Thanks to the drought, there are more rattlesnakes around than usual. And to make matters worse, they're now snaking their way into residential neighborhoods and California backyards where small children play.
A 2-year-old girl, named Ishneed Kaur, was bitten by a rattlesnake, June 9, 2015, while playing in her backyard in Pittsburg, California. She had to be airlifted to Children's Hospital in Oakland for immediate treatment.
Irrigation sprinkler systems are a specific type of overhead irrigation system that is commonly used on farms, yards and even some golf courses. These systems can vary in size. Some are very complex, while others have enough power to water one homeowners yard. The objective here is to protect grass, plants and gardens from drought. Irrigation systems provide regular water (essential to any plants photosynthesis process) as well as cooling (important for temperature stability) and the suppression of dust.
Many irrigation sprinkler systems spray in a fixed pattern. These spray heads are designed to adhere to a pattern so as to prevent overlapping. Most of these patterned systems do not operate at pressures above 30psi because of the threat of misting. There are also high-pressure sprinklers, powered by impact sprinklers, and these move in a circular shape. There are also some types of sprinkler systems that are buried under the ground. These systems are industrially used and als o used for agriculture.
Residential Sprinkler System Installation irrigation sprinkler systems also come in a great variety, with multiple levels of size and function. There are also sprinklers that oscillate or drip. The easiest way to connect a residential sprinkler system for irrigation purposes is to attach it to an outdoor faucet and bibb. While some residential systems are complex enough to require professional installation (if they connect to the plumbing) the majority are of the DIY variety.
Whats nice about residential irrigation sprinkler systems is that they can function on timers and automate the entire process. You can schedule water and cooling sessions and remain confident that they will continue to work even if you leave town. These systems also come with retractable heads that make Sprinkler System Installation the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscaping lawn look nicer and stay out of the way of lawn mowers. Modern sprinkler systems are non-invasive; you wont even know they are there! (Unless you get splashed)
These systems come with several parts when sold, including pipes, control equipment, and other plumbing pieces. The piping connects to the water source by fittings. The most interesting aspect of home irrigation sprinkler systems is the artificia l intelligence factor. Todays systems can actually adjust the amount of watering automatically based on external conditions. For example, a home irrigation system can make adjustments for rainy days, runoff and evaporation. This prevents overwatering and under watering.
What about systems that utilize underground sprinkler technology? These systems are made possible through electronic and or hydraulic technology. When the device is activated the solenoid is magnetized and lifts a steel plunger near the center of the system. When this happens, the plunger allows air to escape the system from the center, and from a diaphragm on the top. The water flow now has higher pressure and lifts the diaphragm. The water escapes through piping and is eventually flushed out to the surface. Sprinklers on the surface usually operate by pattern and spray from anywhere from six to fifteen feet with full rotation. You can buy residential irrigation sprinkler systems from lawn and garden stores o r look online for more information for industrial strength irrigation systems.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A fast-moving fire that killed four college students in a suburban Birmingham motel illustrates a deadly problem facing travelers around the country: Many older hotels and motels can legally avoid installing sprinklers that stop blazes before they kill guests.
Since a catastrophic fire killed 87 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in 1980, a national push to require sprinkler systems in new hotels and motels has helped bring fire deaths down significantly.
Yet federal officials say an estimated 3,900 hotel and motel fires are reported to U.S. fire departments each year, causing on average 15 deaths, 150 injuries and $76 million in property loss. The National Fire Protection Association says it's rare for a guest to die when a fire breaks out in a room with sprinklers, and that there hasn't been a documented fire in a sprinklered hotel that killed more than one person.
"It's much safer to stay in a sprinklered facility. It's unfortunate most travelers don't give that a thought," said Robert Duval, senior fire investigator with the NFPA.
While newer hotels must install sprinklers, older ones do not, and they take in travelers around the country. A study by the U.S. Fire Administration for 2005-2007 found that about 60 percent of hotels and motels reporting fires lacked sprinklers.
The National Fire Protection Association also found every single fire death from 2002 to 2005 was in a motel or hotel that lacked a sprinkler system. More recent statistics weren't available.
If the Birmingham-area hotel had sprinklers, Duval said, the fire "would have been a non-event. Everybody would have gotten to go home."
