We have all seen them maybe a few of us backed into one. The fire hydrants in the parking lot, on the street corner or in the park are a big part of the life safety tools available to our fire fighters. Most of the time these devices are overlooked as a device that needs service or repair by property owners. Below I will give a few examples of issues we have found over the years while servicing hydrants..
1. Hydrant operating nut will not turn. The obvious issue hear is that if you cannot turn the operating nut a fireman cannot get water out of the hydrant.
2. Operating nut turns continously. In this instance a firefighter will not get water out of the hydrant.
3.The hydrant opens properly and no water comes out. In this case the mechanics of the hydrant opens properly but no water comes out. The issue here is the main valve underground is closed.
4.The nozzles are the wrong thread type. In a case like this the hydrant performs great but by having the wrong thread types a fire compnay’s hoses will not go on the connections.
In most cases we service fire hydrants that will function properly. By being able to verify this on an annual basis we give our customers peace of mind that this part of there properties life safety devices are ready to function when needed. I hope the next time you look at a fire hydrant you have a better appreciation of these life safety devices.
If you have any questions you can call Service 1st Fire Protection at 623-582-3369 or visit our website at s1fire.com
This month I am going to discuss fire sprinklers and freezing weather. With current temperatures lowering into the freezing weather the potential for the pipes freezing is very real even though they are in the attic. Today I will give you three ideas on what you can do to protect your home from the this potential damage.
1. In accessable areas of the attic make sure the insulation is installed over the sprinkler pipes. This is what code requires but I do several service calls a year were this is not done.
2. On most homes there is a secondary valve called an “Inspectors Test Valve”. This valve is usually located on the opposite side of the house from where the Fire Riser is located. Some are marked with a sign. Some homes have an access panel outside or in a bedroom closet. You can open this valve slightly to give water flow through the system. Just be careful to not open too far and sound the alarm.
3. Keep your house warm. The idea here is that some of the heat will penetrate through the ceiling to keep the pipes above freezing.
If you have any questions you can call our office at 623-332-8584 or visit our website at www.s1fire.com.
A properly placed fire extinguisher should be visible in the surrounding area. If not a sign should be placed above the extinguisher so any potential user can see where one has been placed.
Welcome to the Service 1st Fire Blog. Our first post will be about the importance of smoke alarms in your home. The statistics show that almost all home fire related deaths happen in homes without smoke alarms or smoke alarms that are not functioning properly. It is estimated that over 40 percent of residential fires and three-fifths of residential fatalities occur in homes with no smoke alarms. (http://www.gohsep.la.gov/factsheets/FactsonFire.htm)
The proper maintenance and installation of these devices can reduce the risk of fatality greatly. It is recommended by manufacturers that the smoke detectors be checked weekly and have the batteries replaced every year. Manufacturers also recommend that the smoke alarms be replaced every ten years. We at service 1st Fire can answer any questions you have concerning your smoke alarms and service them to keep your family safe. You can call us at 623-582-3369 or visit our website at www.s1fire.com .
