About 35 million building sprinklers across the country need to be replaced because they might not work during fires, the government and Sprinkler System Installation Greenville the Pennsylvania manufacturer said Wednesday.
The sprinklers are installed in homes, offices, day-care facilities, hospitals and other buildings, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
Central Sprinkler Co., of Lansdale, Pa., discovered some of its sprinkler heads have O-ring seals that can corrode, said L. Dennis Kozlowski, chief executive of Tyco International Ltd., which owns the sprinkler company. The firm has received 13 reports of sprinklers failing to work during fires.
"We immediately shared our concerns with the authorities," Kozlowski told reporters. He noted the deterioration of the sprinklers "takes place over a very long period of time."
Tyco will provide free replacements for all the recalled sprinklers, the safety commission said. The first sprinklers replaced will be the oldest, those showing signs of damage or those in buildings such as nursing homes and hospitals.
The recall includes another 167,000 sprinklers sold by Gem Sprinkler Co. and Star Sprinkler Inc., which are also owned by Tyco, the safety commission said.
The recalled fire sprinkler heads have the words "CENTRAL" or "STAR", the letters "CSC", the letter "G" in a triangle, or a star-shaped symbol stamped on either the metal frame or the flower-shaped metal piece at one end of the sprinkler head.
About 2.5 million sprinklers installed in other countries, most of them in Canada, are also included in the recall, said Central Sprinkler spokeswoman Anne Buchanan.
People seeking more information about how to replace their sprinklers should call the company toll-free at 1-800-871-3492.
Building owners, however, shouldn't shut off their sprinkler systems because of this recall, said Joseph Hirschmugl, a spokesman for Chicago-based Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which provides safety certifications and has been testing the recalled sprinklers.
The vast majority of the recalled sprinklers are of the GB or glass-bulb type that contain alcohol or another liquid in a bulb mounted on the sprinkler head. Heat rising from a fire expands the liquid, causing the glass to shatter. That releases the sprinkler's plug and allows water onto the fire. An O-ring seal keeps the plug from leaking.
The testing organization said in April that some glass-bulb sprinklers produced by Central Sprinkler had crystallized deposits or corrosion around the rubber seal, which indicated leaking water.
It has recommended that the sprinklers be replaced since March 2000, but at the time, Brad McGee, a Tyco senior vice president, said it was too early to consider a recall or replacement of the sprinklers.
In 1998, Central Sprinkler recalled 8.4 million Omega brand fire sprinklers because thy could fail in a fire. Those sprinklers, which were installed nationwide in schools, hospitals, hotels, offices and homes, failed to acti vate in about 20 fires during the 1990s, causing injuries and millions of dollars in property damage, the safety commission said at the time.
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Across the West, a historic drought - the worst in over a century - has sparked a water crisis that for the first time has forced California officials to impose mandatory statewide water restrictions.
Watch: Extremely dry conditions fuel wildfires in at least five states.
There have no been no fewer than a dozen raging wildfires, from Idaho and Oregon to Arizona, Washington and Nevada.
The Bully Fire in Northern California chewed through 10-square miles and destroyed eight homes. The landscape has become a tinderbox and water reservoirs are now bone dry. About 2,200 firefighters have been working hard to keep the flames away.
Nevada's Lake Mead is now at its lowest point since th e Hoover Dam was built, officials said.
In today's announcement, officials in California announced that it is illegal to let sprinkler systems flow into the street, hose down sidewalks and driveways or use an open hose to wash your car.
"I think my husband has been guilty of coming out late at night and doing a little secretive watering underneath the trees," resident Pam Ferko said.
Scofflaws faced fines of up to $500 a day.
Previously, residents had ignored the governor's pleas to cutback - statewide, water usage actually went up - so now Californians are being encouraged to rat out their neighbors.
"Our water complaint calls have gone up exponentially from the last two https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfNmypOk45k years," said Terrance Davis of the stat e's Department of Utilities.
Lawn sprinklers and car washes aren't the only culprits though.
Agriculture uses 80 percent of the state's water. The drought is projected to cost $2 billion in crop losses this year, which will mean higher food prices nationwide.
The first warehouse specifically developed for the protection of sprinkler head is a large drop sprinkler head, the sprinkler head was developed in the 20th century 70's, K coefficient is 161, its splash plate is designed to produce more large drops enhance the penetration and improve fire fighting performance. System design sprinkler head 15 can only meet the design requirements and safety coefficient is greatly enhanced. As developed this sprinkler head, the experts found that the warehouse for high risk, the measure of performance is the sprinkler sprinkler head nozzle size and caliber of work pressure and role, rather than water density area. Large drop sprinkler head is a significant advantage of the sprinkler head can be protected without the need for shelf stor age shelves within the sprinkler head, sprinkler nozzle for the ordinary this is not possible.
