http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/blog.php Building code forum, building code message board, code enforcement discussion threads, icc forum, icc code forum, icc message board en Sat, 19 May 2012 02:38:00 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/blog.php http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?44-World’s-Dumbest-Terrorists Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:43:08 GMT February 2011. This is a true story; Many suicide bombings and terrorist attacks in Iraq are committed by people who are not from Iraq.... February 2011.


This is a true story;


Many suicide bombings and terrorist attacks in Iraq are committed by people who are not from Iraq. These are the “Foreign Fighters” you might have heard about. When these people are caught, the Iraqi Government typically exacts very harsh penalties. A 50 year prison sentence is not unusual.

A number of recently convicted and imprisoned terrorists plotted an escape. The plan consisted of smuggling in and injecting a paralytic agent to stop their hearts. The conspirators hoped that when the Iraqi guards discovered them in their cells and checked for a pulse, they would be proclaimed dead and transferred to the city morgue where a fellow conspirator would use a portable defibrillator to restart their hearts. Once their hearts started beating again, they would rise up from the gurneys, give each other a victorious fist bump, and walk out of the morgue to freedom.


What the conspirators did not consider is a failed heart must be restarted in 2-3 minutes and by the time they made it to the morgue they would be really dead.

The plot was discovered by Iraqi authorities before it was executed and now these men will spend the next 50 years in a very unpleasant basement (there are many notoriously unpleasant basements in Baghdad). ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?44-World’s-Dumbest-Terrorists http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?43-Patrick-Mutesa-Okello-Okero-1979-2011 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:40:59 GMT February 2011. The Baghdad Embassy Security Force is staffed with mostly Ugandans and Peruvians. They live in a sprawling man camp adjacent to the... February 2011.

The Baghdad Embassy Security Force is staffed with mostly Ugandans and Peruvians. They live in a sprawling man camp adjacent to the compound complete with a gym, dining facility, and medical unit. These guards man the gates and guard towers, inspect vehicles, and continually patrol the compound 24 hours a day in the heat, sun, rain, or cold while wearing several pounds of body armor in addition to their weapon and extra ammunition. These men are very professional, very dedicated, and very well trained security guards.

Unlike the Somalis who tend to be of small stature and thin, or the Kenyans who are typically a bit taller and more defined, the Ugandans are large men. Think Notre Dame Linebacker large. But they are very soft spoken and polite. I greet them on their patrols several times a day and ask, “How are you, my friend?” “Fine sir. Fine” is the usual reply.

When the US military leaves and we are alone here and if there comes a time when the Barbarians are at the Gates, my survival plan is to find the biggest Ugandan I can and get behind him until the area is secure.

Okello Okero died last week. He felt bad and was taken to the hospital where doctors discovered an advanced cancer. The memorial service was a few hours ago and I attended. A Ugandan choir was brought in from another site and they sang like angels. Okello’s body armor, boonie hat, combat boots and a photo of him were on a table in front of the Ugandan flag. A US Army Chaplain read Psalm 23 and a friend of Okello delivered the memorial tribute. The friend, a big man with a soft voice, had to pause several times to wipe away tears and compose himself. Eventually another big man had to come up front and put his hand on the friend’s shoulder for comfort. The linebacker I sat next to was sobbing uncontrollably and I had to reach for my bandana several times for myself. This was the most moving, emotionally draining and sincere memorial service I ever attended.

Everybody in attendance agreed Okello was a good man, an honest man, and that he is with God now.

. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?43-Patrick-Mutesa-Okello-Okero-1979-2011 http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?42-How-Choices-are-Made… Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:38:45 GMT February 2011. Another true story; A group of Foreign Fighters entered an Iraqi village some time ago with the intention of... February 2011.


Another true story;



A group of Foreign Fighters entered an Iraqi village some time ago with the intention of aggressively occupying the town and enforcing power by threatening and intimidating the local population while engaging in terrorist activities. During this period one of the fighters pursued a thirteen year old village girl so before she became a rape victim, her parents offered her to the fighter as a bride. The young girl eventually gave her husband two children, a boy and a girl. Later while the children were still very little, the fighter coerced his young wife into strapping on an explosive vest and detonating herself in a crowd. She dutifully obeyed but the vest triggering device malfunctioned and failed to detonate. Both husband and wife were arrested, convicted of terrorism, and given lengthy prison sentences.



