Fires Safety and New Homes

[Fijimn]

Pretty cool ad from the folks at Nest regarding fire spread and fire safety. I deal a lot with fires and fire safety. I'm constantly amazed about how people do not realize how fast fire spreads. I had a trial where the defendant's expert claimed that the fire smoldered for 3 hours in a ventilated garage and the jury was buying it....until they saw the demonstrative video on fire spread and how an entire room can become engulfed in less than 2 minutes--where flashover occurs in 3 minutes.

Anyway, make Daylight Savings time when you change all the batteries in your smoke detectors. And if you smoke detectors are 10 years old or older, change them out completely.

http://paidpost.nytimes.com/nest/in-a-flash.html?sr_source=lift_twitter&_r=0

 

[More Kirk Less Spock]

Pretty cool ad from the folks at Nest regarding fire spread and fire safety. I deal a lot with fires and fire safety. I'm constantly amazed about how people do not realize how fast fire spreads. I had a trial where the defendant's expert claimed that the fire smoldered for 3 hours in a ventilated garage and the jury was buying it....until they saw the demonstrative video on fire spread and how an entire room can become engulfed in less than 2 minutes--where flashover occurs in 3 minutes.

Anyway, make Daylight Savings time when you change all the batteries in your smoke detectors. And if you smoke detectors are 10 years old or older, change them out completely.

http://paidpost.nytimes.com/nest/in-a-flash.html?sr_source=lift_twitter&_r=0

Wonder how often dryer vents are the culprit.

 

[Fijimn]

Roughly 14,000 fires a year.

 

[On Iowa]

One interesting thing in this regard is that the newest versions of the model codes (International Residential Code, for instance) requires that new homes have sprinkler systems in them. They're not all that expensive and would save a lot of lives.The ridiculous thing is that, here in Iowa anyway, the Master Builders of Iowa, a contractors' trade group, has successfully lobbied to not adopt these newer versions of the code. They claim that the addition of the sprinkler system would cause such an increase in new home prices that they couldn't be competitive and construction would slow down. I'd be interested in seeing what the addition of sprinklers would do to insurance rates.

 

[ncnole1975]

One interesting thing in this regard is that the newest versions of the model codes (International Residential Code, for instance) requires that new homes have sprinkler systems in them. They're not all that expensive and would save a lot of lives.The ridiculous thing is that, here in Iowa anyway, the Master Builders of Iowa, a contractors' trade group, has successfully lobbied to not adopt these newer versions of the code. They claim that the addition of the sprinkler system would cause such an increase in new home prices that they couldn't be competitive and construction would slow down. I'd be interested in seeing what the addition of sprinklers would do to insurance rates.

I'm doing a big addition to my house now. Code required a sprinkler head in furnace room only. It's was $60.
Now if we had to put them in every room, the plumbing costs would have probably been an additional $3-4K. That's about 1/10th of one percent of the average home price in the area.

 

[Fijimn]

in 2014 the NEC code changed to require ACI breakers

I'm doing a big addition to my house now. Code required a sprinkler head in furnace room only. It's was $60.
Now if we had to put them in every room, the plumbing costs would have probably been an additional $3-4K. That's about 1/10th of one percent of the average home price in the area.

Make sure to add AFCI breakers as well.

 

[F4Gary]

The builders I've asked in the past have said figure 1% of the cost of the house for a sprinkler system.

I don't think they are required here, but if I build a house, I will have one.

 

[DFSNOLE]

One interesting thing in this regard is that the newest versions of the model codes (International Residential Code, for instance) requires that new homes have sprinkler systems in them. They're not all that expensive and would save a lot of lives.The ridiculous thing is that, here in Iowa anyway, the Master Builders of Iowa, a contractors' trade group, has successfully lobbied to not adopt these newer versions of the code. They claim that the addition of the sprinkler system would cause such an increase in new home prices that they couldn't be competitive and construction would slow down. I'd be interested in seeing what the addition of sprinklers would do to insurance rates.

I've only installed sprinkler systems in commercial buildings and it was an expensive proposition. One of the issues here in Florida is the lack of certified contractors licensed to do the work. It can not be done by a plumbing contractor.
There are some areas near where I live that require them due to the proximity of the houses to one another but it takes something like that to force them in a single family residence.