The Days Inn Motel in Hoover, a wooden structure built in 1964 to resemble an old South plantation, wasn't required to have sprinklers. State Fire Marshall Ed Paulk said four college students from Mississippi who died in the Jan. 19 fire would still be alive if the motel h ad been equipped with sprinklers.
"That would have prevented the loss of life," Paulk said.
Safety advocates and industry officials say travelers often aren't aware of whether their hotel has sprinklers. The president of the Greater Birmingham Lodging Association, Mairs Baxter, said it is "very rare" for customers to ask.
"The only ones I've noticed that do that are representatives of government associations," said Baxter, who is also general manager of a Birmingham-area LaQuinta Inn.
Anecdotally, the presence of sprinklers doesn't appear to be something the older and less-expensive places advertise. In a spot check of older and cheaper hotels and motels, a reporter saw that their websites generally note amenities such as Internet access and cable TV, but not sprinklers, even if they have them. In phone interviews, fire safety equipment wasn't mentioned by clerks, unless asked. The check included about 20 hotels in nine states.
Federal government employees are required to stay in hotels with sprinkler systems on business trips. FEMA provides an Internet search engine -- http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/hotel -- of approved accommodations.
Steve Muncy, a spokesman for the American Fire Sprinkler Association, said many older hotels do not install sprinkler systems because of the cost.
"It's not cheap," said Muncy, whose trade group represents sprinkler installers and manufacturers. "The older the b uilding, the more expensive it is. The cost varies depending on the size and age of the building. Obviously it's cheaper in a one- or two- story motel than in a high rise."
Nationally, sprinkler systems are required by local ordinances and building codes in most hotels built or remodeled within the last 10 years, but those laws generally don't apply to older facilities. It's also hard to track where sprinklers are required, partly because sprinkler regulations are often in local ordinances and not state laws.
In Alabama, all motel and hotel rooms must have smoke detectors, but sprinkler requirements vary by city.
They were not required at the Days Inn in Hoover, where the Mississippi University for Women students checked in for a day of shopping.
The four -- 18-year-old cousins Alondan "Angel" Turner and Catherine Ann Muse of Cordova, Ala.; Jamelia Brown, 18, of Grenada, Miss.; and Joslynn McGee, 19, of Corinth, Miss. -- were staying in a room upstairs an d a few doors down from the room where a maintenance worker, Dhirajlal Bhagat, 55, had been burning incense in a makeshift Hindu shrine. The fire began after he left the room.
Without sprinklers, there was nothing to slow the fire as it spread up the outside walls. The two-story building had firewalls, but Paulk said those were mostly ineffective since the fire spread on the outside.
The blaze blocked firefighters from reaching the women, who sought shelter in a bathroom.
There was a far different outcome on Nov. 8 at a Clarion Suites Hotel in Yuma, Ariz., where an occupant started a fire while using an appliance to heat cups of liquid. After the person left the room, the device overheated, catching the surrounding counter and wallboard on fire, said Yuma fire spokesman Mike Erfert. But a sprinkler head kept the fire from spreading to other rooms.
The MGM Grand fire on Nov. 21, 1980, that killed 87 is the Sprinkler System Installation Rockwall second-worst hotel fire in modern U.S. history. It prompted the adoption of strict fire codes in Las Vegas and elsewhere.
There has not been a fatal high rise hotel fire in Las Vegas in at least 15 years, partly because of ordinances adopted by the city following the MGM fire, including one requiring sprinklers in all high-rise hotels, said Tim Szymanski, public information officer for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
Most times, high-rise hotel fires are confined Sprinkler System Rockwall because of sprinklers by the time fire fighters arrive.
Undergoing the processing of separation and divorce from a spouse is an emotionally and financially troubling time. If you have been considering separation from your spouse it is essential that you contact an experienced divorce attorney as soon as possible. Obtaining a knowledgeable divorce lawyer before the divorce process will ensure the best possible outcome for both yourself and for your family. Russell W. Ray PLLC, is a law firm operating in both the D.C metro as well as the northern Virginia areas. Their skilled and compassionate attorneys have helped countless individuals in a variety of unique divorce proceedings including cases involving child https://oag.ca.gov/ custody, equitable distribution, spousal support and even military divorces.