Since the father is foreign the children cannot claim to be Iraqi, even though the mother is Iraqi. This is so in this part of the world. Now the children have no rights in this country. In fact they have no country. We know Al Qaida uses this as leverage in their recruiting efforts; the same technique street gangs in the USA employ in their recruiting efforts. Young people, both men and women, are much more vulnerable when they are from a fractured family and are found without a country or a home.

Is there no other choice?

. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?42-How-Choices-are-Made… http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?41-Open-the-Freakin-Door! Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:36:23 GMT April 2011. Went for a run on a beautiful Baghdad evening yesterday. The sun was setting, the weather was good, and the air was a little less toxic... April 2011. Went for a run on a beautiful Baghdad evening yesterday. The sun was setting, the weather was good, and the air was a little less toxic than usual. It was a perfect day until the "incoming" alarm sounded as I was turning a corner. When these alarms sound, we are told to run for the nearest bunker or "hard" building so I ran for the nearest hard building. Two office workers made it to the locked entry door before I did and were frantically trying to punch in the correct code to get the door open. One man failed on the first try, the second man failed again, then the first man made a third attempt, all while the "Big Voice" is screaming "incoming! Incoming!" Finally, the third attempt is successful and we throw open the door and dive in. Later and after the "all clear" we all have a hearty laugh about the whole incident and I finish my run.

. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?41-Open-the-Freakin-Door! http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?40-Life-Expectancy-in-Afghanistan Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:34:17 GMT Life expectancy is only 44 years for both men and women. Our Afghan Project Engineer is 32 years old but he looks older. His face is worn with worry... Life expectancy is only 44 years for both men and women. Our Afghan Project Engineer is 32 years old but he looks older. His face is worn with worry and when I ask him about his life sometimes his hands tremble and his voice shakes. Every morning he commutes to the job site knowing a suicide bomber or IED may change his life forever. Just two days ago a suicide bomber detonated himself in the same place he had just left a few minutes before. This is a daily preoccupation. This is a way of life for him.

He was an infant when the Russians invaded in 1979 and he was 10 years old when the Russians withdrew. During the Russian occupation, an estimated 1 million Afghans had been killed; another 5 million fled the country, and about 3 million were forced out of their homes and farms to escape the bloodshed.

Anarchy and chaos followed the Russian withdrawal. For the next two years warlords fought warlords for control. Kabul was almost reduced to rubble. In 1994 the Taliban gained enough strength and numbers to take on the warlords. By 2000 the Taliban controlled most of the country. During his time the Taliban had a brutal police force called The Ministry of the Promotion of Virtue and the Suppression of Vice. If a man was seen without a beard or head covering, he was sent to a prison and severely beaten. Girls were not allowed to attend schools and women were discouraged from leaving their homes. Movie theatres were closed, most music was banned, and no television, videos, cards or kite-flying was allowed.

In 2001 US and Afghan forces campaigned against the Taliban and quickly forced them out. Most went into hiding in Pakistan. The engineer was 22 years old when the US came and the Taliban left.

An insurgency developed from the sanctuary of Pakistan and by 2006 the attacks were common and increasingly lethal. There were over 1,000 roadside bomb attacks in April 2010, twice as many as in April 2009. Here are some recent attacks in 2011;

—June 18: Insurgents wearing Afghan army uniforms storm a police station near the presidential palace and open fire on officers, killing nine.

—May 21: Suicide bomber wearing an Afghan soldier uniform slips inside the main military hospital in Kabul and kills six Afghan medical students.

—April 27: Veteran Afghan military pilot opens fire at Kabul airport, killing eight U.S. troops and an American civilian contractor.

—April 18: Suicide attacker sneaks past security at the Afghan Defense Ministry, killing two Afghan soldiers and fatally wounding an Afghan army officer.

And the Engineer is only 32 years old this year. All he has known is war and conflict.



