Examples of Thanksgiving Day Fires

Part 5 of Thanksgiving Day Fires in the United States. The following are recent examples of Thanksgiving Day fires in residential buildings reported by the media: Thanksgiving Day 2009: An early morning chimney fire destroyed a home in Magnolia, TX, when a small fire was left burning in the fireplace after the occupants went to […]


Thanksgiving Day Fire Alert and Suppression Systems

Part 4 of Thanksgiving Day Fires in the United States. Technologies to detect and extinguish fires have been a major contributor to the drop in fire fatalities and injuries over the past 30 years. Smoke alarms are now present in the majority of residential buildings. In addition, the use of residential sprinklers is widely supported […]


Effects of Flood Rates of Rise and Duration

Part 5 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Rates of Rise and Fall You may not have heard these terms before, but they describe important characteristics of flooding: how rapidly the elevation (and therefore the depth) of water increases and decreases during a flood. These rates are usually expressed in terms of feet […]


What is Flood Flow Velocity?

Part 3 of How Can A Flood Damage Your Home. Flow velocity is the speed at which floodwaters move. It is usually measured in feet per second (fps). Flow velocities during riverine floods can easily reach 5 to 10 fps and, in some situations, may be even greater. Expressing velocities in fps is common in […]


Zero Energy Home Powers Up in North Texas

It shouldn’t be a surprise that energy would be a hit in Texas—but 8,000 people on the first weekend to tour a home that uses less than half that of a standard new home, and makes the rest itself? There is no magic in the technology and engineering, but clearly builder Jim and his systems […]


Exposure to asbestos usually occurs by breathing contaminated air

Exposure to asbestos usually occurs by breathing contaminated air in workplaces that make or use asbestos. Asbestos is also found in the air of buildings that are being torn down or renovated. Asbestos exposure can cause serious lung problems and cancer. This substance has been found at 83 of the 1,585 National Priorities List sites […]