Q: We are remodeling our home and would like to upgrade the smoke alarm system to comply with current fire safety standards. This may not be required for an older home, but we’d like to do it anyway. We also want to install carbon monoxide detectors. What can you tell us regarding these upgrades?

A: The first thing I can tell you is that you’re making some wise and practical upgrades that can potentially save lives.

The required locations for smoke detectors in a single-family dwelling include one in each bedroom, one outside of each separate sleeping area (which usually means hallways), and at least one on each story of the dwelling, regardless of whether there is a bedroom. Alarms are also required in basements, but in most locales they are not required in crawl spaces or attics.

Installing an up-to-date smoke alarm system in an older home used to involve the addition of interconnecting wires so all alarms would be activated when smoke was detected by a single fixture. Fortunately, interconnection by means of Wi-Fi has eliminated the need for such wiring.

The power source for smoke alarms should include direct wiring to the primary electrical system, plus battery backup in case of a power failure during a fire. However, in an older home, battery-powered alarms, without connection to the electrical system, is permitted.

Carbon monoxide (CO) protection is also essential to prevent asphyxiation in the event of a faulty fuel-burning fixture or appliance, such as a gas furnace or water heater. Combination alarms, providing detection from both smoke and CO, are now widely available in hardware stores and are standard equipment in newly built homes.

Finally, you should consult your local building department regarding specific requirements that may differ from the general standards listed here.

Q: I bought my house six months ago. Since then, I’ve noticed leakage and dry rot at the garage windowsill, as well as some rot at the doorjamb. None of this was disclosed by the seller or the home inspector. Shouldn’t someone have reported these defects?

A: Sellers are not always aware of defects such as garage window leaks or rotted woodwork. A home inspector who is on-the-ball may discover rotted wood, but that type of defect is within the professional purview of the pest control operator (commonly known as a termite inspector). Water stains, on the other hand, should have been noticed by the home inspector, unless the stains were concealed at the time of the inspection by personal property.

You should contact the home inspector and the pest control inspector. Ask them to come to the property for a review of these findings. See if they are willing to take some responsibility. Hopefully, the inspectors will help you to correct these conditions.

Fire protection systems for modular and edge data centers typically use spot smoke detectors to identify possible threats as quickly as possible. Aspirating smoke detectors (ASD) may be used for very early smoke detection in the incipient stage of a fire. Gas detectors may be used where batteries (i.e. lithium-ion) are deployed. Even with the best of these fire safety detectors, the precise location & source of the potential threat is difficult to pinpoint, especially in high airflow environments, where smoke and gasses can be quickly transported away from the source.

What are the principal fire threats in most modular & edge data centers?

• Electrical feeds including PDUs, transformers, & inverters — short-circuits, electric overloads, power & grounding faults
• Batteries & UPS — overheating & thermal runaway
• Mechanical systems — AC & ventilation system anomalies & failure
• Leaks — water, battery electrolytes, fuels

In most cases, abnormal equipment heating precedes the presence of smoke or gas. To detect this overheating, early warning thermal imaging sensors, like those from ServersCheck, can monitor and detect a variety of threat conditions that, if left unchecked, could lead to a fire. These sensors do not replace fire safety systems — they complement them well by pinpointing the source, providing additional time to investigate a potential threat before it can escalate.

Traditional temperature sensors measure the air temperature near the target equipment, limiting their effectiveness for detecting overheating. Thermal imaging sensors record 2-dimensional images of surface temperatures on the target equipment. This is important for precisely locating the source of the overheating.

Since thermal imaging sensors detect light in the infrared range (IR), they need no visible light for analysis and are ideal in dark enclosures. The thermal images produced by the sensors provide an image with colors ranging from black to blue, red, and yellow indicating increasing temperatures. Abnormal hot spots on the equipment can easily be identifies, as well at the intensity.

Portable (i.e. hand-held) thermal imaging equipment has been used for years for installation surveys and periodic inspections of electrical switchgear, IT equipment, PDU, and UPS modules. Indeed, these inspections may be required before a data center becomes operational. However, data centers need to be available 24/7/365, so continual monitoring with thermal imaging sensors is more appropriate for fire safety.