In the Graveyard of Empires, Seth G. Jones and The Washington Post ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?40-Life-Expectancy-in-Afghanistan http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?39-Afghanistan-2011 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:18:33 GMT After de-mining by a UN agency and during excavation we discovered an old anti-tank mine on the project site probably left over from the Russian... After de-mining by a UN agency and during excavation we discovered an old anti-tank mine on the project site probably left over from the Russian period. We worked closely with the local police so we asked for one of their explosive guys to check out the mine. He took one look at it picked it up and began walking away with the mine over his shoulder, like a shot put. Since I needed to document all this I took as many photos as I could from a safe distance. The policeman saw that I was worried and gestured that he would throw the mine in my direction, like a shot put. Mines are a fact of life here. They are everywhere. Thousands and thousands of mines were placed during the Russian period. Also found was an 80 mm mortar round that I used as a bookend and the remains of an AK-47.
Soon after we set up the man-camp, a IED exploded in the distance and as far as this was from the site, the explosion shook our office trailers.
There is a prison near our project site built with very thick adobe brick walls and guard towers. The year was 2011 but looking at this this structure the mind easily wanders back what life might have been like 2000 years ago here.
There was always at least one armed Afghan guard within 25 meters of me no matter were I went. Every time we made a PX run to the American FOB I made sure to buy a few cans of Pringles for these guys in the hope that if something did happen, the Pringles would buy some loyalty and they would not drop their weapons and run. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?39-Afghanistan-2011 http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?38-Baghdad-2011 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:57:37 GMT I know someone who knows someone who gave us a private tour of the building where Saddam's trial took place. "Miss Iraq" joined us on the tour. This building now belongs to the Government of Iraq and is protected by Iraqi Security Forces. In the courtroom there can be seen scales of justice depicted in gold underneath the Koranic inscription that is translated, "If you judge between people, judge with fairness."
The identities of most of the judges and staff were kept secret in an effort to provide some protection. Locating qualified tribunal personnel who were not affiliated with the Ba'ath Party was difficult. The people who did qualify and serve at the trials did so at great personal risk. Early in the trials five tribunal employees were killed. Since witnesses and/or their families are subject to reprisals from defendants, the Iraqi judicial system shields witnesses from the courtroom with curtains. Only the judges can see the witnesses and during testimony their voices are disguised so the defendant won't be able to recognize them.

Before 2003, the Iraqi National Olympic Committee headquarters had torture chambers in the basement. Saddam Hussein's eldest son, Uday, was known to torture soccer players in this metal framework whenever the team failed to win. This apparatus is now on display in a museum in the same buildiing. Also on display is a metal pipe with three pices of rebar welded to it. This pipe was used to torture and hang people in the Iraqi Intelligence headquarters. The center ring was used for the hangman's noose, the two outer rings were used to tie the hands during torture. "Miss Iraq" posed for photos with the noose around her neck. There was a box on the right of the display that contained hanging ropes which we were told "were used many times." Saddam was known for the widespread use of torture, extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and forced disappearances. Some 300,000 Iraqis remain missing, and about 70,000 Shi'as were imprisoned. In September 1988 in northern Iraq, Hussein stormed the highlands of Iraqi Kurdistan, rounded up and executed more than 100,000 Kurds who were mostly men and boys. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?38-Baghdad-2011 http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?37-Horn-of-Africa-2010 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:34:17 GMT The last few days have a dream like quality so I'm not really sure when I arrived or what day it is now. The flight from Atlanta to Dubai was about 14 hours long. I spent the night in a very nice hotel there and ate a traditional Arabic breakfast that was absolutely incredible. Dubai is quite impressive and I don't think there is anything equivalent anywhere in the world. There is no obvious indication of any economic collapse in this city.
The flight from Dubai to Djibouti was another 3 hours. We landed at an airport that can be best described as primitive. Something only seen in a movie. After we disembarked from the plane and made our way to immigration, a man with a mask and wearing medical scrubs pointed some kind of device at our heads as we walked past. I have no idea what condition he was checking.

We presented our passports at a little booth inside. Me and two British citizens were pulled aside and told to wait outside another office. The man in there examined our passports, asked a few questions none of us could understand, demanded three new $20.00 bills and issued us a 30 day visa. There are no words to describe this scene.
Two company employees met me and we drove to Camp Lemonier. The ride was brief but I had a good look at the city. There is trash and debris everywhere. Wrecked cars, old tires, packs of dogs roaming about, shacks scattered along the railroad tracks and people walking slowly along the road or sitting anywhere where there some shade. Unemployment is very high and goods and services are very expensive because everything has to be imported. Nothing seems to grow here and it is hard to imagine that this land can sustain life.

