RE: Halon, water, etc.

When the safety inspectors come around, one of the things
they test is whether the emergency lighting works when there
is a power outage. However, for a long time our computer
room was like a closet office connected to another office,
connected to a hall way that had no emergency lights.

There were several power outages. I can see lights on
computer monitor due to UPS, but I am having a hard time
holding up the keyboard so I can see keys to use it at same
time.

To get out of building, I walk with my hand along the wall to
exit, except someone desk in the way, Ok, I got past that
without stubbing toe in dark, and now I am in the hallway
that has no lights, and I feel my way to the door that takes
me into another unlighted area, and a few more steps and I
can see the exit sign which is on with the power off.

That is the easy way out, when the problem is a simple power
outage ... another way out I either need key to front door,
or heavy duty chair to open a window.

I would not be surprised if the building is 100 years old.

We were ordered to evacuate the building when the people
digging up the street cut one of our two water lines. Whey
do we need two water lines? Well one is a spare in case of
fire melting water sprinkeler system

---- Original message ----

Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:51:46 -0400
From: "Chuck Lewis" <chuck.lewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Halon, water, etc.
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'" <midrange-

l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

How old is the building you are in Al ? No offense or

anything :-) The last

place I worked was almost 30 years old and all exit signs

worked in a power

failure as did emergency lighting.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Al Mac
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2007 11:45 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: RE: Halon, water, etc.

In case no one else has mentioned it, when building catches

fire, the power

often goes out, and some systems might not work properly,

such as the

batteries for the EXIT signs, if there even is such a sign

within sight of

the closet called computer room.

Solution: very inexpensive to buy flash lights that plug

into wall sockets

... power on, their batteries are being charged, power off,

they provide

emergency lighting, you grab one ... and remember to crawl

at a run, to

keep head down to avoid destructive smoke inhalation.

If you are in a computer room that has a nearby window, you

could always

throw chair out of window to get alternative rapid exit, so

long as you

watch out for effect of broken window on draft vs. fire,

plus broken glass

when you exit that way.

It helps to be aware of all possible exits from building

where you work ...

where there are doors, where there are windows, where there

are structuraal

weaknesses through which you could bust out in emergency,

where there are

things like fork lift truck to help engineer such unofficial

exits in a

hurry, remembering that fuel for the fork lift truck is

extremely

flammable. (Don't be using that if fire got to it before

you did.)

Perhaps the office across from yours has a window that you

could squeeze

out of & perhaps that office door is locked ... you can get

on chair & use

false ceiling tiles to get over locked door, smoke

permitting.

Perhaps do this in a file drill so you know it is doable.



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