Remember that https://www.yout ube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc your lawyer is responsible for much of the coordination between you the court and your spouse's attorney to insure that everyone has accurate information you must begin by providing specific information to your attorney. When you decide to undergo the process of divorce here are some https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc things to remember. You should make a list of any questions, issues or concerns you may have surrounding the divorce. These might include child custody issues, spousal support inquiries or other information surrounding why you are seeking a separation. This information should be as specific as possible, and include accurate time frame of events. In addition you should compile important documents before hand as many things will need to be filed immediately. You should be actively involved in your divorce proceedings so if your divorce attorney begins referring to things in a legal jargon that is confusing to you do not hesitate to stop and ask them to clarify using layman's terms. Another important thing to remember is to be respectful when talking to your divorce lawyer. They understand how emotional frustrating divorce proceedings can get especially when issues such as child custody and child support come into play. However getting angry at your child support lawyer will not help matters remember they are working for your best interests as well as the interests of your children. Lastly, make sure you have a reliable way to contact your lawyer, some individuals may prefer phone calls while others like email during your initial consultation you should solidify which method is preferred so you can get a hold of your lawyer in case any new developments emerge.
Russell W. Ray PLLC, understands the complexities that surround domestic cases and has experienced divorce attorneys that are willing to help you complete your divorce proceedings in the easiest way possible. While they strive to settle matters in a mediation type setting their practiced attorneys won't hesitate to zealously defend you and your interests in court. So contact the knowledgeable divorce lawyers at Russell W. Ray PLLC today and inquire about their free case evaluation today.
HARTFORD, Conn. - Nearly three dozen states have rejected the idea of requiring sprinkler systems in homes by enacting legislation or rules that prohibit mandatory installation.
Home builders, still reeling from the recession, say requiring sprinklers would add to their costs. They have found allies in state legislatures and rule-making bodies that have turned aside arguments by fire safety officials that requiring sprinklers in homes save lives.
The National Association of Home Builders has not taken a position on state action banning mandatory fire sprinklers in homes, said program manager Steve Orlowski, but the group has argued that installing residential sprinklers should be up to homeowners.
Either through legislation or code, 34 states have prohibited mandatory residential fire sprinklers, Orlowski said. Only two states -- Califo rnia and Maryland -- have adopted codes requiring installation of home sprinklers, he said.
In other states, sprinkler legislation died or is pending until next year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Connecticut, for example, is deferring action until next year. A measure requiring automatic fire extinguishing systems in one- and two-family homes failed to make it to a vote in the Public Safety and Security Committee.
Sen. Anthony Guglielmo, the committee's ranking Republican senator, said legislators did not have enough information about the cost to builders and municipalities that would enforce the law. Legislators will take up the issue next year only after hearing the recommendations of officials and others brought together by the state Department of Public Safety, he said.
The International Code Council, an organization of building inspectors, fire officials and others who set building standards, recommended in 2009 that st ates and municipalities adopt codes requiring sprinkler systems in homes and townhouses less than three stories high. The regulations took effect Jan. 1.
The National Fire Protection Association has said sprinklers will particularly help young children, the elderly and the disabled by giving them time to escape burning homes.
Opponents of requiring sprinklers cite their cost -- and subsequent impact on home prices -- and voters' dissatisfaction with government mandates.
In Missouri, lawmakers extended for eight years rules that require builders to offer sprinklers but do not mandate them.
"Our main concern, in this housing market, is that the requirement for mandatory fire sprinklers could cost $7,000 to $15,000 per home," said Missouri state Sen. Eric Schmitt, Republican chairman of the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Sprinkler System Denton Committee. "In this market, it's very di fficult to justify."
In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch tried to vetoed legislation that prohibited local planning boards from requiring sprinkler systems in homes as a condition of approval for local permits. The decision about whether to require fire sprinklers should remain a local one, Lynch said.
Legislators overrode the veto.
Sen. John S. Barnes, Republican chairman of the Public Municipal Affairs Committee, said the override vote was not easy because he typically favors local control. But he does not believe any government body should be ordering http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/ homeowners to install fire sprinklers.
"If I buy or build a house, I think I should decide whether I put in a sprinkler system," he said.
