LIGHT WEIGHT CONSTRUCTION KILLS POLICE CAPTAIN

I have previously BLOGGED about the use of Lightweigh Construction material in home construction. Just last month at the end of JUNE 2012 an emergency Response Worker was killed due to the collapse of a structure made of LIGHWEIGHT CONSTRUCRTION MATERAIL. Here is the link too the story.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/06/27/in-wake-of-fire-that-killed-larchmont-police-captain-light-weight-construction-homes-under-scrutiny/

Chilling.....to think that there cannot be a standard established too mandate some type of marking on the exterior of the building too notify the responding crews that the structure is made of lightweight material and failure of the building is more likely too happen suddenly then older convential building materials used from solid #1 Southern Yellow Pine and a minimum of 2x12 with a burn thru time of about 90 minutes too what is currently being used and open web floor truss with a burn thru time of about 15 minutes or less for floor failure.

COMMERCIAL TRACTOR TRAILER REPAIR SHOP FIRE CODE VIOLATIONS CAN YOU SPOT THEM?

In this article I will post some pictures of a place I use too work at. These pictures were taken with premission of said employeer and I took these pictures the same night the fire inspector came and did his so called fire inspection and pass the building as being compliant with State, Local, County Building and BOCA Building Codes. Just look at the gross neglect and how careless the inspector was! Allowing storage of Caustic, Paint Thinners, Paint, Caulk, gallon of WD40, combustibles and several packs of steel wool......you are asking for trouble. These are stored in a plactic storage locker and about 25' away is a marked flammable storage locker. But look at the pictures.....from NO SMOKE DETECTOR TO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS NOT MARKED, SERVICED, INSPECTED AND IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF SAID EQUIPMENT TO THE USE OF AN OIL TRANSFEER PUMP THAT IS NOT FOR THE USE ITS BEING USED FOR. THE PUMP DOES NOT HAVE APPROVAL FOR HAZARDS LIQUIDS OR FOR IN HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT!

EPIC FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE FIRE CHIEF, THE FIRE INSPECTOR AND THE BUILDINGS OWNER AND THE MECHANIC THAT IS SUPPOSE TO PLACE THE SAID FLAMMABLES AND CAUSTIC IN THE PROPER PLACE.

MISSING SMOKER DETECTOR, THIS IS THE ONLY LOCATION IN THIS FACILITY FOR SMOKE DETECTOR.

 TOP LEFT IMPROPER STORAGE UNDER WOOD STEPS, TOP RIGHT FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS STORED IN A PLASTIC STORAGE CABINET >BRAKE FLUIDS, BRAKE CLEANERS, WINDOW CLEANERS, BUFFING COMPOUNDS, THINNERS, TURPENTINE, AIR LINE ANTIFREEZWE, ANTI-FREEZE, DEISEL FUEL ADDITIVE.

 IMOPROPER UNSECURED STORAGE ON A WOOD COMBUSTIBLE MADE SHELF, ABOVE A TANK OF OIL.

ABOVE IS A STORAGE TANK FILLED WITH DIESEL FUEL NOT MARKED, ABOUT  2' AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC CIRCUT PANEL

STORAGE UNDER THE STEPS OF COMBUSTIBLE FORM CARBURATOR/BRAKE CLEANER TOO A DIESEL ELECTRIC POWERED STEAM WASHER THAT IS IN USE EMITTING HOT GASES INTO THE BUILDING CAUSING A CO INCREASE AND NO EXHAUST SYSTEM TO EXTRACT THE CO FROM THE BUILDING.

 

STORAGE OF MIXED PARTS WITH FLAMMABLE COMPRESSED CLEANERS IN THE CARDBOARD BOXES ON THE SHELF

STORAGE OF PAINT, PAINT THINNERS, CAUSTIC ACIDS, CAULKS, WD40 AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLES IN A PLASTIC STORAGE LOCKER.

OIL DUMP AREA....THE PUMP IS NOT MARKED FOR HAZARD OR FLAMABLES LIQUIDS. LOOK AT THE PLACEMENT OF THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER. IF A FIRE WAS TOO HAPPEN IN THE AREA YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETREIVE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE OIL DUMP AREA.

NO EMERGENCY ESCAPE LIGHTS ANYWHERE IN THE BUILDING. THE DUAL LIGHTS ON THE MOTION DETECTOR ONLY WORKS ON MOTION AND WHEN NO LIGHTS ARE ON.....NOT APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY ESCAPE LIGHTS.

