Inspectorjoe

There are a multitude of things to look for and do when inspecting a fire sprinkler system. They range from checking design aspects such as piping size and the number and location of sprinkler heads to inspection and/or operation of of the water flow switch, flow alarm, check valve, pressure gauge, test/drain assembly, etc. This is covered in NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. Section 4.1.2.3 states that "These tasks shall be performed by personnel who have developed competence through training and experience". Unless you have that training and experience (which you may have, I don't know), I think you're doing the buyer a disservice, and taking on unnecessary liability by doing a partial inspection.

You're probably thinking of the Central Sprinkler Omega head recall. It ends August 31. http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML01/01201.html I don't know of any SoP that includes identifying recalled items. I specifically disclaim sprinkler systems in my contract. I include them in the report, but only to state that the system wasn't inspected and to make a recommendation that it be inspected by a qualified technician. As far as other recalls, with a few exceptions, I don't comment on them. There's no way I'm going to spend time matching up models and serial numbers to recall lists. There are a couple that are so widely known, such as Plexvent and Ultravent that I'd better know and include.

chicago Posted - Jul 28 2007 : 12:35:23 PM: "I check it with the reset button at the panel." You check it with the reset button? I'm intrigued. I've been using the test button. It sounds like I can save a step with your method.[] AHI Posted - Jul 29 2007 : 05:01:28 AM: "I will suggest that they shut down any computer systems if at all possible. I wont have a problem going back and setting clocks. How long could that take? If I miss one, oh well. They were discussed in the beginning anyway." I don't test AFCI's in occupied houses. I disclaim them and recommend the buyer test them before they move into the house. If I accidentally trip a breaker on bedroom circuit I don't reset the clocks, since I can't know what wake up time they were programmed for. A flashing clock lets the owner know to do it (homeowners are rarely at the inspection 'round these parts). I'd rather have a homeowner mildly annoyed from having to reset a clock to a seriously ticked off one who was late for work.

You can probably find what you need in a thread from just a month ago: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5029

I don’t like to clutter up the report with too many “these are OK’sâ€

That's an option that a homeowner may wish to consider, but it's not done for a test conducted as part of a real estate transaction. If a second test is done, the average of both tests would be used. The only time two tests would be done during a transaction is when using passive devices, two tests are done simultaneously, placed side by side, or two tests are done consecutively. In both cases, the two tests would be averaged, regardless of the levels.

Yeah Mike, that wasn't very nice, was it? I would have liked to join you guys in the weight-off, but I have to maintain the weight I have for business reasons: I've developed a new concept for a unique eatery franchise and I'm the spokesmodel. What do you think? http://www2.enter.net/photoalbum/data/natan/120301.jpg Seriously though, I'd love to join the group, but I know I wouldn't have the discipline. At 6'0" and 265 pounds, I definitely should lose weight. The problem is that I REALLY like to eat. BTW, I wasn't kidding about the sausage sandwich and potato salad bedtime snack. Seeing my dad drop dead from a heart attack when I was 13 should probably be enough of a motivator, but it's not. You guys have my admiration for doing this. Good luck to you all.

Yesterday I grilled over 10 pounds of chicken, 5 pounds of hamburgers and 5 pounds of hot Italian sausage. I have a bunch left over. Gotta go - it's time for my sausage sandwich and potato salad bedtime snack. [:-devil] Image Insert: 61.9 KB

They were originally used in the ASHI Reporter's Postcards from the Field. I wonder if TOH got permission from the photo owners to use them. Scott? http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/tohnews/gallery/0,25895,1569371-9,00.html

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Aw, you had me going there for a while, Les. I was hoping I could get a respirator recommendation. I figured if a respirator could cut the mustard on manure spreadin' day, handling crawlspace and attic dust would be a piece of cake. BTW, what's wrong with projects that make no money?

Thanks Steven, that was VERY timely. Last week I was camping in the Berkshires and it was really windy. My canopy doesn't take wind well, so an emergency trip to the hardware store allowed me to MacGyver the thing with steel conduit and eye bolts. I also wanted to tie it down better, but that exposed a big weakness on my part - I don't know knots. I Had to resort to asking my buddy who was camping next to us to tie my knots. How humiliating. I felt like a kindergartner who couldn't tie his shoelaces. I vowed to look online for a knot tying guide, study and practice and then never be knot-impaired again. I came home Sunday to find just what I needed in your link. Thanks again! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1076/625748595_08fa69de14_o.jpg

Wow Scott, that even tops this one: Image Insert: 128.02 KB

"I'd crank up the heat, even though it's summer, and see for myself how it worked." I'm not sure that doing that at an individual zone would have told me much, and I wasn't about to backtrack and turn up all of the thermostats in the building at the same time. Besides, they would have been turned back down by the tenants the moment I left. "I've found that most tenants haven't got a clue about how to bleed the air out of their radiators and complain that they're miserable in the winter." Not a clue about bleeding the radiators? The parasites that live in buildings like this don't even have a clue about cleaning. I hope the picture below isn't too gross. "Six zones and 8,000sq feet.If that is living space sq footage they are a nice size and it is kinda nice of the landlord to give them individual control when he's footing the bill." Nice of the landlord? It was foolish of the landlord. I can't imagine why someone would go to all of the expense of separating the building into separate zones and not install separate boilers. The boiler was only 6 years old. I said the boiler was 499,00 BTU's. My memory is failing me. Listening to my voice notes, I found it was actually 299,000 BTU's. It's way undersized considering that the building is U-shaped with close to 75 original single pane windows AND the boiler is providing domestic hot water through an indirect water heater. "All this despite the demon child living there whom thinks he is Picaso." I'm sure he's graduated to tagging buildings by now. Image Insert: 170.44 KB