Camp Lemonier was once a French Foreign Legion camp. The USA moved in after 9/11. This part of the world is the new front on the War on Terror and it looks like we are digging in and will stay for awhile. French jet fighters take off and return at all hours of the day to points unknown. There is a lot of wire and concrete. Men in civilian clothes wearing dark glasses and driving Land Cruisers patrol the camp. There is a contingent of the Japanese Navy here, all branches of the US military, and other uniforms I don't recognize.

We work 10 to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our subcontractors are mostly from the Philippines and India and they work very hard in very harsh conditions. To keep from getting any darker that they already are, they take a t-shirt and wrap it around their heads and neck. Their faces stick out from the hole in the shirt that is supposed to go over the neck and the hard hat goes over the t-shirt. Add a pair of dark safety glasses to this ensemble and one can imagine a Bedouin construction worker. My plan is to employ the Mexican method of sun protection which is to drape a bandana under my hard hat, although I may be forced to use the t-shirt at some point. Djibouti is in the northern hemisphere so it is still winter here at a somewhat comfortable 85 degrees with a soothing breeze blowing in from the sea. I am old summer temps can exceed 120 degrees with a dry and blistering wind blowing from the desert. Hopefully we will have the foundations completed by then and start going vertical. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?37-Horn-of-Africa-2010 http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?36-Not-Safe-Abroad Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:33:12 GMT Message to the U.S. Community in Iraq U.S. Embassy Baghdad January 26, 2012 SUBJECT: Worldwide Caution--As Released by the Department... Message to the U.S. Community in Iraq

U.S. Embassy Baghdad

January 26, 2012



SUBJECT: Worldwide Caution--As Released by the Department of State on January 24, 2012 to all Missions Abroad



The Department of State has issued this Worldwide Caution to update information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. This replaces the Worldwide Caution dated July 26, 2011, to provide updated information on security threats and terrorist activities worldwide.

The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Current information suggests that al-Qaida, its affiliated organizations, and other terrorist organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics including suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, and bombings.

Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests. Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other tourist destinations both in the United States and abroad where U.S. citizens gather in large numbers, including during holidays.

U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Extremists have targeted and attempted attacks on subway and rail systems, aviation, and maritime services. In the past several years, these types of attacks have occurred in cities such as Moscow, London, Madrid, Glasgow, and New York City.

EUROPE: Current information suggests that al-Qaida, its affiliated organizations and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. and Western interests in Europe. European governments have taken action to guard against terrorist attacks, and some have spoken publicly about the heightened threat conditions. In the past several years, attacks have been planned or occurred in various European cities.

MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA: Credible information indicates terrorist groups also seek to continue attacks against U.S. interests in the Middle East and North Africa. For example, Iraq remains dangerous and unpredictable. U.S. military forces have withdrawn as of December 31, 2011, but the threat of attacks against U.S. citizens, including kidnapping and terrorist violence, is expected to continue. Methods of attack have included roadside improvised explosive devices, mortars, and shootings. Security threat levels remain high in Yemen due to terrorist activities there. The U.S. Embassy has had to close several times in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). U.S. citizens as well as other Westerners have been targeted for attack in Yemen. U.S. citizens have also been the targets of numerous terrorist attacks in Lebanon in the past (though none recently) and the threat of anti-Western terrorist activity continues to exist there. In Algeria, terrorist attacks occur regularly, particularly in the Kabylie region of the country. In the past, terrorists have targeted oil processing facilities in both Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Some elements in Iran remain hostile to the United States. U.S. citizens should remain cautious and be aware that there may be a more aggressive focus by the Iranian government on terrorist activity against U.S. citizens.

The events of last year's Arab Spring, which affected many countries in the Middle East including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria, have resulted in civil unrest and large-scale protests and demonstrations. U.S. citizens are warned that demonstrations intended to be peaceful can escalate into violent clashes. U.S. citizens are reminded that demonstrations and riots can occur with little or no warning. U.S. citizens are urged to avoid areas of demonstrations if possible and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration.