STORAGE OF COMBUSTABLES UNDER WOOD STEPS, WITH A PARTS WASHER SITTING AGAINST THE STAIR RAILINGS.  UNDER THE STEPS IS BRAKE CLEANERS, GALLONS OF OIL, TUBES OF GREASE, PAPER, AND WORK CLOTHES......NO STORAGE CONTAINER FOR WORK/SHOP TOWEL IN THE BUILDING.....THE MECHANIC TOSSES THE TOWELS IN WITH HIS WORK CLOTHES.

ALUMINUM LADDER LEANING AGAINST A BANK OF BATTERIES....WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE IS THAT THE LADDER IS TOUCHING ONE OF THE POSTS ON THE BATTERY.

Additional note: This building has outside electric oultlets that are not GFCI Protected nor is the Electric panel and they lay electric cords on the ground not waterproofed plugs. Make sure  when you inspect the building that at least the panel is GFCI portected on the panel if the outlets are not GFCI protected.

Note: the fire inspector completed this building in 15 minutes and it passed.....complete failure on his part too allow this to pass.

Be Fire Safe, Be Fire Wise and do a complete thorough inspection, as well as a complete fire building pre-plan include that they (business operators) have a complete MSDS for all chemicals that they use.

VARIOUS PICTURES OF GROSS NEGLECT AND POTENTIAL FIRE AND ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

LOOK PRETTY HARMLESS DOES IT NOT? BUT LOOKS ARE DECEIVING, THERE IS HIDDEN DANGERS THAT ARE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC EYE AND WITHIN REACH OF A HUMAN THAT WANTS TOO HURT AMERICANS, WEATHER ALSO COULD EFFECT THE SAFETY OF ALL THAT CLIMB ON OR ABOUT THE DISPLAY!

 EXPOSED WIRE ENDS RAIN AND WATER AND WATER CAN ENTER THE PLUG END IF THE END IS ENERGIZED THE WHOLE STATIC DISPLAY IS ENERGIZED!

 ABOVE  AND TO THE RIGHT: ONE OF MANY MULTI OUTLET PLUG NOT

MADE FOR THE ENVIORNMENT THAT ITS USED IN AND NOT CIRCUIT BREAKER PROTECTED ON THE OUTLET STRIP.

EXPOSED WIRE ON STATIC DISPLAY, MISSING WIRE NUT. NOT IN AN APPROVED ELECTRIC CONDUIT WEATHERPROOF CASE

MOWER CASUALTY OF WIRES. IF THE WIRES WERE ENERGIZED THE PERSON

THE GRASS WOULD OF BEEN INJURED OR KILLED! 

 MORE WIRES EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND THIS IS FACING DOWN NOT IN AN APPROVED CONDUIT AND ENCASED TO PROTECT THE WIRES AND HUMANS.

 THIS WIRE NUT IS WITHIN 4' OFF THE GROUND A YOUNG KID COULD TAKE OFF THE WIRE NUT AND EXPOSE THE WIRES......LOOK CLOSELY THE SECOND WIRE NUT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE WIRES ARE TOUCHING THE TRAIN ENGINE. IF ENERGIZED THE DISPLAY IS ELECTRIFIED AND WILL INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE.

EXPOSED "BROWN/BLACK EXTENSION CORD" THESE ARE KNOWN TO START FIRES! THESE ARE COMMONLY USED TO POWER ALARM CLOCKS, CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT, ETC.

 WIRE NUTS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS OF WEATHER
THESE ARE ABOUT 5' OFF THE GROUND. EASE OF ACCESS TO ANYONE TO REMOVE THE NUTS AND ENERGIZE THE TRAIN ENGINE.

ANOTHER MULTI OUTLET PLUG BARLEY UNDER THE TRAIN ENGINE. EASE OF RAIN TO GET INTO AND NOT MADE FOR OUTDOOR USE!







NONE OF THE WIRE NUTS SHOWN ARE THE SAME THESE GO FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRAIN ENGINE TO THE ENGINEER COMPARTMENT AND ALL WIRES ARE NOT ENCASED IN APPROVED CONDUIT. SO WHY HAS THIS DISPLAY PASSED A FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION, COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTION CITY BUILDING INSPECTION MUCH LESS A STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S INSPECTION?

