tagged w/ flammable
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Our homes and the stuff inside them are nearly six times more flammable than they were 30 years ago.
What that means for firefighters is the amount of time they can safely be inside a house on fire has dropped from about 17 minutes to three minutes or less.
That's when flashover happens — the moment when a room or building is fully engulfed in flames.
"It's true,” said Ottawa Fire spokesman Marc Messier of the unprecedented danger facing firefighters. "It's mostly because of the products being used in construction and furniture fabrication."
He said unlike 30 years ago, when homes, furniture and appliances were made of solid wood and steel, modern day versions are made with glue, plastics and synthetic materials.
Such synthetics not only burn faster but produce carcinogenic emissions as they burn.
"One of the biggest examples is floor joists," said Messier, who himself dabbles in home renovations.
"They used to be 2x8s and 2x10s, and now we're looking at composite materials which for the most part are made of wood particles, mixed in with glue. They're cheaper, which is probably why the industry is using these products."
Messier said many composite materials are stronger than wood — until a fire breaks out.
"Then everything changes. These things burn quicker."
In fact, he points to the findings of a National Research Council study which shows modern homes fail up to 60% faster under fire conditions compared to older homes.
He said most modern homes will collapse in a fire between 6½ and 12 minutes of the smoke alarm going off, leaving firefighters trapped.
"This is why we tell people to practise a fire escape plan," said Messier.
"There's so little time to get out — three minutes from the time the alarm goes off until flashover."
Sometimes less — one video courtesy of the American- based National Institute of Safety Technology shows flashover happening within 40 seconds after a Christmas tree caught fire in a controlled experiment.
Messier said one way to turn back the clock on flashover times is by installing sprinkler systems in homes.
He said these systems cost about $3,000 for a 2,000-sq.-ft. home, but when used in conjunction with smoke alarms, will reduce the likelihood of death by 82%.
There have been 49 people killed in fires in Ottawa since 2001.
“If there were 49 murders in 10 years, don't you think there'd be an uproar?" asked Messier.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/01/24/17007276.html#Our homes and the stuff inside them are nearly six times more flammable than they were... more
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The recent incidents on the Northwest and Delta airlines of 'attempted' terrorist attacks sound suspicious to me. I am talking about the incidents themselves and not the oh too convenient timing for the events. I am also not referring to the attempted terrorist attack on the Northwest Airlines flight Friday falling "almost to the day eight years after another failed solo attack" by the so-called "shoe bomber" Richard Reid. Nor am I talking about the immediate talking points that are coming out that make me wonder if they have an updated 'Patriot Act' already written and ready for signature like the one on 9/11.
“It’s not surprising,” U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, a Holland Republican, said of the alleged terrorist attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight in Detroit. … “People have got to start connecting the dots here and maybe this is the thing that will connect the dots for the Obama administration,” Hoekstra said.
No, I am talking about the statistical impossibility that the events could occur as the White House is reporting...
If Al Quaeda is so dangerous and supposedly a threat to us, one would assume that they would rehearse and train for these things. Suppose that they do this, train for the attack. They then go undetected or arrested up until the day of their flight. They then pass security, hmm, I've had to go back through or stand to the side for a laptop, a camera, oh, and so a pen could be disassembled. So, they accomplish this with explosives and other items that may draw attention. Then, they board the plane without raising suspicions. Now, they work their way to the bathroom with, I assume, carry-on luggage in tote. Again, they've made it this far. Now, you have to fake an illness to get a blanket to cover your body so you can assemble a 'bomb'. This achieved again but to no avail because over and over again this dangerous terrorist organization and their extensive training falls apart when the 'bomb' malfunctions (?) and all you get is sparks, smoke and a possible ignition of clothing from the heat. The impossibility of this happening over and over again and always at convenient timing for Washington leads me to wonder if this is what is called a 'False Flag'.
From Wikipedia
False flag operations are covert operations which are designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one's own. False flag operations are not limited to war and counter-insurgency operations, and have been used in peace-time; for example, during Italy's strategy of tension.
On the night of February 27, 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire. At the urging of Hitler, Hindenburg responded the next day by issuing an emergency decree "for the Protection of the people and the State," which stated: "Restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press; on the rights of assembly and association; and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed." The question of who actually started the Reichstag fire is still unknown and occasionally debated.
It's scary how much February 27, 1933 reminds me of September 11, 2001 but that's another article.
I'd love to hear input from both sides of the issue on this one because I just feel the odds alone knock these two incidents out of the legitimate file.The recent incidents on the Northwest and Delta airlines of 'attempted'... more
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It’s all about Russia this season and that includes your beauty wardrobe too. In this post our blogger (whose specialty is beauty) gives us cutting edge runway looks that capture the Russian Revolution that has hit our faces for the fall. Colors, smoky eyes and big hair---we’re talking glam to the max! If you love beauty, and want to know what’s happening in the forecast, check this page out so you’re not left out in the cold this coming season. Great pictures from Nars and Marc Jacobs. Looks like an extensive Editorial beauty spread. Really fun and well-written, this is the writers forte.
Blogger has an amazingly eclectic site with everything from beauty, fashion, diary style entries, poetry, life in the magazine world----this girl has everything. Already winner of the prestigious “Blog Of The Day Award” (some people take years to earn this—she’s only had her blog up 6 weeks!) and on top level blog rolls of awesome bloggers, this girl is amazing. A+++++It’s all about Russia this season and that includes your beauty wardrobe too.... more
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jrn
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added this
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2 years ago
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Funny how this always works in the movies, maybe it was the long haired mans sucking power that was to blame or how far he stuck his hose pipe down the petrol hole!
Funny how this always works in the movies, maybe it was the long haired mans sucking... more
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