Data shows home fires burn hotter, faster than ever: How you can reduce risks

(BPT) - While the number of home fires occurring in the U.S. each year has fallen by more than 50 percent since 1977, the ratio of people who die in home fires has remained virtually unchanged, based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In 1977, deaths occurred in .8 percent of home fires, and in 2013, that rate was .7 percent. One possible explanation for this discrepancy: home fires now burn hotter and faster than they did 40 years ago, meaning victims have less time to escape a burning house.
“In a series of experiments, UL demonstrated that the nature of residential fires has changed dramatically,” says Eric Skare, a volunteer firefighter in Minnesota and product manager of fire safety systems for Uponor. “Flashover — the point when intense heat causes an entire room to become engulfed in flames — now occurs less than five minutes after a fire starts. It used to take 30 minutes or longer for flashover to occur. People now have less time to get out of a burning house, even if their smoke alarms have alerted them to the fire.”
The results of this evolution in home fires can turn tragic quickly, Skare notes. “A study by the NFPA found that a third of those killed in home fires were trying to escape when they died,” he says.
The UL study cites several factors as driving the changes in home residential fires, including:
* Modern home design is toward larger homes with more open floor plans, an arrangement that facilitates the spread of fire. Older homes were smaller overall and featured smaller room plans.
* Construction materials currently in use contribute to a faster burn time.
* Today’s home furnishings are made from many synthetic materials that combust easily, meaning fires have more fuel.
* In UL testing, modern windows of all types failed faster than windows made from older — or “legacy” materials. In some cases, the time difference was significant. For example, legacy windows made of wood with a metal frame and nine single-glazed panes failed in about 12 to 16 minutes, while modern premium wooden frame windows with two panes of double-glazed glass failed in about four to six minutes. When windows fail, they admit more oxygen into a burning building to feed the fire.
All these factors contributed to UL test results that showed how much faster modern homes burn, and how escape time is much less than in decades past.
Working smoke alarms in a home are proven to reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities. Virtually every construction code in the U.S. requires smoke alarms in new construction. Functioning smoke alarms reduce the risk of home fire fatalities by 50 percent, according to the NFPA. A residential sprinkler system slashes the risks even further — by 80 percent. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that all homes should be equipped with both smoke alarms and sprinklers. And the International Residential Code also requires fire sprinklers for new-home construction.
In decades past, concerns over cost may have kept some homeowners from incorporating fire sprinklers in their new-home construction or major renovation projects, but residential fire sprinklers are now more affordable than ever. In fact, a typical system represents about 1 to 1.5 percent of the total cost of new-home construction. For example, a $200,000 new home would require an investment of about $2,000 to install sprinklers — far less than the cost of other, less safety-oriented upgrades, such as premium appliances or flooring.
Multipurpose systems like Uponor’s, which use durable, flexible PEX piping, reduce costs even further. Because the home’s cold-water plumbing fixtures are fed from the sprinkler loop, less piping is required for the installation. And recent approvals now allow Uponor’s PEX piping to be left exposed in unfinished basement applications, which simplifies installation requirements even more. Best of all, multipurpose systems also require no specialized testing or maintenance. As a result, homeowners know the system is ready to protect them every time they use an integrated, cold-water plumbing fixture.
“If you’re building a new home or undertaking a major renovation, there’s life-saving value in asking your builder to install a fire sprinkler system,” says Skare. “It doesn’t have to cost a bundle to buy yourself and your family more time in case of a fire, and it’s well worth the investment.”
To learn more about residential fire sprinkler systems visit www.uponor-usa.com. For more information about fire safety and building construction, visit www.nfpa.org or www.iccsafe.org.