Vacations; is the traveling public safe? What types of hazards loom behind the hidden areas? Are you safe when you are on vacation this year? How well has the fire departments inspected the following to make sure that all fire codes are adhered too at the local levels, state level and federal levels? Each state has varying levels of building codes. Most fire departments will use one of the following codes for building: • Southern Building Code Alliance • Building s Code Administration • National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA 101, and many other specific codes) • Know your local and state building codes that pertain to FIRE PROTECTION These are merely suggested safety building codes to make sure that structures are made for safety in mind of all occupants for life, health and safety. But I ask why there are some departments that overlook simple hazards? Maybe they are in a hurry? Maybe they got distracted by a question being asked? Maybe they had to respond to a call? Whatever the reason you should always go back and recheck to make sure that there is NO UNDERLYING HAZZARDS that may loom that could come back to haunt you and your staff. Having gone thru the Commercial Building Inspection course thru the NFPA and the University of Missouri, Fire Rescue Training Institute has made me more aware of lurking hazards. So I ask you and your department just how well they investigate/do commercial building inspections. Does the inspector really look at the building thoroughly or just give it a quick over? Are the inspectors equipped with a ladder to raise the drop ceiling tiles too look for extension cords that may be hidden up there? Do they carry flashlights to check in dark areas, behind, above, below hot water heaters? Are they checking the flue areas of the duct systems of commercial kitchens to ensure that there is not a buildup of grease in the flue duct? Are the inspectors carrying a stick/probe to ensure that the emergency escape lights are working? Are the Inspectors contacting the alarm company to ensure that pull stations and the alarm system is working properly? Are they inspectors checking the stand pipes for cap and make sure that the stand pipe connections are not blocked? Are the inspectors checking the PIV valve to ensure that the PIV is in the OPEN Position? Are the inspectors checking each and every Hotel/Motel Room to ensure that there is no use of extension cords? Is the Hotel/Motel equipped with GFCI outlets and follow the NEC codes with electrical outlets and use near water? Are the inspectors checking the Hotel/Motel Sprinkler Rooms for hidden dangers? Are the inspectors checking the Hotel/Motel to ensure that storage of flammable liquids and pool chemicals are stored correctly and properly marked? Are the Inspectors checking to ensure that all flammable storage is in the approved flammable storage locker? Are the inspectors checking to ensure that the KNOX LOCK BOX are installed correctly with the proper key in the box and marked to ease of access for all Emergency Responding crews? Are the Inspectors checking to ensure that all emergency contact information and back up emergency contact information is entered as well as alternate emergency contact information is contained within? Are the inspectors checking to ensure that all fire extinguishers are equipped, proper extinguisher for the location, filled, tagged with inspection from fire extinguisher company, proper ly marked for ease of access? Are the inspectors checking to ensure that the sprinkler are proper maintained, checked for proper pressure and no storage within the designated the allotted distance from sprinkler heads? Are the inspectors checking for improper overhead storage? The list is long and endless as what needs to be inspected. How long are the inspectors taking too do an inspection? So why as tax payers do we want to cut the safety of ourselves and others by cutting the inspection of said commercial business. And we cannot forget to include Carnivals, Theme Parks, Park Pavilions, Static Displays, Portable stages used at outdoor events, food booths at carnivals…..these also present the same types of hazards as a stick/concrete built structure! In the area of where I live see a local fire department that has an inspector that travels in a SUV style vehicle. I have seen the inspector go into a commercial structure and spend less then 30 minutes in the building doing the inspection! This is a paid Fire Building Inspector of a major Fire Protection District in the St. Louis, MO, he carried with him the following, a note book! No camera, No Ladder, No Stick to push the Emergency Light Test button to see if the battery is working and light the emergency escape lights……just the notebook to inspect a commercial truck trailer repair shop….