Fireproofing Materials - Mesothelioma Symptoms

Historically, asbestos has been used for fireproofing. A wide variety of fireproofing materials were used in the construction of buildings, ships, airplanes, and even residential homes. The engineers in charge of safety features for these buildings provided fire safety in the best way available at the time, through the use of asbestos containing products.  Although fireproofing materials are available in many forms, they have the common goal of reducing heat transfer. Before 1980, many fireproofing materials were made from asbestos. Now, most fireproofing materials are made of other materials like fiberglass or ceramics.
Asbestos used to be thought of as a miracle substance because of how durable and heat resistant it is, even though illness and disabilities have been observed in those working with asbestos for centuries. Asbestos use increased following the Industrial Revolution, and soon doctors began seeing the same diseases in workers from mines, factories, and construction developments. Many workers had severe chest pain and difficulty breathing.
Researchers issued warnings and informed the companies who manufactured asbestos products of the dangers of working with the mineral. However, the workers who actually dealt with these products rarely heard these dangers. In the general interest of saving money for the company, the health and well being of thousands of employees was neglected.
Asbestos in so dangerous because of the small sharp fibers it produces when it is damaged or broken down. These fibers can be inhaled and lie dormant in the chest and lungs for many years. The result can be inflammation, scarring, lung cancers like mesothelioma and other conditions like asbestosis.  For many decades, people who have previously worked with asbestos or asbestos containing products have developed serious health conditions that can lead to death. People who worked with fireproofing material before 1980 may have been exposed to asbestos.
References:
EPA
Minnesota Department of Health
Mesothelioma Resource Online

Intumescent Paint and Coatings

Written by: Tarun Goel • Edited by: Lamar Stonecypher
Published Jul 14, 2011 • Related Guides: Sun Exposure

Spray-on fireproof coatings are an effective method for protecting equipment and structures from fire and heat. However, these materials tend to have particular advantages and disadvantages. Read this article to learn about the properties, indications and applications for these coatings.

An intumescent paint is a type of coating that is a fire retardant that also protects structural members from the ill effects of hot weather and sun exposure. It can be applied to wood, bricks, walls, and other structural members of a structure, to steel and plastic piping, and to fiberglass structures. These coatings are usually made of organic substances like epoxy resins and other thermosetting polymers that have high resistance to heat and fire.

How Intumescent Spray-On Fireproofing Works

Intumescent substances swell when exposed to heat and fire. When used as a paint coat or fireproofing spray, they form a protective layer on the surface. When exposed to fire or excessive heat, the protective layer will resist and absorb heat, thus protecting the structural member from damaged or deformation. Volume expansion and density reduction takes place when temperature starts to rise. Organic materials used for the manufacturing of intumescent paints are inert at low temperatures, but they swell instantaneously when brought into contact with heat or fire.

Intumescent paints are either solvent based or water based. In both cases, they contain a sufficient amount of hydrates to help in cooling off the temperature because of evaporation effects. Water based paints are used most often because they are inexpensive and widely available. Solvent based intumescent paints have, so far, seen only limited usage.

Another classification system, which takes into account the nature of the char produced by intumescent paint, is also in effect.

Soft char intumescent paints produce only a light char upon initial heat exposure. The char is a bad conductor of heat, and it does not allow the heat to pass through the paint coat and reach the structural member. It also contains hydrates which have a cooling effect. This is used primarily for the protection of structural steel.

Hard char intumescent paints produce hard char, which is also a very poor conductor of heat. These paints are exclusively used for plastic pipe protection. The major constituents of hard char are graphite and sodium silicate.

Advantages and Applications

1. Intumescent coatings prolong the structural life of steel. As protected steel is less exposed to frequent temperature variations, its load bearing capacity also increases.
2. The coatings can be applied off-site as well as on-location. Off-site fireproofing means there is enough time for workers to fit, erect, and adjust their structural components. Faster and easier construction, reduced on-site activities, and ease of assembly are the major advantages of off-site coating.
3. These specialized paints have a wide range of use. They can be used for steel coatings, wooden coats, or for structural components like concrete as well. Recently intumescent fireproofing sprays have been developed that can be applied to fiber glass structural components, too.
4. Advantageous use of these products can be made in refurbishment projects. The structural, aesthetic, and architectural value of the structural objects remains preserved.