? ESFR sprinkler head 80s in the 20th century, with the FM model developed ESFR sprinkler heads, storage protection has reached a new level. In order to protect high-risk items used to store high-shelf storage, but do not use the shelves within the sprinkler head, while on the shelf to avoid mechanical damage within the sprinkler head, in particular, developed SM technology. With enhanced performance of ESFR sprinkler head, there has been a new and more rigorous use and installation requirements. Although the users and designers know that you can no longer use a shelf within the sprinkler head, but often neglect the more stringent installation requirements, the resulting problems have also plagued the storage industry.
New sprinkler head technology Until the 20th century, the early 90s for most of the sprinkler head storage technology to protect the most important changes are driven by the FM. 50 years in the 20th century they developed a standard sprinkler head, but also a large drop and ESFR sprinkler head of the developer. By policyholders in their efforts to meet the needs of mainly large-scale industrial operation. Then, by the Central Company (now Tyco fire equipment company) led sprinkler head needs of the user industry began its research and development.
ELO sprinkler head start is the central D64-type sprinkler heads. It was designed to use only one K161 sprinkler head, which can be generated under high water pressure in the lower water density, more cost-effective. In order to validate its performance, in the 20th century, the early 90s was an entity fires pilot projects. The basic process of this project is the original pilot project to repeat the warehouse, the only change is replaced by ELO sprinkler head, and at a lower injection pressure have the same density. In these experiments, ELO sprinkler head and the old sprinkler head not only play the same performance, but in addition Sprinkler System Arlington to one of the tests are clearly better than the performance. In the design of the new warehouse protection, or no real reason to use K115 smaller sprinkler head, NFPA13 required density 14mm/min (0.34gpm/ft2) or higher, or greater use of K11.2 sprinkler head, illustrates this point.
Large-caliber special application type fire control sprinkler heads
Central has developed UltraK17 sprinkler head in order to lower the required pressure to achieve significant and large drop sprinkler head performance. FM carried out by entities in the fire test, the sprinkler head to protect the carton piled up on the shelves of plastic materials within the warehouse shelf without the need for sprinkler heads.
Large diameter hanging-type sprinkler head
As demands for higher pressure, the original K202ESFR sprinkler head is often difficult to bring the design, so central in the development of the K363 FM sprinkler head.
* President Donald Trump will reportedly visit the Supreme Court later this week for Justice Neil Gorsuch's official investiture ceremony. Based on the president's prior behavior, it may only be a matter of time before he refers to his appointee as an "absolute disaster" whose "mind is shot." [USA Today]
* Former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara, who was fired by President Trump af ter he was asked to remain in his post, says phone calls he received from Trump made in an effort to "cultivate some kind of relationship" made him uncomfortable. In response, a spokesman for Marc Kasowitz called Bharara a "resistance Democrat," and said "he deserved to be fired." [Washington Post]
* In other news, Marc Kasowitz, who will likely be setting up an office on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc White House grounds where he can run President Trump's defense, has reportedly told White House aides to hold off on hiring their own lawyers -- a move that would only be in his client's interest, and against their own. [New York Times]
(more...)
* President Donald Trump will reportedly visit the Supreme Court later this week for Justice Neil Gorsuch's official investiture ceremony. Based on the president's prior behavior, it may only be a matter of time before he refers to his appointee as an "absolute disaster" whose "mind is shot." [USA Today]
* Former U.S. attorney Preet http://lawyers.findlaw.com/ Bharara, who was fired by President Trump after he was asked to remain in his post, says phone calls he received from Trump made in an effort to "cultivate some kind of relationship" made him uncomfortable. In response, a spokesman for Marc Kasowitz called Bharara a "resistance Democrat ," and said "he deserved to be fired." [Washington Post]
* In other news, Marc Kasowitz, who will likely be setting up an office on White House grounds where he can run President Trump's defense, has reportedly told White House aides to hold off on hiring their own lawyers -- a move that would only be in his client's interest, and against their own. [New York Times]
* In defense to a lawsuit, the Justice Department has likened President Trump to George Washington (yup!), alleging that Trump isn't violating the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by accepting payments for goods and services like hotel bills and golf club fees from foreign governments. [Bloomberg]
* In the wake of former FBI director James Comey's tell-all appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Attorney General Jeff Sessions will now have to testify himself on the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc ongoing probe int o Russian's election interference. Hmm, what will the recused AG have to say for himself? [New York Times]
* "It was really disgusting and really scary." Joseph Amico of Las Vegas was arrested after he allegedly called New York lawyer Douglas Wigdor a "n**ger lover" and threatened to blow up his firm. Wigdor is representing plaintiffs in a racial discrimination lawsuit against Fox News Channel. [New York Daily News]
* Miguel A. Mndez, Stanford Law's first Latino professor, RIP. [Stanford News]
Let me make a prediction: You will buy an E-Bike, and like me, you will love having one.