John A. Viniello, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, said the process by which codes are approved is flawed. Codes regulating wiring, construction a nd other facets of home construction are informed by expert advice from industry and others, he said.
But Sprinkler System Denton when legislatures have a role in the process, codes too often are modified or scuttled, he said.
"Once the politicians get involved, it's over," he said.
by Sherisse Pham @Sherisse March 29, 2017: 6:35 AM ET
Westinghouse, which was bought by Toshiba in 2006, has suffered billions of dollars in losses due to delays and cost overruns at nuclear plants under construction in Georgia and South Carolina.
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The bankruptcy filing is the latest embarrassment for the two industrial giants. Huge losses at Westinghouse have thrown its surviv al into doubt and raised questions about the future of the two U.S. nuclear power projects.
The financial disaster has spread to the Japanese firm, which last month wrote down the value of Westinghouse by 712.5 billion yen ($6.4 billion).
Toshiba (TOSBF) said the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing will limit its exposure to future losses at Westinghouse. The U.S. company will no longer be under Toshiba's control and will be stripped out of its financial results, the Japanese conglomerate said.
Toshiba warns net loss could hit $1 trillion
"The environment of nuclear power is so severe at this moment, it was not a sustainable business," said Kazunori Ito, an equity analyst at Morning Best Electrician Service in College Station Star.
Westinghouse's bankruptcy filing "is the only way for Toshiba to limit or determine the amount of loss at this point," he said.
That loss is going to be hug e.
Dumping Westinghouse could drag Toshiba to a net loss of about 1 trillion yen ($9 billion) for the financial year ending this month, the Japanese company said Wednesday, nearly three times the 390 billion yen ($3.5 billion) loss it had flagged last month.
A nuclear power plant that Westinghouse is building in Georgia.
Westinghouse and Toshiba are working with the owners of the two U.S. nuclear power projects to come up with plans to continue construction "during an interim period," the Japanese firm said. It wasn't immediately clear what will happen to the unfinished projects in the long term.
Toshiba first warned of a massive hit from its U.S. nuclear unit back in December.
Since that news emerged, the company has twice delayed its audited earnings, and its shares have more than halved in value.
Toshiba and Westinghouse, storied companies now struggling to survive
Westinghouse is what is left today of what was once a major industrial conglomerate that helped change the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Founder George Westinghouse, a prolific inventor, started making air brakes which greatly improved the safety of train travel and freight transportation. He was a key advocate of the alternating electrical current that is still used around the globe today, rather than the direct current which had been pioneered by Thomas Edison.
Related: Toshiba chairman steps down as company takes hit from U.S. nuclear business
Toshiba is an iconic Japanese company that now faces the threat of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange because of its delay in publishing earnings and a $1.2 billion accounting scandal that was uncovered in 2015.
To help shore up its finances, Toshiba is looki ng to sell a significant stake in its prized memory chips business.
It's a humiliating fall from grace for a company that has been around since the 1870s. Toshiba manufactured Japan's first light bulb and gave the country its first electric washing machines, vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens.
Toshiba then charged into the tech industry, making a global name for itself as a pioneer laptop maker and developer of flash memory technology.
A nuclear bet gone sour
The company bet big on the nuclear industry in 2006, acquiring Westinghouse for $5.4 billion. It was a bold deal that came at a time of renewed interest in nuclear power.
But the meltdown at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011 changed things. In the face of souring public opinion on nuclear energy and stricter safety requirements, hopes of a nuclear renaissance soon faded.
Analysts said Toshiba paid too much for Westinghouse, forcing it to maintain https://www.niceic.com/find-a-contractor/find-contractors an aggressive nuclear power plant sales forecast. That led to Westinghouse acquiring nuclear construction business CB&I Stone & Webster in 2015.
The deal was supposed to help Westinghouse complete the U.S. reactor projects. Instead, costs spiraled out of control. Toshiba later admitted that it may have overestimated the value of CB&I Stone & Webster.
-- CNNMoney's Chris Isidore contributed to this report.
CNNMoney (Hong Kong) First published March 29, 2017: 3:41 AM ET
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A nuclear power plant that Westinghouse is building in Georgia. 
