Interesting Video From The NFPA

The really interesting part, I think, is at about 1:20 when the structure becomes engulfed in flames. Wikipedia has an interesting page dedicated to flashover, which is when a fire becomes hot enough to ignite most/all of the combustible materials in a confined space. Pretty cool, interesting and frightening.

At ADS, we have donated at least one house/structure on our corporate property to the local fire department for practice. I was not here when the fire department burned the house. However, I'm hopeful that in the near future, we'll donate another one so I can see it. If we do, I'll be posting pictures. Maybe even some cool video.

Cleaning Smoke Detectors Can Reduce Nuisance Fire Alarms

The Kane County Chronicle has recently run two articles (6/10/09 & 7/6/09) and one op-ed (7/21/09) regarding the problems with nuisance fire alarms in Batavia and St. Charles, Illinois. False alarms have been mentioned before on this blog, and I have briefly talked about the problems they can cause: drain on municipal resources, trouble with the government, and headaches for the owners and occupiers of the buildings. It is not just Batavia and St. Charles that have issues with false alarms. It's a wide-spread problem.

So the question that I want to address is, "What is one step can you can take to reduce or eliminate nuisance fire alarms at your building?"

A great way to reduce nuisance, nuisance fire alarms is to regularly inspect, test and clean your fire smoke detectors. Dust and dirt can (and do) infiltrate smoke detectors inhibiting performance and cause nuisance fire alarms. Even if you think your work environment is clean, dust and dirt accumulate considerably on surfaces that aren't routinely cleaned. (I am reminded of this when I look on top of my kitchen cabinets.)

Moreover, the studies vary, but smoke detectors do fail. I have heard that any where from 3% to .33% of smoke detectors will fail when tested. Regular, competent testing can substantially reduce your nuisance alarms and increase fire alarm reliability.

At ADS, we annually inspect and test thousands of fire alarm systems. One part of our annual inspection includes disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling smoke detectors consistent with National Fire Protection Association Codes. We routinely find smoke detectors that are dirty, non-performing, and/or broken. If you want to take one step towards reducing false alarms, you should have your fire system regularly tested and inspected by a professional company in accordance with your jurisdiction's laws and/or national standards. Doing so may save lives and prevent nuisance alarms.

It is your responsibility to check the laws and regulations that govern you and/or your building to determine if annual testing (or more frequent testing) is required by law. If you live in the Chicagoland area, ADS can help. We are familiar with the various codes and standards. We can make recommendations on services to help reduce false alarms and comply with your jurisdiction's laws and regulations. Contact me at security@adsalarm.com if you would like more information!

Congratulations to Jamie Fatout for Winning The Annual ADS Scholarship!

Every year, ADS (via a scholarship/qualifications competition judged by an impartial selection committee) awards one college-bound child of an ADS employee a $1000 scholarship, renewable for up to three additional years. This year, the winner of the scholarship is Jamie Fatout! Jamie is the daughter of long-time ADS employee Mike Fatout.

Jamie Fatout is a very bright and pleasant graduate of Aurora Christian High School. It took only a few moments to discover one of Jamie's passions in life: Dancing. Jamie has been dancing since 5th grade and currently dances at Stephanie's Academy of Dance in Montgomery. There she learns numerous dancing styles, including jazz, ballet, hip-hop, modern, point, aerial, and acrobatics to name a few. When you talk to Jamie about dancing, it is clear that she loves it and is considering some aspect of dancing for her career.

This Fall, Jamie will be attending Waubonsee Community College (a wonderful, local institution) with the plan of getting some of her core classes completed before springing onto a four-year university or other dance program. Jamie is excited for the transition from Aurora Christian to Waubonsee. She views Waubonsee as a place where she will feel comfortable due to its close proximity to home and where she can meet tons of new people and make new friends.

In order to win the ADS scholarship, Jamie had to submit an essay addressing the topic of how the U.S. economy is supported by family business. Jamie's essay focused on the importance such businesses have on the local community and economy. Considering Jamie's past academic performance (high honor role during her senior year) and insightful essay, it is clear that Jamie will excel in all areas of college including dancing.

Good luck, Jamie! We are confident that you will be successful in whatever endeavors you undertake. We are very happy for you and thankful that you participated in the scholarship program!

Note: ADS's scholarship program is currently open only to current ADS employees. Scholarship rules and conditions available to current employees upon request.