Wallerang Ebike
Over the last six months, I've been testing a wide variety of E-bikes and have come to believe strongly that E-bikes are in the future for many of us, specifically those over 50, but in time, for everyone. I've tested bikes from brands you know such as Trek, Specialized and Raleigh, and ones you haven't such as Swedish Ebike company Wallerang (which turned out to be my favorite but more on that later).
An E-bike is a two-wheeled bicycle-like personal transport device that has a motor that is powered in part by a rechargeable batter y. In some cases pedaling the bike engages the battery (pedal assist bikes) or even recharges it (although that is not always the case). Others have a throttle. Either way, a motor is engaged that helps power the bike faster, or makes hills or upwards grades easier. In cases where you might have dismounted and walked the bike up a hill, you can now cruise; where others passed you, you can now pass them.
Your friends may think of an Ebike as cheating or http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/electrical/ tell you that if you are not pedaling all the time, what's the point. They do not get it: An Ebike allows you to bike more often, in more places -- and for those who rately bike at all, it creates a compelling, easy reason to do so.
With an Ebike suddenly you can take rides and bike trips that seemed daunting; or work commutes that you feared would make you sweaty are suddenly manageable. It also gives a psychologica l boost - it increases when you might ride and how often and opens up a world of biking to those who thought it too much work. As I said, perfect for aging boomers who want the illusion of youth without the work.
My romance with Ebikes started about six months ago when I came into possession of a first generation Ebike by A2B. It has a throttle and goes up to 20mph. The battery is built into the stem and charges in a few hours. However, the bike is very heavy and clunky, closer to a moped than a bicycle. Still I have used it with great pleasure around Santa Monica and it is fun to run errands with. It also provided a great introduction to Ebikes and gave me a sense that what I was looking for did not need to be faster, but it needed to be lighter and look more like a bicycle. Also I was looking for it to maintain the same strength going up hills as did my A2B which, despite its weight, is quite powerful.
In California, where I live, Ebikes have become so popular that the legislature recently passed regulations defining motorized bicycles by class, according to speed and other features. Class 3 Ebikes go over 20 mph and are not permitted on ocean bicycle paths; class 2 ebikes (20 mph and under) are treated like regular bikes.
This is just one indication that the Ebike market has exploded. For further proof, a few weekends ago I attended the Santa Monica E-Bike Expo held at the Santa Monica Pier beach parking lot where I was able to inspect and try more than a dozen different brands of E-bike.
Specialized Ebike
Traditional bike brands such as Raleigh, Trek and Specialized (Specialized calls theirs "Turbo Bikes) have all introduced their own branded Ebikes. In addition there are many other specialized, American and European brands dedicated to Ebikes including Stromer, Tempo, Bulls, Gazelle, Kalkhoff, Riese and Mueller, Wallerang and Yuba. Each has its own distinctive positive attributes - as well as drawbacks. Which model is best for you, is a matter of how (and where) you will most use the bike (on trails, on city streets, etc..) as well as price, features (do you need it to haul cargo or kids) and some are distinguished by style.
There are those who will argue the virtues of whether the ebike is rear wheel powered hub or front and whether the chain is encased or not; how many gears and how you shift them, and the location of the battery. Is it a mountain bike, a road bike, for commuting or off road. For some it is purely an esthetic question of what looks the best. However, to me, what matters most is how you feel riding the bike.
As a caveat, I will note that there are many crowdfunded ebikes on Indiegogo and Kickstarter, most of which are priced at substantial less than the models I tested. Some of th em require you to assemble them, and servicing them is more of a promise than a guarantee. As a result, my own survey is limited to the brands below all of which have US distribution and are serviced by the stores that sell them and/or their U.S. distributor or manufacturer.
Let me start with my favorite, Wallerang.
Wallerang is a Swedish bike company from Gothenburg, Sweden. They like to call themselves a marriage of Scandinavian design and Japanese technology. They've set up U.S. headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA. The bikes are all purpose commuter bikes with a aluminum frame, a Shimano mid-step electronic gear shift (with an automatic setting). The frame is non-suspension but they do have models with front shocks. They are also built with a modular system allowing for a variety of cargo carrying choices front and back. But all of that is just justification for the fact that from the moment I rode their M.02X Smartbike, it just felt right. What is great is that you jus t get on and ride and the gear shifting and power assist are all automated. This was the Ebike for me.
