MEC&F Expert Engineers : 02/15/15

Sunday, February 15, 2015

HOW TO MINIMIZE ICE DAMS AND RESULTING WATER DAMAGE









An ice dam has the potential to cause serious damage to both your roof and the inside of your home. It is important to take the right steps to protect your home from the risks associated with heavy snow and ice.
 
What is an Ice Dam?

An ice dam can form when water from melting snow re-freezes at the edge of your roofline. Without roof snow removal, the ice dam may grow large enough to prevent water from draining off the roof. The water can then back up underneath the roof shingles and make its way inside your home.
Immediate steps you can take to remove Ice Dams:

    Clear downspouts. An easy way to help snow and ice drain off your roof is to make sure the area around your downspouts is clear. This will make it possible for your gutters to drain when snow does melt. It will also help prevent flooding when the snow and ice melts. 

    Remove snow from your roof after every storm. Use a roof rake to clear the first three to four feet of snow from your roof immediately after each winter storm to prevent ice dams from forming. While the amount of snow and ice that your roof can handle may vary depending on a number of factors such as the roof type, age and condition of the structure, a good rule of thumb is if there is more than a foot of heavy, wet snow and ice on your roof, you should try to have it removed.
 

Longer-term Ice Dam Prevention:

Ultimately, the best prevention for ice dams is to eliminate the conditions that make it possible for them to form in the first place.

    Insulate your attic. Make sure your attic is well insulated to help prevent the melting-and-freezing cycle that causes ice dams to form. Check and seal places where warm air could leak from your house to the attic, including vent pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, attic hatches and light fixtures. 

    Install a water-repellant membrane. When replacing a roof, make sure to install a water membrane underneath the shingles. This acts as an extra barrier that helps prevent water from seeping inside the building.
 

Removing snow from your roof to Prevent Ice Dams

Clearing the first three to four feet of snow from your roof immediately after each winter storm can help prevent ice dams from forming.

    If you have a flat roof that is easily reached from an interior stairway, you may want to shovel the roof. When de-icing, remember to put safety first any time you are on a roof, especially one that is covered in snow and ice. If you have any doubt, leave it to the professionals. 

    If you have a sloped roof, it may be possible to remove the snow and ice using a roof rake, a long-handled tool designed specifically for this purpose. Stand on the ground and pull as much of the snow off the eaves as you can safely reach. It is not necessary to remove all the snow; removing the first three to four feet of snow closest to the gutters will help alleviate these issues. 

    If you cannot reach the roof, many homebuilders, landscaping and roofing contractors, and property maintenance companies will remove snow and ice from roofs.  Before hiring a contractor, Metropolitan Engineering recommends that you check references.  Always get a minimum of 3 references and always obtain cost estimates from at least 3 contractors.  Always be sure your contractor is insured and bonded.

We do not recommend using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions. This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to professionals.
 

Removing ice dams
Just because an ice dam is present does not necessarily mean water has penetrated the roof membrane. However, it is always best to remove ice dams before they have the opportunity to cause damage. To determine if you have damage, look for water stains or moisture in the attic or around the tops of exterior walls on the top floor.

    If you can reach the roof safely, try to knock the ice dam off with a roof rake, or cut a channel through the ice to allow standing water to drain. 

    If you cannot reach the roof safely, consider hiring a contractor to remove it. 

    Another method is to fill a nylon stocking with calcium chloride ice melt and place it vertically across the ice dam so that it melts a channel through the dam. If you try this method, make sure you can safely position the ice melt on your roof, and make sure to use calcium chloride, not rock salt. Rock salt will damage your roof. Also be aware that shrubbery and plantings near the gutter or downspout may be damaged. 


    Look carefully at large icicles. If the icicles are confined to the gutters and there is no water trapped behind them, this does not indicate the presence of an ice dam. However, large icicles can pose a danger to people when they fall off. Try to safely knock the icicles off from the ground, making sure not to stand directly beneath them. If you cannot reach them safely from the ground, consider hiring a contractor to help.

Generally speaking, property owners are responsible for the cost of preventive maintenance. However, each claim is unique, and coverage and claim decisions always require an expert analysis by a licensed Claim professional. Keep in mind that the cost of snow removal is likely to be considerably less than the cost of roof damage or interior property damage caused by water leaks.

PROPANE HEATER OVERHEATED AND EXPLODED IN CALDWELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, DAMAGING THE MOBILE HOME AND INJURING THE HOMEOWNER






FEBRUARY 15, 2015

CALDWELL COUNTY, NC (WBTV ) - 

An effort to stay warm in Caldwell County landed one man in the hospital and caused a small explosion.