As already stated, intumescent paints have a huge scope of use. These paints are mainly used in fire-stopping, closures, and fireproofing works in buildings, houses, and manufacturing industries. Gasketing applications also make use of intumescent spray-on fireproofing paints. Major use of these paints is found in offshore drilling, aircraft maintenance, and the ship building industries.

Disadvantages

The intumescent fireproofing industry is on the rise and has already created a stir in the market. However, there are certain drawbacks associated with these paints.

• UV exposure, operational heat, and the humidity of the work area are three major factors that affect the performance of intumescents. Intumescents are particularly vulnerable to environmental exposure at the time of application.
• For sodium silicate based intumescent fire sprays, having rubber or epoxy in the coatings becomes mandatory in order to promote adherence.
• They have a limited fire resistance period. The best quality, i.e. most expensive, intumescent fire sprays will not preserve your structural member for more than sixty minutes or so. As the fire resistance time duration increases, the costs also increases, and the cost rise is usually exponential.

Alternatives to the Intumescent spray-on paints are also available in the market.

1. Flexible blanket systems - Good - cheap, easy to use, dry fixing methods; bad - poor appearance.
2. Other fireproofing sprays - Good - covers complex details, low cost, durable; bad - on site application means more on-site headaches.
3. Board systems - Good - clean appearance, dry fixing, can be used on unpainted steelwork; bad - does not cover complex areas.

References

Author's own experience
Intumescent Coatings, Steelconstruction.org (pdf)
Envirograf, Fire Protection Coatings, http://www.envirograf.com/acrobat/coatings.pdf
Site Applied Protection Materials, http://www.civl.port.ac.uk/britishsteel/media/Fire%20brochure/section4.htm

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/engineering/civil/articles/121361.aspx

Go green by painting your building roof white

Sandeep Ashar, TNN Jul 25, 2011, 04.10am IST

MUMBAI: The state government wants to promote 'cool roofs' to conserve energy.
A 'cool roof' is one treated with a coating to reduce the amount of absorbed solar radiation and heat. In general, these coatings are white or light-coloured. The term is also used to describe roof tiles that show similar properties. Research suggests that such roofs are more reflective that the conventional ones.
Conventional roofs (dark-coloured roofs) absorb heat instead of reflecting it. This raises the temperature of the roof during hot weather. The heat is also transmitted to the living quarters below, forcing many to switch on air conditioners.
By reflecting heat, a cool roof significantly minimizes such heat transfer, leading to savings on your AC bill. This, in turn, reduces carbon emissions and helps in promoting a cooler and a greener planet.
The state environment department has tied up with Dr Jayant Sathaye, a director with the International Energy Group of the renowned California-based and renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. that has published research papers.
Valsa Nair Singh, secretary, environment department, said, "Models used in Delhi and Hyderabad, where the concept has already been introduced, are being examined." In Delhi, the government has modified building norms to make "cool roofs" a mandatory norm in new buildings. On completion of the ongoing study, the state urban development (UD) department could be asked to check the feasibility of similarly introducing similar changes in development control norms.
To promote the concept, Delhi first introduced the concept in government buildings. The US was the first to endorse the concept. With President Barack Obama advocating it strongly, the concept has gained tremendous ground within the States and is now trending in other developed and developing countries. Rebates in taxes were offered to popularize the concept in some parts of the US.
To bring down carbon emissions and slow down global warming effects, the state has been promoting use of green and environment-friendly building construction materials. Interestingly, the California research laboratory had also suggested use of light-coloured pavement tiles to reduce carbon emissions. However, state officials said that this was not being considered at this stage.