Wallerang Smart bike (posed with model Therese)
The M.02X has a suspension fork is available as a step-through. This means you sit comfortably on the bike and on whatever terrain you ride. The power when climbing is strong. I liked the silent drive unit and the shifting with three easy to click buttons (and the fully automatic option) make riding simple. There is cycle computer that comes standard with gear, range and battery indication. From the moment I sat on the Wallerang I felt not just comfortable but like I wanted to go somewhere on this bike. The price, (around $3600) is steep. But if that is within your budget, I can say that there was no Ebike I liked more, no bike that I would be eager to use as often as possible on as many roads as possible.
My second favorite was Kalkhoff, which boasts its German engineering and its pedigree of having made bicycles for almost 100 years, making all their own components in Germany. They are premium commuter Ebikes with a dozen different styles including features such as electrical gear shifting and combination back pedal and disc brake, bike lock and battery lock. They have pioneered smart displays and Bluetooth enabled navigation. They are well made and have entry level bikes that retail in the US for under $1600 (although of course one covets the higher price models). If I was looking for an entry level Ebike in price, Kalkhoff provides good value.
As for the other Ebikes I tested: Raleigh makes a line of Ebikes that are moderately priced (for Ebikes) which is to say in the $1600-$2600 range. They handle well and produce a strong push when pedaled. However I found the bike Electrician Service College Station somewhat stiff in its handling and not as comfortable as I would have liked. Specialized's Turbo Ebikes are more in the $4500 price and above price range, but they make powerful mountain bikes to take you up hills (a claimed 530 watts of power!) and are attractive and well-made (personally they are more expensive than I'd spend but if money is not an issue I would recommend trying them).
Trek makes commuter bikes that begin around $3000, have a mid-drive motor, and have long range battery and come with Trek's warranty. The Trek was stiffer ride, did the job well but it was more about efficiency than pleasure. I would say Trek is a safe reliable choice, but I wasn't crazy about how the bike felt (again this is highly personal but I felt on the Trek as if my butt would wear out before the ebike did).
Yuba SPicy Curry Ebike
Some of the brands you might not have heard of include Yuba which make cargo Ebikes and ones that can accommodate young kids as second (or even third) passengers. Priced in the $3-4000 range they weigh between 55-70 pounds, but are around six feet in length and really can haul your groceries or kids around town.
Gazelle Ebikes also in the $3-4,000 range, are a Dutch brand that has a retro look (leather seats and handles). Their ebikes are practical and have a spare simple design. The ride is comfortable and the bikes are not too heavy. More stylish are Farragut Ebikes which look like classic bicycles. The ride is somewhat stiff and I didn't find them as comfortable or powerful as other brands but they are attractive.
Stromer is a Swiss ebike that is perhaps the most solid of those I tested. The Stromers are serious ebikes, they feel a little bi t heavier (and they are more expensive) but it is fair to say they are the Cadillac of the crowd and the one many Ebike stores recommended to me for all around use.
Bulls Ebike
The Germans made a strong showing at the Ebike Expo. Bulls has been in the Ebike market since 2010, mostly in Europe, and has a wide variety of Ebikes from fat-tire off road models to commuter bikes - they are priced at middle and higher range ($3500 and above). The one I rode was an all-purpose model and it handled well. They have a wide range of drive systems and models but I didn't feel they were as intuitive to use as I might have liked.
BMW (yes that BMW) makes an Ebike ($3,430) featuring Bosch motors with a 400 watt battery and shimano disc brakes and a top speed of 25 mph (m aking it a class 3 bike). The design is clean and there is a ten-gear system (a bit too much for me). There is an onboard computer that makes gear recommendations.
Another German company is Riese and Muller who make more than a dozen models (including folding bikes, some with multiple batteries allowing for an extended range, (also with Bosch motors) as well as cargo ebikes that carry their cargo in front. Their bikes have a distinctive look and appear well engineered (some look somewhat Rube Goldberg-esque). However, I am not sure about the extent of the US dealership service and support.
At whatever price point you choose, and for whatever best suits your needs there's an Ebike for you. And biking with assist is better than not biking at all! As for me, I know I'm going to upgrade from A2B sooner rather later.
So in closing let me say: Happy Trails and I hope to be passing you soon!
A hidden portrait underneath the "Mona Lisa" has been discovered by a French scientist, who said he uncovered the image using reflective light technology.