Besides fire prevention, thermal image sensors can also improve equipment uptime and prevent failure with early warning of potential overheating. Additionally, thermal imaging can assist with cooling and ventilation tuning to direct airflow to potential hotspots in the data center enclosure.

As an example, ServersCheck thermal imaging sensors will monitor up to 19,200 individual points every 2 seconds with varying fields of view (FoV) and temperature accuracy. A variety of equipment ranging from electrical panels, to switch gear, PDUs, UPSs, and even server racks can be monitored to provide very early detection of potential fire threats.

The sensors are networked and powered by PoE with temperature data delivered continually to a building management system (BMS) or industrial and IT automation platforms via Modbus TCP, RTU (RS485), or SNMP.

In the accompanying image, a PDU is being monitored by a thermal imaging sensor sensor at < 20 feet. Hot spots can be identified, and temperature changes or thresholds can alert management systems of a potential problem depending on the specified operational temperature range.

What drives the requirement for testing construction products?

Building regulations set the minimum standards for health and safety, convenience and accessibility. The guidance for meeting these requirements is set out in the Approved Documents, such as B, E, K, L1B, M, Q).

What is Passive Fire Protection?

Passive Fire Protection (PFP) has three main tasks to allow for protection of life and limited damage to property:

1. restrict fire growth in early stages of fire
2. contain the fire (compartmentation)
3. protect the load-bearing structure

Want to know more about Passive Fire Protection? Read IFSEC Global’s beginner’s guide to Passive Fire Protection here >>

What is fire testing?

Using an example of a fire in a lounge, replicated with a crib in the corner of a container, Peter displayed the thermal image of the growth of the fire to the flashover point. Tracing the phases where energy radiates back into the room and anything combustible in that room heats up and becomes ablaze – flashover point – and into a fully developed fire.

How does this relate to testing we do on construction products?

Benchmark standards are designed to deal with each part of fire development.

Plotting time against temperature, a graph showed the early stage of the fire where ignitability is key, and materials are tested against that criteria. Likewise for the growth phase and fully developed phases, the points at which resistance to fire is measured.

Peter showed the 3 by 3m furnace at a testing centre where construction products were tested by being exposed to consistent conditions. While each fire has its own variables, standardised test conditions are crucial to determining that, for example, ’30 minutes fire resistant’ means the same for the product across the same type., i.e. a benchmark standard.

The fire resistance test report comprises:

• the test conditions
• construction details of the product
• the record of test data – surface temperatures, observations made, any deflection data
• test results in terms of minutes, e.g integrity of performance (the ability of fire to be contained) and insulation performance (measuring the temperature on the surface) and radiation performance (the limits of heat radiated)

The assessments made from the test results are considered by experts (UKAS) and form the considered opinion of a product.

“Assessments have a role to play but they have to be documents that are based on evidence, that are used by people that have experience in testing these construction products,” explained Peter.

Also supporting the performance of a product range, Peter mentions National Assessments, the PFPF guide to undertaking tech assessments, the requirement to follow EN 15725 principles and European classification and defined standards.

A product’s properties can easily be changed by unique environmental factors – for example, reducing the size of glazed opening, finishing off a veneer. Not every permutation of a product range can be tested but testing should be thorough enough to cover a range of design features.

“There’s no point in making something correctly if it’s installed incorrectly and pretty well, then not maintaining it correctly,” says Peter, “and it must be in line with the supporting evidence.”

Added insurance

Peter explained the added assurance that third party certification can bring. With first party verification, the manufacturers conduct tests and hand over the supporting evidence, leaving the installer a decision based on a degree of trust. Meanwhile, with third party certification, the manufacturers are asked what performances they would like to claim. Testers measure the end goal objectives against the test criteria.

Third party certification gives an extra layer of assurance because it looks at the products from the point at which the products pass through the production line and onto the factory floor. Therefore, the final labelling of that product gives valuable information in terms of provenance and traceability, invaluable for risk assessments.

The process doesn’t end there. There are repeat audits and audit testing, which gives a feedback loop. This is particularly useful when improvements have been made across a product range.