AFRICA: A number of al-Qaida operatives and other extremists are believed to be operating in and around Africa. Since the July 11, 2010 terrorist bombings in Kampala, Uganda, for which the Somalia-based, U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, there have been increased threats against public areas across East Africa. The terrorist attacks of October 2011 against the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces in Somalia, as well as the grenade attacks against a nightclub and bus stop in downtown Nairobi, Kenya, highlight the vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks in East Africa and around the world. Additionally, the terrorist group al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has declared its intention to attack Western targets throughout the Sahel (which includes Mali, Mauritania, and Niger). It has claimed responsibility for kidnappings, attempted kidnappings, and the murder of several Westerners throughout the region, including southern Algeria. In Nigeria, a group known as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for an August 26, 2011, suicide bombing attack on the United Nations Headquarters in Abuja that killed 25 people and wounded more than 120.

U.S. citizens considering travel by sea near the Horn of Africa or in the southern Red Sea should exercise extreme caution, as there has been a notable increase in armed attacks, robberies, and kidnappings for ransom by pirates. Merchant vessels continue to be hijacked in Somali territorial waters, while others have been hijacked as far as 1,000 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya in international waters.

The U.S. government maritime authorities advise mariners to avoid the port of Mogadishu and to remain at least 200 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. In addition, when transiting around the Horn of Africa or in the Red Sea, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys and maintain good communications at all times. U.S. citizens traveling on commercial passenger vessels should consult with the shipping or cruise ship company regarding precautions that will be taken to avoid hijacking incidents.

SOUTH ASIA: The U.S. government continues to receive information that terrorist groups in South and Central Asia may also be planning attacks in the region, possibly against U.S. government facilities, U.S. citizens, or U.S. interests. The presence of al-Qaida and its affiliates [Taliban elements, Lashkar-e-Taiba, indigenous sectarian groups, and other terror organizations], many of which are on the U.S. government's list of Foreign Terror Organizations (FTOs), poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens in the region. Terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated their willingness and ability to attack targets where U.S. citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Their actions may include, but are not limited to, vehicle-born explosive attacks, improvised explosive device attacks, assassinations, car jackings, rocket attacks, assaults, or kidnappings.

Such attacks have occurred in a number of South Asian states, including Pakistan, where a number of extremist groups continue to target U.S. and other Western citizens and interests, and Pakistani government and military/law enforcement personnel. Suicide bombing attacks continue to occur throughout the country on a regular basis, often targeting government authorities such as police checkpoints and military installations, as well as public areas such as mosques, and shopping areas. Kidnappings of U.S. citizens are also on the increase. In Afghanistan, remnants of the former Taliban regime and the al-Qaida terrorist network, as well as other groups hostile to International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/NATO military operations, remain active. There is an ongoing threat of kidnapping and assassination of U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) workers throughout the country. There is an increased threat of terrorism in India. Terrorists have targeted public places in India frequented by Westerners, including luxury and other hotels, trains, train stations, markets, cinemas, mosques, and restaurants in large urban areas.

CENTRAL ASIA: Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaida, the Islamic Jihad Union, and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement are active in the Central Asian region. Members of these groups have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and attacked U.S. government interests in the past. Previous terrorist attacks conducted in Central Asia have involved improvised explosive devices, suicide bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings.

EAST ASIA: Regional and international terrorist organizations remain active in the region and have attacked U.S. interests in the past.

U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.


