Fire Rated Downlights Could Save Your Life

Category : Steel Manufacturer

Fire rated downlights are designed as a safety measure and will prevent the spread of fire. If you are unsure about whether you need to install them or not then think about the small amount of cost that is involved then consider what and why they are designed to do.

Fire rated downlights are made from or contain intumescent material, this material expands when it reaches a certain temperature sealing off the hole and slowing down the spread of fire. The fire is then unable to have direct access to the structure of the building.

Fire rated downlights are used to maintain the ceilings fire integrity. Part B of the Building Regulations covers fire safety and has been a legal requirement since 1987. Not all downlights have to be fire rated but it is important to know when and where they should be used.

When a recessed downlight is installed, a hole must be cut into the ceiling to allow the downlight to be mounted in. This hole reduces the fire integrity of the ceiling. In the event of a fire, flames spread through the holes and set light to the structure of the building. Most ceilings are constructed from timber joists which in the event of a fire, could burn and collapse in a matter of minutes. If the structure of the building is made from materials with higher temperature ratings such as concrete then fire rated downlights are not necessary.

The minimum fire rating for downlights is 30 minutes; this rating is for ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm. This should allow enough time for the occupants to escape the building or for the fire service to extinguish the fire without floor or the entire building collapsing.

There are three types of structurally different ceilings:

1. 30 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm and with one layer of 12.5mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.

2. 60 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm and with a double layer of 15mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.

3. 90 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 450mm and with a double layer of 15mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.

Most fire rated downlights are suitable for all three types of ceilings but some are not and only rated for 30 or 60 minute ceilings.

When downlights are being installed in upper floor ceilings with roof space only above them they don’t necessarily need to be fire rated. This is because there is little risk of the fire spreading through the holes and onto the structure of the building. However, fire rated downlights have many other advantages. They are also approved to other important Building Regulations such as Part C – moisture protection, Part E – acoustic resistance.

Building Regulations now state that a room should be air tight, if you have multiple downlights that are not fire rated warm air will escape through the holes. In cold ceiling spaces such as loft areas, downlights act as chimneys and draw out the warm air from a room.

Even if you feel that fire rated downlights are not important for preventing the spread of fire then these other Building Regulations should be considered. Most adjustable downlights do not provide moisture protection or acoustic resistance.

To summarise, although fire rated downlights are slightly more expensive, they are safer, comply with the Building Regulations and may offer peace of mind.


Wikinews interviews candidate for New York City mayor Vitaly Filipchenko

Category : Uncategorized

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

In early May, Wikinews extended an invitation to Vitaly Filipchenko, an independent candidate in the 2021 New York City mayoral election, set to take place November 2nd, alongside other candidates. Filipchenko answered some questions about his policies and campaign during a phone interview.

Filipchenko, registered on the New York City Campaign Finance Board as Vitaly A. Filipchenko, is the first Russian candidate for New York City mayor, being born in Tomsk, Siberia in 1973, according to news agency Sputnik. He has since naturalised as a United States citizen. According to the web site, Filipchenko has been educated in road construction and maintenance and owns a moving services company; he describes himself on his web site as a “small business owner”. On his web site’s platform page, he says that “[m]y English may not be perfect – but my platform is.”

Incumbent Democrat mayor Bill de Blasio, who won re-election in the 2017 New York City mayoral election by 66.5%, cannot run for a third term under term limits. As of April 28, 22 candidates are currently running, the majority of whom are also Democrats. Ahead of the June Democratic primary for New York City mayor, a poll conducted May 23 and 24 by WPIX and Emerson College of 12 Democratic candidates with a margin of error of 3.2 per cent has former commissioner for the New York City Department of Sanitation Kathryn Garcia and Borough President of Brooklyn Eric Adams leading with 21.1% and 20.1%, respectively.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Wikinews_interviews_candidate_for_New_York_City_mayor_Vitaly_Filipchenko&oldid=4673651”

First Active offer 100% mortgages in Ireland

Category : Uncategorized

Thursday, July 14, 2005

First Active has become the first financial institution to offer 100% mortgages in the Republic of Ireland. The bank previously offered 100% financing to professionals in finance and medicine, but is now to offer this product to anyone who can afford to meet the repayments.

The development is a huge boost for first time home buyers who have been struggling to get on the Irish property market in recent years due to the rapid increase in house prices. A typical first time buyer in Dublin with 92% financing would normally have to put down a deposit of €20,000-€30,000 in cash, but now have the option to produce no deposit.

