to increase electricity use without the need to rewire.
Consider this: One thousand feet of 14 AWG solid wiring has a resistance of 2.53 ohms. The same length of 12 AWG has a resistance of 1.59 ohms. That 0.94-ohm difference equals a 37.5 percent drop in resistance, and less resistance means less chance that your home’s circuits will overload because too many appliances are drawing too much power. And make sure your circuit breaker matches the wire size: 20 Amps for 12 AWG of 15 Amps for 14 AWG. Otherwise, you negate the protection the circuit breaker provides.
Newborn Safety
Baby-Proofing Your Home
Preparing the home for a new baby’s arrival is a highly anticipated and exciting time for new parents. At the same time, however, parents must be aware of potential safety hazards in their home and evaluate baby-proofing tips which must be completed. More than 4.5 million children are wounded in the home every year—most of these injuries can be prevented if parents take appropriate precautions to ensure their children’s safety. By following these simple steps, parents can be sure they are bringing home baby to a loving and safe home. Read the Complete Story »
For Fire Safety—Copper, Steel or Plastic?
New Building Codes to Require Fire Sprinkler Systems in Homes
All newly constructed one- and two-family homes will soon have to include automatic fire sprinkler systems, according to a recent ruling by the International Code Council, which develops model building codes and standards in the U.S.
The “burning” question for builders and buyers of those homes, beginning in January 2011, is whether they would rFire Safetyather be protected by plastic, steel or copper—the three principal piping materials used in today’s sprinkler systems. All are approved for use in both commercial and residential structures.
Threaded steel pipe was for many years preferred for sprinkler systems in commercial facilities. Steel pipe is inexpensive and easy to install in open, accessible areas, and where its bulky, rough-looking appearance is not objectionable to occupants.
But appearance matters to homeowners, and rigid steel pipe is hard to work with in confined spaces and especially difficult to accommodate in design-conscious residential interiors. Another drawback is that in “wet” (water-filled) fire sprinkler systems, rusted or discolored discharge water from steel pipe can multiply the damage caused by fire.
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