>WOW is all I can say< ! I have been out of active inspection for some time but when I can spot such hazards as indicated in the pictures I know he could also! I sent the Fire Chief a letter and well I have to say that is the Fire Chief must of thrown the letter away because the next year the Fire Inspector walked in ate lunch with the mechanic signed the inspection paper work and left. WOW such little time and such disregard to the workers and too his department that a commercial truck trailer repair shop can be inspected this quick and with disregard too life, safety and property! This is where I use too work and I got permission to take pictures of said building by a CEO and I instructed him that I was using it in an article for Inspection purposes……he stated that’s fine, do not show the name of business. So I’ll Post some pictures…….in less than 3 minutes I found several violations. Where is the SMOKE DETECTOR? GONE, but the inspector let this go and passed the building as being compliant with all NFPA CODES, BOCA BUILDING CODES. UNSECURE OVERHEAD STORAGE MADE OF WOOD ABOVE FLAMMIBLE OIL STORAGE (NOT PROPERLY MARKED FLAMMABLE WITH NFPA HEALTH HAZARD STICKER) NEXT TOO THIS DRUM IS AN AIR COMPRESSOR, NO FIRE EXTINGUISHER EXCEPT ACROSS THE REPAIR SHOP ABOUT 75’ AWAY. Improper Flammable Storage…stored in a non-approved storage locker……this locker is made of plastic and not metal and vented properly. Caustic Storage with paints, paint thinner, steel wool, WD40, Caulks, and other combustibles….stored in a plastic storage locker and not an approved metal flammable storage locker. Improper storage of flammable diesel fuel, not marked storage container, this container sits within 3 feet of an electrical panel. Improper placement of fire extinguisher; this is placed directly over a dump area for used motor oil. Oil pump is not the correct pump it is not marked for flammable liquid transfer. If there is a fire in this area the fire extinguisher is inoperable as you will not be able to retrieve it too use. These were noticeable within the first 3 minutes inside of the repair facility! Did the inspector do the job correctly or was he a friend of someone or just did not care and just wanted to get as many places inspected he can a day. Commercial Building Fire Inspections is not a hurry inspection it is a full in-depth full scale investigation to ensure that there will be NO fires or hazards that could hamper life, safety, health or bring you and your creditability into a court of law! How thorough are the Fire Inspectors doing their job on inspection of Static Displays, Portable Stages, Food Booths at fairs, parks, tourist sites Here are some pictures of a static display at a tourist destination. If I can see exposed wiring from about 20 feet away why could the fire inspector see it? A letter was sent to the fire department addressing this issue. Also if you look very carefully under the train display are about 6 multi outlet plug extension cord that are not intended for outdoor use with live electrical wiring going into said outlets. The above pictures are of a static display where children and adults can climb all over the display……these Electrical Wire are within reach of anyone……if they take off the cap they energize the whole static display. Yet, the fire inspector allowed this too continue……wiring is not NEC Approved for this type of use nor is there any GFI outlets……let uss look at the next picture. Wires cut from a mower….and the ends are exposed to any child and or adult. Followed the cut wires form the lawnmower and found them going to the building……not in a conduit and on a GFCI outlet……does this type of wiring meet NEC (National Electrical Codes for use outside?) Static Display spot light that lights up the train……exposed wiring. Easy for someone to be electrocuted! Is the outlet overloaded? Are these GFCI Protected Outlets? Where is the encased wire in a conduit? This is under the steam locomotive ease and access to anyone. Rain……yes it too can get too the plugs. If I can spot these within a few minutes just looking at the display I am sure the Fire Inspector and firefighters can as well see them as I! So is your department doing a complete inspection on business, static displays, park pavilions, theme parks & carnivals? The Inspection Vehicles should be equipped with a minimum of the following equipment:  FLASHLIGHT  LADDER 16’ COMBONATION FOLDING “A” FRAME STYLE  WOOD DOWEL ROD AT LEAST 1” IN DIAMETER TOO USE TOO CHECK EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND SMOKE DETECTORS WHEN STANDING ON GROUND.  INSPECTION MIRROR TOO CHECK FOR HIDDEN DANGERS IN, BEHIND, UNDER, OVER AND IN HIDDEN SPCES SUCH AS FLUE DUCTS, EXHAUST HOOD IN COMMERCIAL KITCHENS FOR HIDDEN DANGER. MOVE DROP CEILING TILES TO CHECK FOR HIDDEN DANGERS.  CAMERA TO DOCUMENT DANGERS TO AND TAKE PHOTOS TO HELP YOU WHEN PRE-FIRE PLANNING OF COMMERCIAL STRUCTURES AND THESE CAN BE DOWN LOADED TO A LAPTOP FOR QUICK ACCESS WHILE ON FIRE GROUND IF NEEDED. THE CAMERA CAN BE A FLIP, SMALL HAND HELD STYLE THAT CAN BE CARRIED EASILY INTO AND OUT OF THE BUILDING AND FIT INTO A POCKET.  GFCI CIRCUIT TESTER  YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A HAND HELD LIGHTWEIGHT MOVIE CAMERA TO HELP DOCUMENT THE FINDINGS AS WELL. THESE ARE A FEW ITEMS TOO TAKE WITH YOU ON A BUILDING INSPECTION. Finally, when you are doing your Fire Inspection at Hotel/Motel check each room for hidden dangers of plugs behind the head board and the mattress is pushed up against the light cords…..when the protective coating is broken and the light cord is plug in and the metal frame of the mattress is pushed against the broken protective sheath on the cord you have energized the bed and an electrocution hazard as well as a potential fire hazard. If I spot these few noticeable severe fire safety hazards then why has not the fire inspector done something about having the problems corrected? >Note the train and the electric cords is at the static display at DODGE CITY, KS. I have sent the fire chief a letter and a copy of the pictures….still today there has not been any corrections made and do not know if the electric lines are energized and I am not going to climb on the display until the electric cords are brought up to NEC, State and Local fire codes to ensure public safety. The wire nuts are within reach of a normal height person standing on the ground. < Be safe in the fire service and be sure to ensure public safety…..it’s your job!