First Active has said that 100% mortgages will be available across its entire range of mortgage products.

Note however that this is not necessarily an entirely positive development.

The United States and most of Europe have experienced a housing price bubble in recent years. A bubble occurs when buyers purchase a property not because its price is appropriate for its actual value but because they expect the price to significantly rise in the short term permitting resale with a profit.

In other words, the prices people pay for properties becomes divorced from the real value of the property; the purchase is speculative and depends purely upon the expectation that people will continue to buy properties in this way (e.g. without proper consideration of their real value).

The terrible weakness in this is that when the market corrects itself and prices fall to a level where properties are being priced at their actual realistic value, anyone holding a property loses a great deal of money, since the price they paid does not reflect the actual realistic value of the property.

This kind of shock to the housing market is extremely undesirable. Significant write downs in the value of property often significantly depress the economy as a whole.

Less than 100% mortgages force buyers to invest a significant amount of money in the act of purchasing their house, which tends to discourage purely speculative purchasing, thus helping to mediate house price bubbles.

With 100% financing, anyone who can meet repayments can speculatively purchase a property. This naturally encourages pricing bubbles.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=First_Active_offer_100%25_mortgages_in_Ireland&oldid=717674”

What Adventures Lie At The End Of Your Flight From Prestwick To Tenerife?}

Category : Parking

What Adventures Lie at The End of Your Flight From Prestwick to Tenerife?

by

Evie ConnollyAre you planning to go on holiday but just can’t figure out where to stick the pin in the map? If you are, especially if what you need is a laid back sightseeing adventure, then Tenerife is the place your wings should take you.

Tenerife is a life-rich Island in Spain. It is the largest of the Canary Islands with an area of over 2000 square kilometres just waiting for your exploration. If you are looking to feed your eyes, this is your go-to place. It is filled with unique historical sites, beautiful beaches and corals, as well as elegant botanical gardens.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvGKxDlXgvQ[/youtube]

Ryanair offers a flight from Prestwick Airport four times a week. The flight departs at 6:15 am every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and at 11:45 am on Sunday. You will be flying for 4 hours 40 minutes.

And should you find yourself in need of Prestwick Airport car parking, the parking at airports website, has your back with its voucher codes that can get you as much as 70 percent off.

Here are 5 Reasons you should visit Tenerife, Spain.1. Guimar PyramidsWhen you think of Pyramids, the picture that most likely comes to mind is that of the Giza monuments. However, there are numerous pyramids in different parts of the world and Tenerife has some unique ones.

The Guimar Pyramids are 6 free-standing pyramids that were erected in the 19th century. They’re found in a location of rich archeological interest and there is a museum within the area to satisfy your curiosity.

2. Los Gigantes CliffsThese majestic cliffs will definitely leave a permanent mark on your memory. They are sheer cliffs that go up to 1600 feet up from the Atlantic Ocean. You can take a boat ride to see the mountains up close. The cliffs can also be seen from most of the restaurants within the region. Imagine sipping on some wine while relaxing, eyes on the captivating view ahead.3. Teide National ParkThis park is a must-see. It is located around Mount Teide and has a number of trails that are great for hiking. The visuals you will get around here are of the stark and barren variety, all the while enjoying fresh breezes in the open park.

But the biggest reason you just have to be at Teide is the Cable car ride which can take you up the mountain, just a few meters before the summit. Teide Mountain is the tallest mountain in Spain. Now imagine a cable car ride up. Obviously you will be treated to some of the most unforgettable sights ever.

Your Tenerife adventure doesn’t have to be costly. You can get deal offers on your flight tickets as well as your your Prestwick meet and greet. The parking at airports websites is particularly great for the latter.

If you’re in need of Prestwick Airport car parking, you can visit the website:

parking-at-airports.co.uk/prestwick-airport-parking

for the latest car parking deals online.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}


Several businesses catch fire in Queens, New York

Category : Uncategorized

Monday, November 3, 2008

Sunday, a fire rushed through seven businesses at the Whitestone Shopping Center in Whitestone, Queens, New York, near the Cross Island Parkway in New York City.