Today I had an old six unit, 8,000 sq ft apartment building that seems to have been converted from steam to circulated hot water. A 499,000 BTU boiler is supplyng the original cast iron radiators through 1/2" copper tubing. The entire building was repiped into six zones. Each apartment has its own thermostat, controlling its own Bell & Gosset circulator. I've never seen a conversion where they replaced all of the supply pipes. Perhaps it was because it was a one pipe system, although they don't seem to have been popular in this area, as I've never run across one. Anyway, does anyone know if this is OK? It doesn't seem right, but a few tenants said the place was comfortable in the winter. Download Attachment: Picture 196.jpg 153.04 KB

That was way too short. It definitely left me wanting more. Thanks for posting it Kurt. Here's a little more info about the clock: http://www.clocks.org/new_york_state/ny_manhattan_broadway_346_index.html Before I became a home inspector, I worked for an assisted living home that was filled with antiques (until they started getting sold off). There were about a half dozen tall case clocks that I took care of. One of them was built in the mid 1700's. I often marvelled at how someone hundreds of years ago figured out how to use gravity to measure time.

"At a meeting in Paremata last week, 28 inspectors, some representing companies with up to 200 inspectors ......." Companies with up to 200 inspectors? Holy cow! I wonder what what the heck kind of business model they are following. I sure hope that it doesn't catch on here.

Jeez, I must have missed this thread last month. Here are two more that are very common in my area. New Yorker e·f·m (Electric Furnace Man)

Looks like fresh blood in that joint. Ya still have all of your fingers, Scott? [:-thumbu]

Kyle: You ask if I'm a diver. Ha! the closest I ever got to diving was when I tried to fix my pool drain by wearing a face mask while breathing through a plastic hose as my wife stood on my back to weigh me down. It took less than 20 seconds for me to get claustrophobic and panicky. I got on the phone and called a pool guy to fix it. If you're going to be at Dutch Springs on Sunday and have some extra time, I'd be happy to take you to that quarry. It's only a few miles away. I'd also be happy to take you to some quarries that I used to swim in in my younger days. I haven't been to any of them in 20 odd years, so I'm sure access has changed quite a bit. If you're interested, give me a call at 610-392-3741.

Kyle: It's in the Boro of Chapman in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. It's about 10 miles as the crow flies from the NJ border. In that picture of the quarries http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/442597115_a0f2012340_o.jpg the one at the rear appears to be very small, but an arial view shows that it's much larger than the one in the foreground. http://www.geonomy.com/geonomy/viewHome.do?lat=40.758432196630125&lon=-75.40000677108765&zoom=17&searchText=quarry# The place where I stood I stood to take the picture is in the lower left corner, to the left of the M in Main Street (click and drag the picture). There are dozens of abandoned quarries here in the Lehigh Valley. Quarries have about the clearest water you will find. They make great swimming spots, so I'd imagine that they would also be good for diving. The problem is, people do dumb things and get killed while swimming, so it would be tough to find a quarry where you can park close enough to carry your gear in and not draw attention and get hassled by the law, or even risk a fine or arrest. Why risk that when just a few miles away is Dutch Springs. DS is a SCUBA diving center based in an abandoned cement quarry. For $26 a day, you can dive worry-free. They have entertainment for the family while you're exploring the submerged tanker truck, airplane, helicopter, boat, fire truck, trolley car, etc. http://www.dutchsprings.com

Most assuredly a good thing. Studs? That leaves me out! Besides, I wouldn't want to have to pay for all of the cracked computer monitor screeens that would result. [:-crazy]

Gary: While I'm not really sure just what you're trying to say, I assume you're expressing disappointment at what you found (or more likely didn't find) when you clicked on that link. We all know that kind of stuff can be found all over the internet; I can assure you that it won't be found here at TIJ. Joe Hancaviz (AKA "Some Guy") Nazareth, PA

Just looking at that picture on the monitor started my knees a'knockin. If I had the chance, I'd have gone out and taken the same picture, but my pic would have contained a white-knucked hand on that railing. Oh, plus the picture would be blurry from extreme camera shake.

Cool clock! Seeing some of the intricate detail work, I'm sure the picture doesn't do it justice. Wow, what a different reception you got. Did you have a camera hanging around your neck? I've found that if I'm in a place I'm not supposed to be, having at least one big, complicated looking camera on me puts people at ease as to what I might be up to. I saw something new tody: Slate cast into the face of a concrete foundation. It was in an addition probably built between 1910 - 1920. There was a band of them about 3 feet above the floor. Download Attachment: Picture 041.jpg 150.38 KB