On the evening on January 19, 2011 Fire Fighter Mark Falkenhan lost his life while working inside a building fire. While we should try to honor all LODD, this one holds a special place in my heart because at the time of his death I was on my quest to learn more about fire behavior […]

Do you know what Photovoltaic (PV) is?                What are the safety hazards with PV?   What  tactics should be used at fires with PV present?   How do I secure utilities on a PV system? If you are not able to answer these questions, then hopefully this post can give you the sources to gain the […]

The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl Siding: OVERVIEW Glass in double paned windows may on occasion slightly warp or deflect due to a difference in barometric pressure between the interior of the glass panes and the outside air pressure. This can create a concavity in the […]

WEBSTER GROVES • Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire Saturday on the roof of Webster Groves High School, officials said. The fire broke out about 1:45 p.m. The cause has not yet been determined, but Webster Groves Battalion Chief Tom Yohe said it was “possible” the fire was sparked by one of the school’s solar panels. […]

Combines insulative and water-resistant barrier benefits with structural properties to offer an affordable method of bridging the thermal short-circuiting of a building’s frame.  Exterior walls must provide multiple functions including  weather and air resistance, energy efficiency, and structure. Most commonly,  these functions are met with a combination of materials that are typically  individually installed.Structural insulating […]

From our very beginning in New Amsterdam, the role of the fire service was to be proactive and save lives through fire prevention. In 1647 Fire wardens would inspect houses and chimneys, fining the owners for potential hazards, to prevent fires from happening.  If the early firefighters were not actively inspecting, then they were patrolling […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 6, 2012) – The Foam Sheathing Committee (FSC) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), through an industry effort, achieved an important change in gaining broad acceptance of a performance-based standard for the use of foam insulation products in all code complying commercial applications during the recent International Building Code (IBC) Final Action […]