The fire started at around 1:00 AM EST (UTC-5) on November 2, 2008 in a diner known as Lollipops. According to local sources, Lollipops was a popular restaurant in the area. The fire spread through the stores, up an awning and continued all the way to a corner of the shopping center. In the end, seven businesses were destroyed, including two banks, two restaurants and a GNC Nutrition Center. It took dozens of firefighters to put out the large blaze.

According to WCBS-TV, with his diner Lollipops destroyed, the owner was too upset to comment.

Nearby Chinese restaurant, King’s Chef, was also damaged. “I cannot open because of whatever rules – tomorrow’s Monday, Tuesday is a holiday,” the owner, Patrick Chan, told WCBS-TV. “If I cannot get them to come tomorrow, I am going to lose big time.”

This is a calamity for many of these small businesses to be out of business, particularly in this economy.

Nearby residents reacted to the situation. Several residents have reported that it is a major loss to the community as they considered Lollipops to be a landmark. Several residents have reported knowing members of either the victim stores or others in the strip mall.

State Senator Frank Padavan commented on the loss of the shopping center.

“This is a calamity for many of these small businesses to be out of business, particularly in this economy,” he said.

The next day, investigators were boarding up the windows of the damaged stores. No one was hurt because all the stores were closed at the time of the blaze.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Several_businesses_catch_fire_in_Queens,_New_York&oldid=3290706”

Excessive surgeries swell Medicare costs in United States

Category : Uncategorized

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

At least 10% of the increase in Medicare expenditures since the mid-1990s is due to increased rates of one type of elective surgery, according to a recent study, and many of the patients may not need it. University of California, San Francisco found that only 44% of patients who undergo an elective cardiac surgery called angioplasty get the recommended test to determine whether the procedure is appropriate.

As a result, patients may be receiving a procedure that they either do not need or for which the risk outweighs the benefit. The operation opens partially clogged arteries in patients with heart disease and the annual rate of elective angioplasties has tripled in the United States during the last decade.

Angioplasties are currently being performed at a rate of over 800,000 per year in the U.S. The average cost was $44,110 per procedure in 2004. Since the operation tends to be performed on older Americans, Medicare covers most patients and compensates US$10,000 to $15,000 for each case.

Reuters reporter Julie Steenhuysen writes that angioplasty is “big business for medical device makers including Boston Scientific Corp, Medtronic Inc, Abbott Laboratories Inc and Johnson & Johnson”. Dr. Raymond Gibbons, a professor of medicine who specializes in cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, criticizes the current U.S. health care system for compensating doctors based upon procedures performed rather than for following recommended practices.

We didn’t expect to find 100 percent, but we expected a much higher percentage than 44

A stress test in which the patient walks on a treadmill is recommended to determine whether a partial obstruction impairs heart function. Although not all patients who need angioplasty are strong enough to undergo the stress test, UC San Francisco researchers were surprised that testing preceded so few of the surgeries.

Professor of medicine Dr. Rita F. Redberg told U.S. News and World Report, “We didn’t expect to find 100 percent, but we expected a much higher percentage than 44”. Dr. Redberg co-authored a report on the findings for the Journal of the American Medical Association this month.

Dr. Grace Lin, another co-author of the study, noted: “What really matters is whether or not that blockage is affecting blood flow to the heart. That is why the stress test is important.” Their research analyzed over 23,000 Medicare cases and over 1,600 commercial insurance cases.

American Heart Association president Timothy Gardner called the study “a good wake-up call” to remind medical doctors to make sure they do not perform unnecessary procedures. Dr. Gardner regards the study as evidence that many unnecessary angioplasties are being performed.

You can do a stress test every year to be sure things are normal. That is an important baseline that is being ignored all too frequently.

The study found great variation in the rate of stress testing. Geographic areas ranged from 22% to 76% with the highest rate of testing in the Northeastern and Midwestern states. Testing rates also varied by gender, with men more likely to receive a stress test than women, and by other factors including the age of the physician. Dr. Gibbons points to some of these variances as indications that some physicians may be performing angioplasties indiscriminately.

Not all physicians agree. Although the various types of stress testing usually cost a few hundred dollars instead of tens of thousands, the chief cardiologist at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Dr. Matthew Wolff notes that stress tests yield false negative results in about 10% of cases. In his opinion, doctors who rely on stress tests “are going to be missing people with severe disease.” Although he agrees that some angioplasties are unnecessary, he contends that the new study does not offer a solution to the dilemma.