9/11 memorial will be ready for anniversary, official says

The names of those who were killed in the 9/11 attack are still covered and surround the memorial pools at the World Trade Center memorial. / THOMAS P. COSTELLO/APPstaff photographer

WASHINGTON — It seemed impossible only a few years ago, but a 9/11 memorial will open at the site of the former World Trade Center in New York by the 10th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey said Tuesday.
Until 2008, it appeared the memorial wouldn't be ready in time — until the port authority did a top-to-bottom review of the project after years of grappling with unrealistic plans, budgets and construction timetables, Chris Ward told reporters at the National Press Club.
"We lost sight of really the more prosaic questions, the realistic questions: 'How do you build this project?' How do you get it done?'" said Ward, who has led the 9/11 Memorial project since May 2008. "Today we can stand here and say we've turned the project around."
The memorial plaza will feature two large squares where the Twin Towers stood, with water constantly flowing in and out of them. By the time the plaza opens, officials will have planted about 220 of the more than 300 oak trees the site will eventually include.
And visitors will be able to read the names of the nearly 3,000 victims on walls.
An underground museum at the site isn't expected to open until late 2012, but a soaring pavilion marking the museum's entrance will be almost complete by the 10th anniversary, Ward said.
The memorial is only one part of the effort to redevelop the former World Trade Center.
The port authority also is building a 104-story office tower called One World Trade Center, which will be New York's tallest building when completed next year. Seventy-six stories have been built and 80 will be done by the anniversary on Sept. 11, Ward said.
"New Yorkers judge progress by skyscrapers," he said. "New York City will have its exclamation point in One World Trade Center."
A massive underground transit center rivaling Grand Central Station nearby also is being built.
A private developer is building a separate office tower that should be complete in the next few years, and plans to build two more later.
The port authority is issuing bonds to raise its $11 billion share of the project. The federal government is contributing $2.2 billion for the transit center, with the rest coming from the private developer, Ward said.
Critics have raised a host of objections over the years.
Glenn Corbett, an adviser to 9/11 survivor families and a former assistant fire chief in Waldwick, said families weren't consulted much during the site planning.
Though the port authority insists the office towers and the museum will exceed New York City's fire and building codes, Corbett said no one knows for sure because the site is exempt from city regulations.
Corbett contends that the original Twin Towers were built with inferior, untested fireproofing materials, and each had three stairwells instead of the four required under the city's code.
The museum's design and ownership also have drawn criticism.
For instance, the privately run museum will house victims' remains despite objections from many family members, Corbett said in a telephone interview.
He said the former World Trade Center site should have been converted into a national park that people could visit for free. Instead, they may have to pay as much as $25 per person to visit the museum.
Michael Frazier, spokesman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, said in an email that visits to the memorial plaza will be free. An entry fee for the museum hasn't been set.
The memorial plaza and museum are "overly expensive and complicated," Corbett said. "If you look at it in the abstract, the memorial memorializes the tower more than the people who were killed there."
--
On the Web: National September 11 Memorial & Museum:
www.911memorial.org

Water Storage Tank Design is Just a Click Away with Online Tank3D Tool from Tnemec

Tnemec Co., Inc.
6800 Corporate Dr.
Kansas City, MO, 64120, USA

Press release date: July 22, 2011

One of the most advanced interactive tools that allows users to customize elevated and ground potable water storage tanks with a wide palette of colors, graphics, text and even logos is now available from Tnemec at http://www.tnemec.com/tank3D. "With Tnemec's Tank3D, it is possible to visualize how a water tank will appear using variable design elements and Tnemec coatings," explained Doug Hansen, director, Water Tank Market. "Using this technology, more than 100 color options and countless graphic enhancements can be explored in minutes rather than hours or days."