Around 10 p.m. Saturday there was an explosion at a mobile home on Antique Lane in Caldwell County.

Collettesville Fire chief Larry Price says the man was using a propane heater, designed for outside use, to keep warm after the home lost power because of the wind.

Price says the man hooked up a heater with an additional second tank nearby, causing it to overheat and explode. The small explosion had enough power to blow out walls and windows of the home.

Officials say the man was able to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flames before firefighters arrived. He told crews he got out of the house by shooting out a window and crawling out.

According to crews, the resident was conscious and talking when they got on scene, but he suffered second and third degree burns and was taken to the hospital.


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Dangers of Propane & Kerosene Heaters

Overview
Propane and kerosene heaters provide portable heat for taking the chill out of a single room.
These heaters can be less expensive to operate than electric heaters, which makes them attractive to homeowners trying to cut the costs of staying warm.
But if you use kerosene and propane heaters, you should be aware of certain dangers associated with portable fuel heater use.

Fire
The National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, reports that as of 2010, space heaters caused 32 percent of all home heating fires and 79 percent of all deaths from home heating fires. 

The main cause of these fires are space heaters that homeowners placed too close to flammable objects such as curtains or upholstery.  Consult the manufacturer's instructions to determine the minimum safe clearance for your heater.  

The NFPA recommends a minimum distance of 36 inches on all sides between the heater and anything flammable.

Explosion
Using gasoline instead of propane or kerosene in your heater could result in explosion, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
If you have a kerosene heater, use only 1-K grade kerosene. Store the kerosene away from the house in a container used only for kerosene to avoid any confusion with gasoline. 

Improperly maintained heaters could also explode or catch fire, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for regular cleaning of the heater's wick and chimney. 

Don't allow soot to build up in the heater. Take the heater outside to refill it, but don't overfill it.
Don't smoke while handling fuel or refilling your heater.


Unattended Cooking Starts Fire at Roanoke Co., Virginia Home






February 8, 2015 



Roanoke Co., VIRGINIA- 

Unattended cooking caused a fire in Roanoke County Sunday morning, according to fire and rescue officials.



They say just before 10 a.m., they got to the 7200 block of Wood Haven Road and found a fire coming from the kitchen.


Crews had the blaze under control in 15 minutes.


They say a woman left the kitchen and came back to find flames above her stove.


She and her dog did get out safely and were not hurt.


Crews estimate the damage at $60,000.


One thing fire officials recommend if you're cooking and have leave the kitchen, take a spatula with you to remind you to go back quickly and check on your food.

FIRE DESTROYS NJ TRANSIT BUS WHILE TRAVELLING ON ROUTE 9 IN MARLBORO, NJ; NO INJURIES REPORTED AS THE PASSENGERS SAFELY ESCAPED






February 15, 2015 




MARLBORO TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — 




NJ TRANSIT Spokeswoman Nancy Snyder says a bus driver and eight passengers safely escaped when a bus caught fire while traveling on a major highway in central Jersey.




The fire occurred early Sunday as a bus traveled southbound on Route 9 in Marlboro Township, spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said.




The driver noticed smoke and flames coming from a rear wheel and pulled over. the driver then saw flames in the rear wheel well, and the bus was quickly evacuated.




Firefighters soon extinguished the blaze, but officials say the bus was destroyed.



The bus had departed from the Port Authority terminal in Manhattan and was headed to Lakewood. The eight passengers aboard were put on another bus to complete their journey.




The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Based on our experience, about 59% of bus fires are caused by either non-maintenance random failures or non-maintenance manufacture design. An additional 28% are the result of transit systems employees, followed by 13% unknown causes.  

Known sources of fires have been tied to two specific areas: electrical failures and high pressure lines or connection failures.

Ignition sources typically include the engine, turbo-charger, exhaust, electrical wiring or connections, brakes and tires.


Buses can catch fire while either stationary or in transit. 

Stationary failure scenarios can involve the alternator, starter, sensors, auxiliary heaters, battery cables, electrical system, appliances (such as refrigerators), and other subsystem components such as VCR systems, P.A. systems, G.P.S. systems, and air conditioning systems. 

In-transit failures can also involve those features, but typically involve a problem with the disc brakes, tires, turbocharger, axle, auxiliary power units, sub-system motors, fluid lines, bearing failures and other part failures.

Human failures still occur in areas such as :
- improper repairs
- neglect
- lack of training
- lack of supervisory oversight
- failure to detect
- lack of skill - bus operator, maintainer, or supervisor
- improper policies and procedures

Here, the most likely cause of ignition of the rear wheel fire are the tires or the disk brakes.