The American College of Cardiology plans to release new guidelines soon to help doctors determine when a stress test is appropriate, yet the payment system lacks a financial incentive to abide by testing guidelines. Dr. Eric Topol of Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, California noted the underuse of stress tests in a study of private insurance records 14 years ago. Dr. Topol agrees that testing guidelines “should be much more clear-cut”, and adds that stress tests ought to be performed annually. “You can do a stress test every year to be sure things are normal. That is an important baseline that is being ignored all too frequently.”

Cardiologist, Dr. Anthony DeFranco of Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, considers stress testing to be appropriate in at most 65% of cases, since a substantial minority of patients have other health problems that prevent them from undergoing the test.

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CMHC: housing market in Canada ‘highly vulnerable’

Category : Uncategorized

Sunday, October 29, 2017

In a quarterly news release on Thursday, state-owned Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) said Canada’s housing market is highly vulnerable, especially in Toronto and Hamilton in Ontario, Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia, and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. It also identified a growing concern of overbuilding in Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta.

The release said Calgary and Edmonton, the largest and second largest cities in Alberta, have a large inventory of unsold homes. The CMHC expressed concern this may drive down prices of homes in the area.

Vancouver, which is now reportedly less affordable than Manhattan in the US; Toronto; Victoria; and Hamilton were all assessed by the CMHC’s quarterly report as highly overvaluated.

The housing markets of Winnipeg in Manitoba, Ottawa in Ontario, Montreal and Quebec in Quebec, Moncton in New Brunswick, Halifax in Nova Scotia, and St. John’s in Newfoundland, were all assessed as low or moderate risk.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=CMHC:_housing_market_in_Canada_%27highly_vulnerable%27&oldid=4518050”

Transforming Your Shed Into A Spare Bedroom

Category : Epoxy Flooring

By Justin Broomhead

Extra space is always welcome but making additions to the home can be a pricey alternative and sometimes the building codes can be strict. However, the potential of transforming the home storage shed into an extra bedroom or a granny abode or it can be the perfect idea for that college graduate that does not want to leave home, or for a grandmother who wants to stay out of the nursing home but does not want to live all alone.

The rooms are attached to the main part of the home however; they have their own amenities like the kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and private entrance. Even though it would be ideal to have a connecting door to the kitchen, much of the time it is separate. It is usually connected to the main part of the home or separate as in a garden suite.

Before commencing, commit to a budget and then go take a look the shed. Be sure that the structure of the shed is solid and sturdy enough to be transformed into an extra bedroom. It must be wide enough to fit some furniture as well as appliances. Look and see if there is any mold present, foundation or ventilation concerns and deal with them first. Disinfect and wash the areas that have mildew.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTSQT9PzqRA[/youtube]

Furthermore, look into the local building regulations before beginning your renovations. Then determine where the furniture will be placed and add electrical outlets in convenient spots. After that, you will want to add the electrical wiring for the lights and the outlets. The room should ideally have a minimum of one window to get ventilation and natural light from the outdoors.

The next step involves painting the walls or you can even add dry wall to build a nice interior. Do not use grays since this will give your shed a garage look. Alternatively go with bright tones that will bring some liveliness into the room. If it is required, add an insulator to keep the temperature at a constant level. You can add a dehumidifier to prevent the appearance of mildew because this can ruin the walls and cause a smell in the room. You can use a water resistant paint to stop any damage in case of water leakage.

As well, you should inspect the floors. Replace dirt foundations or damaged wooden floors since these can cause future concerns. Be sure that they are not damaged, especially by water since this can damage the foundation. Add the tiles according to the manufacturer’s suggestions. If you have wooden floors, a good idea is to add a carpet to stop any wear and tear to the floor. Seal all dents in the ceiling to stop leaks from rain or snow.

If you have to renovate the beams or walls, pre-cast concrete walls or customized frames can be found in hardware centers.

The final step involves decorating your room to your preferences or to the liking of the person who will live in it. Add the bed, dressers, mirrors, and nightstands. Install some drapes or curtains and some lighting to create a mood. Add some framed photos to the walls. The person sleeping in that room will never be able to tell that it used to be a shed where the old lawn mower was stored.

About the Author: SUPER

SHEDS

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steel shed

and buildings. Leading supplier, designer and erector of superior, pre-fabricated, steel sheds for 49 years

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Israeli PM Sharon rushed to hospital

Category : Uncategorized

Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon (born Ariel Sheinerman), 77, has been admitted to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem, after suffering what doctors said was a “massive” stroke.

