Information Archives - Infinity Fire Protection

December 12, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Christmas Tree Fire Safety Tips

From the NFPA: Christmas Tree Safety Tips

Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.
Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2” from the base of the trunk.
Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
Add water to the tree stand. Be sure to add water daily.
Use lights that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

* Almost one third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.

* A heat source too close to the tree causes more than one in every five of the fires.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

December 4, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Types of Smoke Alarms – Part 1

Smoke alarms are very important to fire safety in your home, the death rate in home structure fires is approximately 60% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked, according to the latest NFPA research.

There are different types of alarms that can be purchased that have different pros and cons:

Most often, you will see information pertaining to Photoelectric vs Ionization alarms. The difference between these two types is the sensor that is used to detect the smoke. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires (imagine a fire where you can see the flame), while a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoking, smoldering fires (such as a cigarette).

To get an alarm that is just as responsive to smoldering fires as it is to flaming fires, you can get an alarm that has dual sensors. These alarms have both an ionization sensor and a photoelectric sensor that will cause the alarm to sound.

There are also combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that have both sensors to sense smoke and to sense for carbon monoxide (CO). These alarms may look like smoke alarms and are mounted on the ceiling or the wall near the ceiling. If your house has fuel-burning equipment or appliances (oil or gas boiler, oil or gas furnace, oil or gas water heater, fireplace, etc.), an attached garage, or a fuel-burning generator, then you will need to also have carbon monoxide detection within your house.

Check back next month for more information on Smoke Alarms or contact us.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Smoke Detector

November 22, 2024

Fire Prevention Safety Information

Fire Safety Tips When Cooking

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, below you will find some cooking safety tips from the U.S. Fire Administration:

Cooking is, by far, the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Home cooking fires happen most often on Thanksgiving.

In 2021, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated 170,000 home cooking fires. These fires caused an estimated 135 deaths, 3,000 injuries and over $494 million in property loss.

Stand by your pan:

If you leave the kitchen, turn the burner off.

Watch what you are cooking:

Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off.

Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove:

Then no one can bump them or pull them over.

Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby:

Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire.

Set a Timer:

If you are simmering or baking, set a timer so you don’t get distracted and forget you are cooking.

In case of an oven fire:

Turn off the oven and keep the door closed until it is cool.

Microwave Fire:

If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off immediately and do not open the door until it is cool.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Cooking Fire

November 13, 2024

Information

Winterize Your Sprinkler System Before the Freeze

The time to winterize your Sprinkler System is before freezing weather hits!

According to NFPA statistics, 10% of sprinkler system failures are due to lack of maintenance and 7% of failures are due to damaged system components. With a little care these types of failures can be avoided when the temperature starts to drop!

Per the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA); sprinkler systems exposed to cold weather are especially vulnerable. During cold months, these systems are more susceptible to catastrophic failure. Frozen sprinkler pipes are among the more common service calls throughout winter months.

Maintaining a minimum of 40 degrees (F) is imperative in ensuring the sprinkler pipes do not freeze. Many areas that go unnoticed during the summer can create issues in cold months, these areas include, but are not limited to, entry ways (vestibules) and stairwells, unoccupied spaces, and areas that are not properly insulated.

The low point and auxiliary drains are required to be drained after each operation of the system, before the onset of freezing weather, and as needed after that. How often these drains shall be operated throughout the cold season will depend on how much condensation is in the drain.

Removing water from a dry system is an essential part of a good maintenance program. Failure to keep the dry system free of water can result in damage and expensive repairs to both the system and the building.

When not properly maintained, fire protection systems can freeze, burst, and fail to function entirely. It is extremely important to ensure that these systems are properly maintained to make sure they are ready to operate in the event of an emergency.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Exploded Backflow from Non Heated Riser Room Frozen Pipe IFP

October 23, 2024

Information

Wet vs Dry Sprinklers

Wet vs Dry Sprinkler types of systems from the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association):

Wet sprinklers are the most common type of sprinklers. In this system, the sprinkler piping is constantly filled with water. When the temperature at the ceiling gets hot enough the glass bulb or fusible link in a sprinkler will break. Since the system is already filled with water, water is free to flow out of that sprinkler head. Contrary to what Hollywood would have you think, not all sprinkler heads will operate at once in this type of system. The temperature around that specific sprinkler head needs to be high enough to break the glass bulb or fusible link that is holding water back. Once that happens, water will immediately start flowing from only that head. Wet pipe sprinkler systems are the most reliable and cost effective. Therefore, they should be the first type considered when selecting a sprinkler system. However, there are times when a wet pipe sprinkler system may not be appropriate. One of the major factors in determining if a wet pipe system can be used is the temperature of the space can be maintained above freezing.
Dry sprinklers are very similar to wet pipe systems with one major difference. The pipe is not constantly filled with water. Instead, the water is held behind a dry pipe valve, usually some distance away from where the sprinklers are located. Like a wet pipe system, when the temperature at the ceiling becomes hot enough, the glass bulb or fusible link of the sprinkler breaks. However, in this case, water isn’t immediately available because the pipe is not water filled. Instead, air is released from the now open sprinkler head. This creates a drop in pressure causing the dry pipe valve to open and water to fill the system. Water will then flow from the open sprinkler head. A dry pipe system is a great option for unconditioned spaces, or locations where the temperature of the space cannot be guaranteed to be high enough to prevent water in the system from freezing.

The author of this content cannot be liable for any use or misuse of the contents. This is a guideline and is meant for information only.

Fire sprinkler