Fire safety in the barracks
For reasons related to fire safety, the only heat-producing devices we are allowed to own are microwaves and coffee makers. This means that we're not allowed to own toasters, hot plates, water boilers, etc.
A few weeks ago, the fire department had to respond to 2 fire alarms from my building in a single week. The thing is, instead of smoke detectors we have some sort of heat detector - even if no smoke is produced but it senses heat (for example, someone trying to scramble some eggs using a hot plate), the alarm will go off. Conversely, someone can smoke in their own room, filling up the hallway with haze, and the alarm will not go off.
The worst part is that the fire alarms went off twice while I was in the building, and I found out days later. After further questioning, it turns out that the fire alarms are silent for the residents but not the fire department. Which tells me, in the event of an actual life-threatening fire, we will not know about it until the fire department shows up. Especially if we're sleeping.
Seems like yet another example of screwed up priorities.
A few weeks ago, the fire department had to respond to 2 fire alarms from my building in a single week. The thing is, instead of smoke detectors we have some sort of heat detector - even if no smoke is produced but it senses heat (for example, someone trying to scramble some eggs using a hot plate), the alarm will go off. Conversely, someone can smoke in their own room, filling up the hallway with haze, and the alarm will not go off.
The worst part is that the fire alarms went off twice while I was in the building, and I found out days later. After further questioning, it turns out that the fire alarms are silent for the residents but not the fire department. Which tells me, in the event of an actual life-threatening fire, we will not know about it until the fire department shows up. Especially if we're sleeping.
Seems like yet another example of screwed up priorities.
Labels: barracks
Yeah, I love that you can't have a hotplate that's only on when you're directly using it; but you can have an automatic coffeepot that could conceivably turn itself on when you're out of the room. Because that makes sense.
Posted by
Evan |
February 17, 2008 5:28 PM
Sounds safe.
Posted by
FUNG! |
February 18, 2008 7:08 PM