According to reports from Hadassah Ein Karem hospital in Jerusalem, the Prime Minister was put under an anesthetic prior to surgery to address a massive cerebral hemorrhage. He has increased intracranial pressure due to the bleeding.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said in Thursday’s press briefing that its “thoughts and prayers” are with the Prime Minister, and that the White House will “continue to stay in touch with the government of Israel.”

With Sharon in the hospital, control of Israel has now been transferred to his deputy, vice-premier Ehud Olmert.

Dr. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director of Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem said that Sharon suffered “a significant stroke” and that he was “under anesthetic and receiving breathing assistance.” Minutes later, Mor-Yosef said that initial tests showed Sharon suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and that he was suffering “massive bleeding and was being transferred to an operating theater.”

After over 6 hours of surgery Sharon received another CT scan which revealed further bleeding. Sharon was returned to the operating room for additional surgery that is expected to last several hours.

According to Wikipedia, “A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted” and many news sources are reporting this situation is life threatening.

Last month on December 18th, Sharon suffered a minor stroke and was admitted to the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital after feeling unwell driving home and having difficulties with his speech. During his treatment, he was found to have a minor hole in his heart and was scheduled for surgery on January 5th. Sharon was treated and released December 20th.

Sharon’s notorious overeating was a significant risk factor for the health complications he has experienced. Prior to his first stroke, he consumed a meal consisting of hamburgers, lamb, kebabs, steak in chimchurri sauce, and salad. Since that stroke Sharon had lost weight, though he had been known to have his security detail smuggle him pita filled with greasy meat during previous efforts.

On January 6th, in a front-page article in Canada’s The Globe and Mail newspaper, Canadian medical experts questioned the anticoagulent that Sharon had been receiving before his massive stroke, noting that the decision to use it may have cost him his life, and that he would have been unlikely to receive that treatment in Canada. They also noted that his prognosis for recovery is extremely poor.

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Tom Cruise debates psychiatry on NBC’s Today show

Category : Uncategorized

Saturday, June 25, 2005

In an interview on NBC’s Today show with Matt Lauer, Tom Cruise aggressively defended his opposition to psychiatry and anti-depressive drugs. This occurred after being asked questions about his criticism of Brooke Shields, who has been taking drugs, including Paxil, for postpartum depression. Cruise is usually known for keeping his cool in interviews, but recently he has been slightly more unbound.

Cruise’s statements, including “Psychiatry is a pseudoscience“, and “There is no such thing as a chemical imbalance in a body”, reflect the beliefs of the Church of Scientology, of which he is a member. The interview became particularly tense when Lauer mentioned that he knew people who had been helped by taking Ritalin, an attention-deficit disorder drug.

“Matt, Matt, you don’t even — you’re glib,” Cruise responded. “You don’t even know what Ritalin is. If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt, OK. That’s what I’ve done.”

Cruise went on to say: “You don’t know the history of psychiatry, I do.”

Cruise has not formally studied medicine beyond a high school education, having dropped out in his senior year (1980) to pursue an acting career. In light of this, some members of the psychiatric community have refuted Cruise’s controversial statements. Dr. John Scully, medical director of the American Psychiatric Association, has said “The illnesses we treat – anxiety, depression – are very real illnesses…The treatments work. We have demonstrated that through robust scientific study.”

Lauer insisted that Ritalin helped people: “You’re telling me what’s worked for people I know or hasn’t worked for people I know. I’m telling you, I’ve lived with these people and they’re better,” Lauer said.

Cruise hinted that Lauer was promoting Ritalin and Lauer scoffed: “I am not. I’m telling you in their cases, in their individual case, it worked.”

The exchange ended when the two basically agreed to disagree. Cruise, who is 42, did admit that one of his goals is to speak more about Scientology in an effort to get people to understand it better.

Scientology has historically been at odds with the established medical and mental health community. The rift dates back to the 1950s and Scientology’s founding father L. Ron Hubbard. In his book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health”, published in 1950, Hubbard claims that Dianetics (later called Scientology) could cure the majority of human ailments. These claims were sharply disputed by a variety of mainstream science and medical professionals including psychiatrists.

On Monday, June 27, 2005, the American Psychiatric Association released a statement that stated the following:”It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need…Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works…It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy.”

The APA represents nearly 36,000 physicians specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

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