The tests in action

Peter then presented three tests: door-in-wall with stopping systems; door-in-screen assembly and fire stopping systems around cables.

In Test 1 both door sets were bought at the same time and were third party certified – the test made modifications by leaving out key component parts of what was to be the ‘bad’ door, e.g. intumescent strips and using safety laminate glass instead of fire safety glass and the ‘bad’ door was also missing firestopping at the back of the architrave. Meanwhile, the ‘good’ door had combined fire and smoke seals.

The smoke leakage and window damage on the ‘bad’ door was dramatic. With the ‘good’ door, it was hard to believe there was a raging fire behind it, save for the foam that the intumescent windows had released.

Test 1: A fire test from Warringtonfire – demonstrating the difference in passive fire protection effectiveness of a modified fire door (left) if key component parts removed

When the test ran to 13 minutes – reaching 800 degrees – it was too dangerous to continue with the ‘bad’ door, and it was deemed to have suffered ‘complete failure’.

Test 2 was the door-in-screen assembly. One of the sets was installed with a bad non-intumescent screen. Again, at the point where the bad model had failed (this was the 30-minute mark, by which time the windows had fallen out), it was hard to tell there was a fire behind it.

Test 3 involved individual cables and groups of cables that were either fixed with fire reactive material or with foam not designed for fire. Again, the results were clear – as clear as the daylight coming through the holes in the walls made by the destroyed foam.

Marine Energy Systems (MES) are focused on delivering silent, non-polluting, and renewable sources of power into the marine sector. The company has a reputation for only working with credible, long-established companies. With it’s UK nationwide network of trained skilled professionals, Marine Energy Systems are able to service the whole of the UK. And one of the customers’ demands MES engineers face more and more frequently is an intelligent security system onboard.

Challenge

Find a supplier for professional security equipment that can be easily integrated into a vessel’s electric system

Security concerns are inherent in 2 of 3 vessel owners. And this considerable demand faces the lack of choice when it comes to security equipment purchase. Regardless of the vessel size, owners have to choose between spending over £5,000-6,000 for a specialized system or adapting a car/motorcycle alarm system. The last one is quite a hassle because navigation, key vessel indicators, controls, and security are expected to be accessible on a digital dashboard and smartphone — anywhere, anytime.

Marine Energy Systems work with big players and customers in this sector, including Sunseeker, a well-known luxury Superyacht manufacturer, and many others.

MES came up with a request to supply boats with a security system which is compatible with the yachts’ onboard software. The system should:

• support cellular connectivity
• have a mobile app to report alerts
• be straightforward to install
• look slick to fit luxury interiors

Solution

Ajax security systems integrated via a proprietary API with wireless detectors that fit both luxury yachts interiors and tight budgets

Once tested Ajax devices, Marine Energy Systems’ engineers appreciated a hassle-free approach to system installation. All detectors are equipped with SmartBracket panels — there is no need to disassemble the enclosure. To connect a detector to the system, an engineer just scans a QR code with the Ajax app, and the device is ready for configuring. The system parameters and detector configuration can be done from desktop or mobile apps. This system feature helps Marine Energy Systems in providing remote technical support throughout the entire vessel lifecycle.

Battery power became another practical aspect. Wireless devices do not require a power supply from a vessel at all. In turn, Ajax control panels — hubs — can be connected to the onboard electricity via the 6 V power supply unit. Backup batteries and low power consumption ensure long-lasting protection with no additional maintenance. Depending on the model, hubs support 2G/3G/4G SIM cards and Wi-Fi providing stable connectivity — no need to purchase and install extra communication modules.