The digitally reconstructed image of the hidden portrait was presented at a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday by scientist Pascal Cotte, who's been analyzing the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece for over a decade, the BBC reported. Pascal said he uncovered the image using a multi-lens camera that took images of the painting under intense light.
The hidden portrait features a sitting subject who looks almost identical to the "Mona Lisa," minus small but significant differences.
The sitter in the image appears to be looking to the side rather than directly at the viewer, and the sitter does not seem to have the enigmatic smile that's intrigued "Mona Lisa" viewers for over 500 years.
< br>Cotte told https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_painters_by_name the BBC that he believes his findings challenge the widely accepted theory that the "Mona Lisa" is a painting of real-life 16th century Italian woman Lisa Gheradini, who was the wife of a Florentine silk merchant.
Pascal Cotte, a French scientist, claims he has found a hidden portrait underneath the Mona Lisa.
"The results shatter many myths and alter our vision of Leonardo's masterpiece forever," he said. "When I finished the reconstruction of Lisa Gherardini, I was in front of the portrait, and she is totally different to Mona Lisa today. This is not the same woman."
In an upcoming documentary for the BBC, art historian, Andrew Graham-Dixon, said he studied historical documents linked to the "Mona Lisa" alongside Cotte's findings and came to the same conclusion as Cotte.
Reflective light technology used to analyze th e Mona Lisa.
"I think the new discoveries are like a huge stone thrown into the still waters of art history," Graham-Dixon said. "They disturb everything that we thought we knew about the Mona Lisa ... [T]here may be some reluctance on the part of the authorities at the Louvre to think about changing the title of the painting because that's what we're talking about. It's 'Goodbye, Mona Lisa.' She is somebody else."
The Louvre Museum declined to comment on the findings, saying it was not a part of the scientific team that studied the painting.
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, exhibited at the Louvre in Paris in 2007.
Other art historians remain skeptical about the claims that Cotte's findings could prove the "Mona Lisa" was someone else other than Lisa Gheradini.
Oxford University Professor Martin Kemp, one of the world's leading experts on Leonardo da Vinci told the BBC that he believes Cotte and his team is "ingenious" but "the idea that there is that picture as if it were hiding underneath the surface is almost untenable."
When the winter season ends, you will probably want to spend more time outside, appreciating the Sprinkler System Mckinney warm weather and the simple pleasures of a nicely kept lawn. Here are a few steps you can take toward creating and maintaining a healthy and gorgeous lawn.
Rake away the debris from the fall and winter months, including leaves and sticks. This will give you a fresh start for the spring. If you have leftover rubbish on the lawn, this can get in the way of mowing, watering, planting seed and so on. Raking has the added benefit of loosening the surface of the soil, encouraging healthy airflow.
Chris Lemcke, national technical director of Weed Man (a lawn care company), advises raking up last year's leave s and matted grass that were hiding under last fall's leaves and sticks left in the yard. This can keep the thatch level at half an inch or less. It will also allow you to care for the lawn properly.
Apply more grass seed
Look for areas with weak grass growth or dead grass. Use a strong rake to open the surface. Mix the grass seed with new, healthy soil. Then spread this soil/grass seed mixture over the surface. Don't forget to regularly water this area to foster hearty and fast grass growth.
Mulch
Mulch is a protective covering that you can apply to soil to lock in moisture. "Mulching with a depth of 2 to 4 inches around the bases of trees, shrubs and in flower beds will retain water and keep plants warm," says Lemcke.
Water deeply
Many homeowners water their lawns often -- but with little water. However, it's better to water only when your lawn needs it with a lot of water.
If you water deep and sparingly, you will train the grass r oots to dig deeper into the soil. Whereas, if you water lightly and often, you will train the roots to stay near the surface, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Snow mold
Look for snow mold. This condition is caused when the grass doesn't receive enough oxygen because it's been covered in snow. Snow mold reveals itself when the snow melts.
If you rake your lawn before the arrival of snow, this can reduce your risk of snow-mold. Some people, with a history of snow mold, try to avoid this condition by mowing the lawn well into t he autumn and spreading snow evenly across the lawn during winter. The latter, however, is deemed excessive by many people.
Mow high
Mow your lawn with a sharp blade. You should also mow often because grass doesn't adjust as well to infrequent mowing. If you keep your grass http://rachio.com/ a bit on the longer side, it will grow thicker and healthier, with a better-established root system.
Better roots help your grass survive insects or drought. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, many turf grass species should be kept between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches.
Justice Neil Gorsuch (Photo by Getty)
Wallerang Ebike
Specialized Ebike
Yuba SPicy Curry Ebike
