BED BUG ISSUE HEATS UP

Hot new treatment poses concerns for sprinkler systems

With a current national resurgence of bed bugs, along with a decrease in effectiveness of treatments such as chemicals and pesticides, pest control companies are relying on a new technique called Heat Remediation to scourge the unruly pests.

The process relies on piping hot air into the room and heating its core temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48C) or higher, causing the bugs to inevitably reach their thermal ‘death point’.

While proven effective on bed bugs, the process of heat remediation does not come without its own fire and safety risks to the building’s sprinkler system.

 “This is essentially a convection oven effect, and could lead to triggering fire alarm sensors, or worse, damaging or setting off the sprinkler system,” said Greg Patterson, former engineer and co-inventor of the Shutgun, a sprinkler shut off tool designed for hotel, construction and emergency medical service industries. “If a sprinkler head is accidentally set off, you can also add water damage to your list of problems.”

 With heat remediation, it would take approximately 20 minutes heated at 46C to kill adult bugs, and over an hour to kill their eggs.

 “With temperatures reaching above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, there is concern that the sprinkler heads could potentially be damaged or set off by such an increase in temperature,” said Eli Scardoni, former Toronto District Fire Chief.

 “To avoid damage, it is standard practice to cover the sprinkler heads with insulated boxes while the temperature is closely monitored. However, it is wise to always have a backup plan in place in case the sprinkler is set off by the heat,” he said.

 Some people have rented industrial and thermal heaters in an attempt to mimic the heat remediation process. “What we don’t want is people trying it themselves and running into an insurance or fire safety issue if an accident does occur,” said Greg Grabow, President of Temp-Air, a Heat Remediation equipment supplier. “Being prepared is the most important thing.” 

 Shutgun is a one handed tool designed with a unique fusible link that will melt and release in a case of fire flare up allowing the sprinkler to operate as normal. This means it can be left in place and the building’s fire sprinkler system remains fully operational.

 

For more info on a University of Kentucky study to test concept of heat to remove bed bugs from hotel rooms, click here.

For article by National Fire Sprinkler Association and Westfield Insurance on threat of heat remediation to sprinklers, click here.

NURSING HOMES WISE TO AVOID SPRINKLER MISHAPS

 

We at Shutgun are happy and supportive of the government’s recent legislation to have all Ontario retirement homes and long-term care facilities equipped with an automatic water sprinkler system.

 
“This is truly great news for the safety of all senior and long term care residents in Ontario,” said Greg Patterson, fire sprinkler advocate and  co-owner of Shutgun.ca.
 

“However, along with the security and comfort that the sprinklers will provide, it comes with the inevitable mishaps and accidents that could create discomfort and confusion among retirement residents and for the nursing home.”

The new regulations will take effect January 1,  2014 and will call for more inspections, extra training for staff and a review of each facility’s fire safety plan.

“We are trying to encourage that each building’s plan includes a way to safety and quickly shut off each sprinkler’s water supply if an accident does occur,” said Greg Patterson.

 An accidental sprinkler discharge could not only create damage and confusion, but with water flowing at pressures up to 25  gallons per minute  it could flood a small unit in mere minutes.

 
“Once you have to start displacing residents as a result of water damage or cleanup, it becomes a much larger issue of cost and headaches for the nursing home manager,” said Patterson.
 

“As always, having a Shutgun on hand for single, sprinkler deactivation is the safest, fastest solution for building managers to avoid disrupting their residents and their operations.”