Research & Writing Assignment:
Dryer Vent Safety - Fires caused by dryers in 2005 were responsible for approximately 13,775 house fires, 418 injuries, 15 deaths, and $196 million in property damage. A majority of these incidents accur in residences and are the result of improper lint cleanup and maintenance.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this photo the chimneys needs of repair are easily seen. The masonry crown has cracked in several ares and started to spall away. The grout like between brick layers have weathered and significantly eroded requiring re-pointing repairs. Attention to this is needed to prevent further damage as well as prevent water intrusion into the home.
Research & Writing Assignment:
It is important to know a fire extinguishers intended uses. For example you wouldn’t want to use a class K extinguisher (meant for oils and fats ) for an electrical fire (class C). Modern extinguishers now provide labeled symbols to aid in the recognition of the intended use.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an image of a fireplace. Everything seems to be properly installed. The gas line is sealed. There is a clearance of 22in around for combustible items. The damper was functional and accessible from inside the house. The gas line cut was in the right place.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I am writing about foreclosure inspections and the importance of them. Many home buyers buy foreclosed houses with no intention of having them inspected. Mainly the reason could be they just are misinformed about the process. You should always get a home inspection before buying a property, especially when youre buying a bank-owned foreclosure. In such cases, it may be impossible to find out how well the home was cared for, or whether major damage was done right before the past owners left the property.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
From the inside of this fireplace, you are able to notice a few things. The obvious it the damper handle and when tested it moves forward and backward. You will notice if you look at the metal sidewalls in the fireplace, in the front, by the brick edging, you notice a small gap that will need to be addressed.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Fireplace Fuel: Living in the Mid-West fireplaces or a wood burning stove are common place in many homes. This article covers appropiate fuels to safetly burn in your home. It also discusses the importance of not burning certain woods within your homes. Along with the dangers of those fuels.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
At the time of the inspection, it was clearly evident that the crown to the chimney was deteriorated and undersized. The flue of this chimney is also severely deteriorated and undersized and both would need to be repaired or replaced.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This picture shows a lack of kick-out flashing installed where the roof and exterior wall meet, with the wall extending past beyond the edge of the gutter. The dark water stains on the wall are evidence of excessive prior water presence, which will decrease the normal life of the wall materials. The presence of this water is from a higher concentration of water streaming down the roof and wall, along the wall base, and over shooting the gutter system. Kick-out flashing would slow down this downflow of water and direct it into the gutter system.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is the damper of the fireplace at my old apartment. In a gas fireplace this damper would require a damper clamp so that it is never fully closed. Otherwise if the damper is left closed gases can build up and flow into the room. Since this fireplace was wood burning the damper clamp is not necessity.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Article: Bidets. I learned that bidets are adjustable in water pressure and temperature, and some include features such as air-dryers. I also learned that bidets differ from each other in the direction in which they direct their water jet, and that they are also ambidextrous in the sense that on a single bidet, users can face forward or backward, depending on which direction the spray projects and which anatomical region the user wants the water jet to clean. Finally, I learned that these units are beneficial for those have IBS, had recent surgery, suffer from hemorrhoids, or have limited mobility.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article I read was about firestops. Firestops are used to seal openings around pipes, wires, or other penetrations through firewalls. They are required in areas between garages and living spaces, attics and living spaces, and firewalls that separate condominium units. There are a few different products that can be used. There is fire stop mortar which is usually red or a grey-blue color. There is intumescent substance that will expand with heat and there are firestop pillows that can be inserted into the openings.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a prefabed gas fireplace. it has a direct vent behind the unit. It should be serviced every year. If you want to clean off the mineral deposit in the inside of the glass, use only an approved cleaner.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I learned about the components names and functions. I also learned about the different fires and their ratings. I learned about signs of the chimney pulling away from the house. I learned about the crown and how much it should over hang.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I looked up and learned about adjustable steel columns. Things that I learned about adjustable steel columns are that they are normally in basements, need to be at least 3 inches in diameter, and need to have the interior and exterior of the column coated in rust-inhibitive paint.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Fire extinguishers are distinguished based on the types of fires against which they’re effective. These fires are classified by their fuel source, and assigned identifying letters as follows:
A Class: This extinguisher is used against fires that result from ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper.
B Class: This extinguisher is used against fires that result from combustible liquids, such as kerosene, gasoline, oil and grease.
C Class: This extinguisher is used against fires of an electrical nature. These result from the combustion of circuit breakers, wires, outlets, and other electrical devices and equipment. Extinguishers designed to handle this type of fire cannot use chemicals that are conductive, since conductive agents increase the risk of electric shock to the operator.
D Class: This extinguisher is used against fires that result from combustible metals, such as sodium, potassium, titanium, and magnesium. These fires occur mostly in chemical laboratories and are rare in most other environments.
K Class: This extinguisher is used against fires that consume vegetable oils and animal fats, and are used for fires that generally happen in kitchens.
Although the letter rankings listed above refer to fire types, these symbols can also be used to identify the extinguishers themselves. For instance, an extinguisher that uses CO2 can be called a CO2 extinguisher or a BC extinguisher.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Just how critical are fire extinguishers for society in general? Fire extinguishers are extremely important as they are the most commonly used for of fire protection. In many cases they are a first line of defense and often contain or extinguish a fire, preventing costly damage. These often overlooked devices can be a key component towards keeping you safe during a fire emergency situation. Business owners sometimes view fire extinguishers as red cans simply hanging on the wall, and expense to managing their business. But these red cans serve a very useful purpose. The fact remains that in more than 600 businesses and non-residential structures, fire extinguishers are the difference between a minor fire problem and destruction.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires can be diminished by the use of a fire extinguisher. For apartment building and medical centers the presence of a fire extinguisher can provide incredible benefits. The mere presence of a fire extinguisher can have a significant impact towards diminishing the damage caused by a fire.
In approximately 80% of all fire incidents, a simple portable fire extinguisher is all that is needed to put out the fire. Studies have also shown that 60% of fires go unnotified. This means that the fire is not severe and can be handled easily with a fire extinguisher.
In conclusion, while fire extinguishers are needed to put out small fires, they also have an amazing benefit towards the environment. By having the ability to control fires, fire extinguishers limit the amount of pollution that is caused by smoke and burning debris.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In the photo it shows the smaller diameter vent pipe entering the flu above the larger vent pipe which is correct. During the inspection of the vent pipes the smaller pipe is loose and detached from the inlet opening. It was advised that a licensed contractor be contacted to make the necessary repairs.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Chimneys are among the most structurally vulnerable components of a house. Chimneys can collapse suddenly and without warning, and can cause serious injuries and death. Wind, weather, and earthquakes can cause a chimney to collapse unexpectedly. A home inspector should look for the following defects when inspecting a chimney: crumbling or loos mortar, missing or inadequate steel bracing, mechanical damage caused by falling tree limbs or other objects, undersized or deteriorated masonry footing, also the quality of soil around the masonry footing should be noted. If defects are found upon inspection the client needs to be advised to contact a licensed contractor to assess and make any needed repairs.