This email is UNCLASSIFIED. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?36-Not-Safe-Abroad http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?35-Time-to-Go-Home Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:07:45 GMT I had an appointment at the US Embassy to add additional pages to my passport and successfully navigated Dubai’s elegant Roads and Transport... I had an appointment at the US Embassy to add additional pages to my passport and successfully navigated Dubai’s elegant Roads and Transport Authority over a period of two hours or so to make it there on time. The train stops at the Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station near Dubai Creek and is in an area where many embassies and consulates are located. I walked about two blocks and passed the flags of other countries looking for mine. As I circled around I saw the flags of Pakistan, then Oman, India and also Kuwait and then suddenly there it was, gently waving in a light breeze, the flag of the United States of America and the sight of it almost took my breath away. It is good to be an American.
Some of us contractors went overseas to try to make a difference and experience new cultures and traditions while many others came just to make a lot of money in a short time. I would like to count myself among the former but the truth may be that everything we did and tried to do these last ten years will not matter much. Some scholars and political scientists predict Iraq will disintegrate into all out civil war soon. What was destroyed in the early days and later rebuilt may be destroyed yet again. Others who study Afghanistan claim that the culture of corruption and violence is so entrenched there that everything the international forces and nongovernmental organizations built will be stripped bare within weeks of the withdrawal. Nothing will be left.
On the way out of Afghanistan I was stranded overnight with several dozen soldiers from participating countries at the ISAF passenger terminal in Mazar-e-Sharif. There were some US soldiers there that were going to where I just left. I noticed one young sergeant in particular. His eyes were bloodshot from sleep deprivation and he seemed completely exhausted. Tired. Worn out. Maybe that is where we are as a country right now after these wars; exhausted, tired and worn out. Time to go home. ]]> Sandman http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?35-Time-to-Go-Home http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?32-Stairwell-Reentry-Myths-and-Facts Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:45:48 GMT Stairwell doors are often locked on the stair side to prevent unauthorized entry into tenant spaces. The term “stairwell reentry” refers to the... Stairwell doors are often locked on the stair side to prevent unauthorized entry into tenant spaces. The term “stairwell reentry” refers to the code requirements which allow a building occupant to leave a stairwell during a fire emergency, and find another exit. If stairwell doors do not allow for reentry and a stairwell becomes impassible, it can jeopardize the lives of those using the stairwell as a means of egress. There are quite a few myths surrounding this requirement, which I will address below...
http://idighardware.com/2011/08/stai...ths-and-facts/ ]]> LGreene http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?32-Stairwell-Reentry-Myths-and-Facts http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?23-Egress-Issues-Encountered-by-a-Fire-Marshal Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:51:10 GMT I received a giant batch of photos today from a deputy fire marshal, and I could barely wait to post them. Whenever I get photos or comments from... I received a giant batch of photos today from a deputy fire marshal, and I could barely wait to post them. Whenever I get photos or comments from code officials I feel like the nerdy kid who got to sit with the cool kids at lunch one day. :-)
http://idighardware.com/2011/01/reader-photos-9/ ]]> LGreene http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?23-Egress-Issues-Encountered-by-a-Fire-Marshal http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?22-Code-Compliant-Fire-Doors-Protect-People-and-Property Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:45:21 GMT Fire investigators have discovered the cause of the fire at the maintenance building in Robert Moses State Park. A state employee accidentally... Fire investigators have discovered the cause of the fire at the maintenance building in Robert Moses State Park. A state employee accidentally discarded a leaking container of linseed oil into a wastebasket that had paper, rags and sawdust in it. Spontaneous combustion sparked the blaze...
http://idighardware.com/2011/01/the-rest-of-the-story/ ]]> LGreene http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?22-Code-Compliant-Fire-Doors-Protect-People-and-Property http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?21-Unequal-Pairs Mon, 20 Dec 2010 03:19:42 GMT I’ve talked about this before, but the question still comes up almost weekly – “What’s the code-compliant solution when replacing a pair of doors in... I’ve talked about this before, but the question still comes up almost weekly – “What’s the code-compliant solution when replacing a pair of doors in a 5′-wide opening?”...
http://idighardware.com/2010/12/unequal-pairs/ ]]> LGreene http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?21-Unequal-Pairs http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?20-Double-Cylinder-Deadlocks-Residential Mon, 20 Dec 2010 03:17:34 GMT I don’t get involved with residential construction very often, but a local locksmith recently asked about the use of double-cylinder deadlocks on... I don’t get involved with residential construction very often, but a local locksmith recently asked about the use of double-cylinder deadlocks on single family homes. His position is that he will not install them, but he was looking for a code reference to back him up...
http://idighardware.com/2010/11/doub...s-residential/ ]]> LGreene http://www.inspectpa.com/forum/entry.php?20-Double-Cylinder-Deadlocks-Residential