To integrate security system management with vessel software, Ajax provides engineers with the Enterprise API. This API allows to display the security information as it is available in the Ajax apps:

• System settings and devices configuration
• Security groups information
• System users and their permissions
• Event feed
• Security modes
• Power supply statuses
• Surveillance cameras streams

«I SEE A HUGE OPPORTUNITY HERE. WE WORK WITH VARIOUS SHIPYARDS BUILDING LEISURE, COMMERCIAL, SERVICE VESSELS — AND ALL OF THEM NEED SOME SECURITY SOLUTION. HAVING 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE BOATING INDUSTRY, I THINK AJAX IS A BIG LEAP FORWARD, ALLOWING US TO BUILD COMPLEX SYSTEMS THAT WILL SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS ALL OVER THE WORLD»Lee Smith, Operatoins Manager at Marine Energy Systems

Products

Hub 2 Plus

Security system control panel

Learn more

MotionCam

Motion detector with a photo camera to verify alarms

Learn more

 I was cleaning out my parents’ house the other day, and I found an fire extinguisher that looks like it’s about 20 years old. What’s the best way to get rid of it? Any advice you can give on how to dispose of a fire extinguisher?

A: You’re right to assume that an expired 20-year-old fire extinguisher is probably not safe or reliable to use anymore. Just as knowing how to use a fire extinguisher is important, it is almost equally important to know when it is time to dispose of an old fire extinguisher and replace it with a new one.

Fire extinguishers are filled with hazardous materials that are under high pressure. Thus, they should not be put in the regular trash. Read on to learn more about when old fire extinguishers should be replaced and how to dispose of a fire extinguisher properly and safely.

When should an old fire extinguisher be replaced?

Before disposing of old fire extinguishers, confirm that they actually need to be replaced. Fire extinguishers typically last between 5 and 15 years. In some cases, you may be able to find an expiration date or a date of manufacturing on the canister, which can help clue you in on the fire extinguisher’s age.

Even if you can’t find a date, there are other ways to assess whether you should replace your old model with a new fire extinguisher. If your fire extinguisher has any dents or bumps, is missing the pin or tamper seal, or otherwise looks to be in poor condition, it is time to promptly find a replacement.

If your old fire extinguisher has a pressure gauge, check to confirm that the needle is still pointing to the green section. When the needle is pointing to the red or white area on the gauge, it means it is either time to recharge or dispose of the fire extinguisher.

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Some fire extinguishers can be recharged.

As you’re thinking about what to do with old fire extinguishers, keep in mind that some fire extinguishers can be recharged. If the pressure has dropped in your canister, or it has been discharged, recharging the fire extinguisher can make it safe to use again.

You should not attempt to recharge a fire extinguisher on your own due to the highly pressurized contents. Special equipment is required to recharge a fire extinguisher, so this is a task that is best left to a professional. Contact a fire protection company or a certified fire equipment dealer to make an appointment to have your fire extinguisher recharged.

Empty fire extinguishers can be recycled.

If you’re wondering how to dispose of old fire extinguishers, you may be able to recycle them if the canister is empty. Full fire extinguishers cannot be recycled because of the hazardous materials they contain. Once they’re empty, however, these hazardous materials are no longer a concern. You may be able to put the fire extinguisher out with your other recycling to be picked up.

Call your recycling company to confirm that they will recycle fire extinguishers that are empty. If they will not pick them up with the regular collection, ask about dropping the empty fire extinguisher off at a local recycling center.

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Your local fire department may accept old or used fire extinguishers.

Bringing old or used fire extinguishers to the fire department may also be a viable solution for those who wonder, “How do you dispose of fire extinguishers?” If your fire extinguisher has not been discharged, rather than trying to empty and recycle it yourself, contact your local fire station.

Some fire stations allow residents to drop off expired, damaged, or otherwise unusable fire extinguishers. They will take care of properly disposing of the hazardous materials inside the canister and then recycle the rest of the materials.

Dispose of old fire extinguishers at your local household hazardous waste facility.

Another approved option for fire extinguisher disposal is to bring it to a hazardous waste disposal facility in your area. If you’re not sure where your local facility is located, try searching for “where to dispose of old fire extinguishers near me.” Also, your city or county government’s website may include information about their household hazardous waste disposal services and drop-off locations.

After you identify your local hazardous waste facility location, call to confirm that they accept fire extinguishers, whether there’s a limit on the number of fire extinguishers that you can drop off, and whether these materials are accepted only on certain days. If you’re looking to dispose of fire extinguishers on behalf of a commercial enterprise, there may also be additional protocols to follow.