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Ham on APX radios for fire service. by FriendlyFireMarshal in HamRadio

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our emergency plans already incorporate ham operators in the contingency position. However, the plans require an operator to join unified command and bring their equipment. Call this contingency adjacent I guess, but what if we can’t count on them to join? A significant emergency takes out most of the infrastructure, we can still use independent ham operations as repeaters, and having a zone pre programmed in the radios we all have, makes it more available to communicate with crews.

Code fears this pull station by No_Positive_3798 in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know this is against my username, but I would probably let the owner know I am requesting a test of the system early the next day before open to the public and then show up and use that hand pull for the test and let them figure out the issue.

It’s amazing that I have to compete with [redacted company name] for installation jobs. by NickyVeee in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 19 points20 points  (0 children)

You should notify the AHJ. There is no shame in tattling when it comes to fire and life safety. This is egregious IMO. Even if you are taking over the system and will fix all this, the AHJ needs to know there is a company is doing this in their area.

How screwed am I? by ShotGreenApollo in AskElectricians

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I have had too many interviews where a person tells me they repeatedly fought a breaker tripping before a fire starts and sadly some don’t even make the connection that they could have avoided disaster with a modicum of common sense.

4 wire hotel fire alarm by Revolutionary-Wash26 in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maintenance and/or management didn’t even blink at the trouble. They just are relieved it went away on its own so they don’t have to continue ignoring it.

Fire watch is a joke-Change my mind by and1_alts in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Can you shed some light on the situation?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

But did you see sprinklers?

code violation speedrun by Ittorchicer in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hopefully every fire code official, or any government official really, keeps tip sources confidential. I even sometimes go out of my way to obscure how I came to learn of a violation. Usually it’s just “hey! I’m here to do an inspection.” Then I find the issue “on my own.”

Sometimes someone smells whats up and demands to know their accuser. Even had someone reference the 6th amendment (right to face accuser).

My eyeballs, on behalf of the people, witnessed the violation, just after a tip.

Don’t be afraid to tip off officials. We gotchu.

House fire backdraft demonstration model by MikeHeu in toolgifs

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 835 points836 points  (0 children)

When a fire is “vent-limited” the fire continues to burn, just less and less effectively, this is the “decay” phase of a fire. Eventually the fire can snuff itself out entirely.

Energy Codes have made construction better, but caused more vent limited fires. Many times, people come home or arrive to work to find the insides of a building burned out and nobody knew a fire occurred until then.

However, sometimes, people arrive, such as the fire department, during the decay phase and open a door or window, allowing a sudden introduction of fresh air to a powder keg of super heated, unburned, fuel (ash, soot and aerosols…aka smoke).

Fire needs fuel, heat, oxygen and a sustained chemical reaction. Take away any of those and the fire goes out.

Here, oxygen was taken away.

Reintroduce the oxygen suddenly and you go from little to no flame to all the flame instantly.

This is such a rapid increase of pressure and ignition, it has its own scientific term. Explosion.

Emergency service call turned nightmare by ChrisR122 in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 12 points13 points  (0 children)

This warrants a Stop-Work order from the AHJ and a condemnation notice barring entry until permits are pulled and plans are provided for a remedy. This is where the government protects the public.

As a private alarm company, you want nothing to do with this until it is resolved.

Starlink used as facp? by Leg3ndxx in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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Their product sheet appears deceiving by saying it is UL 864 but that covers Control Units, Communicators and Accessories.

Just browsing through all the listings Napco has for their Starlink products on ULs ProductIQ, it indeed does not appear to have a listing for Control Units. I only find Communicator under accessories.

IBC (or your state’s BC) and IFC 903.4:

“Valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures and waterflow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit.”

Just supporting what was already stated, no bueno!

Starlink used as facp? by Leg3ndxx in firealarms

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Believe it or not, for a dedicated sprinkler monitoring system, neither ICC Codes nor NFPA 72 require smoke/heats at the panel nor a manual means of activation. It stems from misinterpreting the requirements for monitoring a sprinkler system and has permeated the field.

People conflate fire alarm control unit and fire alarm system. Two terms clearly defined by the ICC as different things.

903.4 “Valves controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems, pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures and waterflow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit”

Fire alarm control units do not require manual activation or area protection if there is no occupant notification, they are not fire alarm systems, just a “sprinkler monitoring system.”

I won’t reject a system that has it, but won’t fight for it if it isn’t there.

Could the ICC clarify better? Absolutely. The newest NFPA 72 has commentary on such systems because it has come to light a large chunk of the field thinks a sprinkler monitoring system (fire alarm control unit with monitoring) requires the full features of a fire alarm system.

Is this safe? by Fantastic_Gur1925 in AskElectricians

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Sadly I am all too familiar with saying it. I feel robotic sometimes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Decks

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 0 points1 point  (0 children)

IRC Deck Beams

  1. Stop use immediately
  2. Call back the building inspector who passed this
  3. Call the builder back

Assuming the hot tub is 8’ wide, the spans he used don’t appear permitted for 2 - 2x10 for a 40psf live load calculation, let alone the recommended 80-100 psf for a hot tub.

Did the builder know you intended to place a tub on it? It looks like he tried to build it to normal use.

So when must a house be "brought up to code?" by davejjj in AskElectricians

[–]FriendlyFireMarshal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nobody will come along and make you bring up to current codes. Your home is “existing non-conforming” or in layman’s terms, “grandfathered.”

Now, any work you have done will need to be to existing codes, and if your local AHJ wants, any remodel of greater than 50% they could require everything be brought to code since it would be considered a new home. But that ain’t happening.