 

[montconole]

My home is 10 years old and we have a sprinkler system on all three levels. I cleaned our my dryer vent two weekends ago and the amount of lint that blew out was unreal.

 

[vevois23]

I'm doing a big addition to my house now. Code required a sprinkler head in furnace room only. It's was $60.
Now if we had to put them in every room, the plumbing costs would have probably been an additional $3-4K. That's about 1/10th of one percent of the average home price in the area.

$3-4 million average price? must be nice...

 

[LT4PLY]

The strange thing is when my house was built (2005) fire code required return vents in the HVAC system to be in each room to spread the smoke smell in case of a fire in one room. The thought was the AC would spread the smoke and everyone would be alerted before it got bad. Now the Nest is designed to turn off the AC when it senses smoke. Not sure which is better?

 

[nole man]

My sister and her family lost their home to a fire a few months ago. Everyone got out ok, but she was home with her two boys and my 6 y.o. It is the single worst tragedy that I have personally been involved in. Just the emotional toll is immense.

 

[F4Gary]

My home is 10 years old and we have a sprinkler system on all three levels. I cleaned our my dryer vent two weekends ago and the amount of lint that blew out was unreal.

My grandparents used to live in the Sierras west of Reno. Back in the late 60's the the dryer vent for the lodge down the street caught fire and dang near started a huge forest fire. The fire bombers were coming down the river valley, between the trees, and dropping their Borate on the fire!

Ever since, the dryer vent gets emptied EVERY load.

 

[On Iowa]

I've only installed sprinkler systems in commercial buildings and it was an expensive proposition. One of the issues here in Florida is the lack of certified contractors licensed to do the work. It can not be done by a plumbing contractor.
There are some areas near where I live that require them due to the proximity of the houses to one another but it takes something like that to force them in a single family residence.

In commercial construction, you are correct. I usually figure $3/sf. However, the residential sprinkler code NFPA 13R, allows you to use PEX piping to the heads and it's combined with the plumbing. No separate service, no separate piping system. WAY cheaper.

 

[Manch.]

I'm constantly amazed about how people do not realize how fast fire spreads.

Back in 2006, a couple of years after my divorce, my son (then 7) wanted me to stay over for a "sleep over" as my ex-wife and 2 children were living at my in-laws house. This sleep over lasted 3 nights, and that 3rd night, in which I really didn't want to stay over, the house went up in flames. The only 2 fire alarms had dead batteries, and I awoke to glass breaking and was able to get everyone out safely.

The house went up so fast, in less than a minute, and the house was split into two by the fire. It's unlucky everyone would have gotten out alive, especially my son who's room would have been cut off completely. I am so grateful that I stayed over that night, as I was able to get 9 more precious years with my son.

It was an older house, and looking back at the next day and looking at the remains of the house, of which, almost nothing was left, it's amazing at how fast that house went up, from just a kitchen fire to a full blown ball of smoke, heat and flame. Everyone stood outside and watched the house burn in their underwear and nightgowns. My son was in such a deep sleep, that I thought the smoke got to him already, even though there was no smoke in the rook, it was just panic setting in.

When ever I stay anywhere, the first things I look for are emergency exits, including windows, and if the smoke detectors are working. Also, as broke as I may be at times, not having renter's insurance is a huge no!

 

[DFSNOLE]

In commercial construction, you are correct. I usually figure $3/sf. However, the residential sprinkler code NFPA 13R, allows you to use PEX piping to the heads and it's combined with the plumbing. No separate service, no separate piping system. WAY cheaper.

Interesting. I'm curious to know how that jives with the Florida building code and licensing. I'll be asking next time I see the building official.

 

[ncnole1975]

$3-4 million average price? must be nice...

Yeah, math isn't my strong suit. 1/5th of 1%.... Average new home around here is right at 1.5m. Teardowns are going for $500k and the highest sales price this year was $3.9

 

[ncnole1975]

Another interesting new code requirement here is that we now must caulk every seam between studs or top plates, sill plates etc. So, if you are using a double top plate, you must caulk between the 2x6's. Same for cripples etc. total pain and I can't see the point if they are all hidden behind fire coded drywall anyway

 

[Fijimn]

Which the applicator if you are installing closed-cell spray foam. Just finished depositions of a couple of applicators. The instructions and warnings are not suggestions, son. (to be fair, I don't think reading was their strong suit)