Keep the heat in and the cold out this winter: Tips for a cozy home

(BPT) - Winter this year promises to be harsh across much of the U.S. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts conditions will be “bitter cold,” “unseasonably cold,” “very chilly” and “frigid” for states east of the Mississippi River. In a word, brrrrrr!
Autumn is the perfect time to make sure your home stays warm and cozy, in preparation for when the bitter blasts of January and February come pounding. With some simple DIY insulation projects, you can keep the heat in and the cold out this winter, while also saving on your heating bill.
Check the basement
One of the first places to check for proper insulation is the basement.
“Up to 25 percent of a home’s heat loss is through the basement,” says Tom Savoy, technical director for Insulfoam.
Many homes in the U.S. were built with fiberglass batts between wood wall studs, which is notoriously leaky, providing a bridge for heat to pass through the wall, says Savoy. Such insulation can also trap moisture in the walls, causing a musty basement smell.
“Even if you don’t spend time in the basement, it’s crucial to insulate it right to help manage the heating throughout the rest of your home,” says Savoy.
A simple solution is adding a layer of continuous insulation to the home’s basement walls using rigid foam boards, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS).
Available in home improvement stores, EPS insulation is easy to cut and install using standard tools around the house. Unlike many other insulations, rigid foam boards are thin and easy to handle, without messy fibers to clean-up.
“EPS is a professional grade insulation that even DIYers can install,” says Savoy.
To get started insulating your basement, you will first need to figure out how much insulation you will need, based on its “R-value.” R-value is the measure of an insulation’s ability to resist heat flow, with higher numbers meaning better performance. A quick call to your city or county building department will let you know what R-value is appropriate, and if you’ll need to take anything else into account with your insulation project.
Take a look in the attic
In addition to insulating the basement, another leaky area to check is attic hatches. As heat rises, these hatches often have gaps around them, allowing the warm air to escape. Properly sealing them with weather stripping and adding a layer of rigid foam to the hatch will help keep heat in your living area.
To get ready for the coming shivery weather, the Farmers’ Almanac suggests stocking up on “sweaters, long johns, and plenty of firewood.” Part of your preparation should also include an easy weekend or two of adding insulation to your home.

Your Neighbor's Selling Price Does Affect Your Bottom Line Plainview, Old - Bethpage, NY House Selling Prices for September 2015

Find Out What You’re Plainview, Old-Bethpage New York Neighbors House Sold For Closings For September 2015

Hello Plainview, Old-Bethpage, New York Home Owners

Your Neighbors Selling Price Does Affect Your Bottom Line

Find Out What You’re Plainview, Old-Bethpage Neighbors House Sold For

Plainview, Old - Bethpage, NY House Selling Prices for September 2015

         St# Street                               Town                      Selling Price

66	Crescent	Dr	Old Bethpage	628000	Split
18	Farragut	Rd	Old Bethpage	585000	Split
156	Haypath	Rd	Old Bethpage	800000	Colonial
27	Kingswood	Dr	Old Bethpage	949000	Exp Ranch
17	Lesley	Ln	Old Bethpage	725000	Split
5	Maggio	Ln	Old Bethpage	475000	Exp Ranch
7	Neil	Dr	Old Bethpage	545000	Hi Ranch
8	Rottkamp	Pl	Old Bethpage	530000	Hi Ranch
1115	Round Swamp	Rd	Old Bethpage	870000	Colonial
41	Schoolhouse	Rd	Old Bethpage	402500	Ranch
53	Autumn	Dr	Plainview	519000	Condo
58	Autumn	Dr	Plainview	452500	Contemporary
11	Bentley	Rd	Plainview	449000	Ranch
14	Blanche	St	Plainview	825000	Colonial
40	Carriage	Ln	Plainview	449000	Condo
6	Charlotte	Pl	Plainview	877000	Colonial
83	Diamond	Dr	Plainview	467500	Ranch
22	Elaine	Pl	Plainview	521000	Split
75	Grohmans	Ln	Plainview	489000	Split
48	Hofstra	Dr	Plainview	765000	Ranch
62	Knickerbocker	Rd	Plainview	480000	Exp Ranch
5	Midwood	Dr	Plainview	895000	Colonial
142	Morton	Blvd	Plainview	558500	Colonial
169	Morton	Blvd	Plainview	360000	Exp Ranch
142	Orchard	St	Plainview	565000	Split
105	Palo Alto	Dr	Plainview	375000	Condo
20	Richard	Ct	Plainview	590000	Hi Ranch
99	Roundtree	Dr	Plainview	810000	Colonial
153	Roxton	Rd	Plainview	615000	Splanch
34	Ruby	Ln	Plainview	440000	Ranch
52	Sagamore	Dr	Plainview	625000	Homeowner Assoc
44	Santa Barbara	Dr	Plainview	370000	Condo
51	Surrey	Ln	Plainview	405000	Ranch
3	Sydney	St	Plainview	385000	Ranch
24	Westbury	Ave	Plainview	629999	Colonial
8	Winters	Ct	Plainview	941000	Colonial