Monday, April 16, 2018
Why not auto doorpop?
Random thought while reading about a local house fire.
Why not connect the smoke detector to an automatic door opener? Pop the entrance door open with solenoids and released springs, like an inverse mousetrap.
Clearly a terrible idea for tall buildings, where it would accentuate the stack effect.
But in a small house or mobile home, it would bring in fresh air and make the exit easier to find and use for both residents and rescuers. The air might help to feed the fire, but it would also allow more breathing time.
Seems so obvious that there must be a reason why it's not done. If so, I can't see the reason.
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Later: Speaking of dubious fire suppression ideas.... The latest item at Kansas State Hist Soc is a fire grenade:
Description:
Sealed with cork and cement and still contains liquid. Glass fire grenades were made between about 1870 and 1910. They were designed to be thrown directly into the fire, breaking the glass and releasing the firefighting chemical within.
According to other sources the chemical was carbon tet.
I normally prefer old inventions over new, but I'll make an exception in this case. On the other hand, the liquid is still there 100 years later, while modern gas-pressurized extinguishers lose their force in 10 years.
Description:
Sealed with cork and cement and still contains liquid. Glass fire grenades were made between about 1870 and 1910. They were designed to be thrown directly into the fire, breaking the glass and releasing the firefighting chemical within.
According to other sources the chemical was carbon tet.
I normally prefer old inventions over new, but I'll make an exception in this case. On the other hand, the liquid is still there 100 years later, while modern gas-pressurized extinguishers lose their force in 10 years.Labels: Asked and badly answered, Patient things
¶ 12:21 PM