With more than 40 years of experience as a manufacturer of protective coating systems for the water tank market, Tnemec has actively encouraged aesthetic, creative and innovative tank designs through the sponsorship of its annual Tank of the Year competition. "Most water tanks today incorporate graphic designs, such as the name of the town, or a logo or mascot," Hansen acknowledged. "With the development and introduction of Tank3D technology, we are making it even easier for tank owners, engineers, fabricators and painting contractors to use Tnemec coating systems in designing water tanks that are a source of community pride."

In addition to its color selection and graphic functionality, Tnemec Tank3D offers users the ability to zoom and pan around their customized tank, as well as view a pre-programmed "fly-by" that shows the tank from different perspectives. Printer-friendly PDFs and color swatches are also available using the new technology.

"This is the first truly interactive tool of its kind that offers such a wide range of functionality," according to Jessi Bixler, electronic marketing manager, who directed the creation and development of Tnemec Tank3D. "Existing applications for this market are little more than color guides with very minimal functionality."

The program operates on all Web browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome, and is both Mac and PC compatible, Bixler explained. "The technology is activated by downloading a plug-in, which usually takes just a few seconds," she observed. "The user can then select their style of tank, the colors they want to use, along with text, logos and other graphics, so the final design will closely resemble the actual finished project. By varying the color, engineers and architects can determine which colors work best with other design elements such as logos and lettering."

Tank3D was introduced at this year's AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in Washington, D.C., where it attracted immediate interest among attendees. "During our live demos, everyone was impressed with how quick and easy the program was to use, along with the fact that it allowed them to customize their design with logos and text using different typefaces," Bixler noted.

Tnemec coating consultants will be introducing their customers to Tank3D and its design features over the next several months. "The program is out there for people to use and experiment with and we encourage them to use it," Bixler added. Tnemec will continue to make enhancements to the tool for even more design options, such as new tank styles and different backgrounds.

Fresh Paint Color Can Improve Your Mood!

PHILADELPHIA, Aug 02, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Let's face it. Few of us are spending money the way we used to. But our homes are still our castles, and we want them to be as attractive as possible. In fact, the lackluster economy is all the more reason to create a comfortable, welcoming cocoon where we can ride out the economic storm.

How to reconcile the desire to beautify a home with the need to economize? One possibility is to add fresh color to the indoor environment with a new interior paint scheme.

"Repainting is a low-cost way to greatly enhance the appearance of a home," says Debbie Zimmer, spokesperson for the Paint Quality Institute. "And new paint colors can actually have a positive psychological effect."

The simple fact that you're surrounded by fresh color, in and of itself, can be uplifting. But Zimmer says that certain colors have been shown to invoke specific desirable feelings and emotions. Knowing this ahead of time allows you to make the best color choices.

If your life is very stressful, you might want to repaint the rooms where you rest and relax -- the family room and bedroom, for example -- in a pale blue or soft green. Studies show that these colors can be very calming.

Another approach is to introduce a color like taupe or brown. These also tend to create a tranquil environment, but they impart more warmth and coziness than blue or green.

If, on the other hand, you want to inject some energy and optimism into your surroundings, consider using yellow paint. Like splashes of brilliant sunshine, yellow walls can lift your spirits and brighten your outlook.

Apricot, cinnamon, and tangerine are also energizing colors. But be careful with reds and burgundies: These colors can literally increase heartbeat and arouse passion. Not good for the room where you pay your bills!

The tone, or brightness, of a color should always be factored into color choice. Brighter tones invigorate, while those that are muted ("toned down") tend to be more relaxing. 

Whatever your response to your new color scheme, your reaction to the cost of repainting is likely to be positive. A do-it-yourselfer can repaint almost any room for well under $100. And that's using the best quality paint, something that Zimmer strongly advocates.

"Top quality 100% acrylic latex paints cost more than ordinary paint, but they offer the best value. Not only do they last longer and continue to look fresh over time, but they often save you money right away from an application and performance standpoint," she says.

So, if you're feeling blue over the state of the economy, think about painting your walls blue. . .or green. . .or yellow. It will cost very little, but doing so will likely give a big lift to your outlook!

For more information on color psychology and interior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com .