Photo credit: Kathryn and Shelby…NFPA 652: Standard on Fundamentals of Combustible Dust is Coming!
This summer, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will issue NFPA 652: Standard on Fundamentals of Combustible Dust. Though NFPA had previously developed several standards addressing combustible dust, those standards…
Combustible Dust Demonstration Apparatus
What do our fire protection engineers do in their spare time? Dale Hansen, one of the Principals of our firm, recently developed a combustible dust demonstration apparatus. The demonstration unit is designed to disperse a…
Drone Helps to Contain Georgia Peanut Plant Fire
Investigators believe a chemical applied to peanuts may have been the source of a recent fire that caused $750,000 worth of damage and destroyed a silo at a Cordele, Georgia peanut plant. No one was injured in the fire at GFA…
Spreading Fire Safety Awareness in the Community
The holidays are over, which means the chances of starting a house fire via a deep-fried turkey or a knocked-over Christmas tree are considerably lower than they were in November and December. The year 2013 saw the lowest…
NFPA Reports: 2013 Saw the Lowest Number of Fires since 1977
Every 25 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the United States. The overall number of reported fires has gone down drastically in the past few decades, and the year 2013 saw the lowest number since the…
Eglin Incident: Weather, Water, and What We Learned
Following the incident at Eglin Air Force Base’s Hangar 130, an investigation produced recommendations regarding High Expansion Foam (HEF) suppression systems in three major areas: “changes to HEF suppression system…
Hangar 130: Crucial Lessons in Safety and Prevention
The high expansion foam (HEF) system incident in Hangar 130 at Eglin Air Force Base that occurred early in 2014 left a tragic impression on everyone involved. There were questions to answer: What caused the system to trigger?…
On January 8, 2014, a High Expansion Foam…Thanksgiving Fire Destroys Chocolate Storage Warehouse
A Thanksgiving fire destroyed a 1-800-FLOWERS.COM chocolate storage warehouse in Maple Heights, Ohio. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire that housed Fannie May Fine Chocolates and Harry London…
Hot Work Sparks a Grain Dust Explosion at Flagstaff Pet Food Manufacturer
According to investigators, a recent dust explosion in the Flagstaff Nestle Purina plant was caused by welders conducting hot work repairs on the facility’s grain elevators. The incident occurred on the afternoon of September…
The Fire Sprinkler Debate: Controversy and Dissent in a Curious Place
It seems pretty straightforward; fire sprinkler systems save…
Fire Prevention Week – Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!
Sunday kicks off the start of Fire Prevention Week, our nation’s longest running public health and safety observance on record. It has been observed each October since 1920, when it was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson.…
Solar Photovoltaic Panels: California’s Move Toward Safe Installation
We recently exchanged insights with an industry friend on the subject of solar panels. In increasing numbers, companies are further monetizing their real estate assets by leasing warehouse roofs for the installation of solar…
The Residential Component: Are Fire Sprinklers Moving into Our Homes?
Over the past several years, sprinkler systems have been a hot topic in the residential real estate scene. While many local jurisdictions already require sprinklers to be installed in multifamily structures, the same is not…