Intumescent strips — a practical addition in fire safety

Intumescent Strips — A Practical Addition in Fire Safety

Interestingly enough, when an establishment invests in fire safety one stocks up enough fire extinguishes & fire blankets then proceeds to install a network of smoke detectors, sprinklers and a good number of fire safety signs to boot. Of course, there are less known methods of fire safety but certainly quite effective in their own right — one such example is the use of intumescent-based fire safety devices such as intumescent strips.

For starters, lets define in lay terms what an intumescent is. Basically, intumescents are substances that expand when temperatures rise — increasing in volume but lowering in density. This is especially useful then, in lining gaps that may conduct fire into other larger spaces. When the fire starts, the intumescent material then expands closing the gaps to prevent further spread of fire and therefore, any further damage from happening. The usage of intumescent material in this way is part of a larger process known as fireproofing.

Intumescent material comes in a variety of chemical compositions depending on its use. While  intumescent strips in general, come in a variety of forms — a couple examples are the intumescent pipe wrap and intumescent glazing tape. The pipe wrap as its name gives away — is used to protect pipes like ones found behind walls as part of the network that distributes water to the different outlets. Installed properly, intumescent pipe wraps should, upon exposure to the heat of fire expand and collapse while covering any holes for up to 2 to 4 hours. Intumescent glazing tape on the other hand is used for sealing the gaps on fire resistant glass and fire doors. Intumescent glazing tape effectively seals out gaps like these for about 30 minutes.

While the use of intumescent material certainly helps quite a bit in terms of safety from fire spreading, there are a few things one has to note of. First, that excessive moisture tends to ruin the material — and thus proper installation of the material on an environment that is relatively low in humidity is crucial. Secondly, that the human response to the fire must be immediate enough as the intumescent material does not last very long and only serves as a temporary «shield» from further damage. Indeed, intumescent material works best when applied together with other fire protection methods such as a fire alarm and a network of sprinklers.

Used properly, intumescent material such as the intumescent strips mentioned above give ample time and help for response to the occuring fire. This is especially useful in bigger establishments such as in buildings, schools, offices but has ample use for the home as well. This is because the bigger the area, the longer the response time and preventing further damage to expensive building material is more cost-effective than replacing them with new ones. While not as common as perhaps say, a fire extinguisher or a fire hose reel, the use of intumescent material proves to be a worthy edition to any establishment that wishes to safeguard its assets.

It’s that time of year for girls school shoes

It’s that Time of Year for Girls School Shoes

It’s that time of year, folks.  You know what I’m talking about: back to school.  And as every parent knows, possibly the most crucial part of the season is shoe shopping.  This is especially true if you are looking for girls school shoes.  The fact is that you often find yourself purchasing several pairs of shoes, some that coordinate, some that are dressier, and some that are designed to be athletic and functional.  This can make girls school shoe shopping a time consuming and often tedious event.  This can be especially true during back to school time, when the stores are packed with other shoppers.

Of course, if you are in the market for girls school shoes, there are some great ways to avoid the turmoil of hitting crowded malls and big-box retailers.  One of the best ways to get a great deal on your girls school shoes is to do your shopping online.  Of course, if you are planning on shopping for any shoes online, you are going to want to be certain of the shoe size you are looking for as well as the sizing quirks of any brand you may be considering.  Once you have that information, the sky’s really the limit.  You can scoop up multiple pairs of shoes in minutes, often taking advantage of online-only sales and discounted or even free shipping as well.

There are two great ways to get the most out of your girls school shoe shopping experience, whether you opt to shop online or at a local retail location.  First, shop early for the best selection.  Few things are as disappointing as finding the ideal pair of shoes, only to discover that the size you need is out of stock, or that they are not available in the color you need or want.  Secondly, if you are looking to score the best possible prices, shopping at outlet stores (whether online or off) is the way to go.  Sometimes these types of sellers have a more limited selection, but they generally cannot be beat as far as prices go.

This is also the time of year to score great deals on closeout summer footwear, such as boys sandals.  Most of the bigger shoe stores and department stores are desperately trying to unload their remaining warm-weather inventory.  This means that, in you are looking for boys sandals; it is a real buyers market.  Unfortunately, as this is the time of year that sandal inventory moves fast, so it may be a little difficult to find the style and size of boys sandals that you are looking for. 

If you truly want to get the boys sandals that you really want, the best thing to do is to shop early.  Often, summer shoes such as boys sandals are debuted near the end of the winter before, giving parents ample opportunity to decide which designs meet there needs and to determine which brands offer the best value for their apparel dollar.  Often, the earliest deals are available online.

How to buy your janitorial supplies

How To Buy Your Janitorial Supplies

A janitorial service business typically spends a lot of money on janitorial supplies which are used in cleaning commercial buildings such as schools, hospitals, warehouses, retail stores, parking lots, and manufacturing facilities. For this reason, it is important for a janitorial service business owner to find reliable and trusted suppliers of cleaning tools, equipment and supplies. Not all janitorial supplies store have the same inventory of supplies you need. Some of them only have the cheapest but ineffective products while some offer the most expensive ones but you cannot be sure of their quality and effectiveness in cleaning. You need to do a lot of research for online stores that can offer you the best deal in terms of quality products, delivery efficiency and cost.

You can save a lot of dollars if you buy in bulk from different wholesale suppliers of various janitorial supplies such as cleaning products, paper products and dispensers, brooms, brushes and related accessories, air fresheners, skin care and hand soaps, floor and carpet care products, as well as trash cans, trash bags and other facility maintenance products. There are many janitorial supplies stores that you can find selling top quality brands of disinfectants, glass cleaners, wipers, rags, paper towels, and bathroom tissues to make sure that you use only the best but inexpensive supplies. Do not forget to compare the quality and the price so you are sure that you get the best deal wherever you decide to purchase your janitorial supplies. You should look for a supplier that can give you the most economical solution and cost as well as a high level of commitment to serve you. You need a supplier that can also provide you with fast and friendly customer support and can deliver on their promises on time and in the most efficient manner.

The perfect cleaning product that you need exists out there, already on the shelves of a janitorial supplies store. You only have to find out where and which one it is. To find out, make a list of what you expect from a cleaning product and what qualities you want it to have. Most of your cleaning jobs for your customers will require that the product you use not only smell good but must effectively eliminate germs and keep the surface immaculately clean. Of course you would also be looking for a product that is most affordable to you. You can find all of what you want by visiting stores whether on line or their brick and mortar counterpart and comparing the labels and prices. You can also test their products in order to be really sure about the products quality and effectiveness.

If you are tasked to purchase janitorial supplies, be sure that you dont end up buying products that are not only expensive but ineffective as well. You will be spending a lot of hard earned cash so you need to be careful that you get your supplies from a trusted source which only offers the best quality brands of janitorial supplies. This way, you can be sure that not only do you get the best but also provide the best cleaning services to your customers.

Is college for entrepreneurs

Is College for Entrepreneurs?

Young entrepreneurs and business owners are often times faced with the choice of which road to take. On one hand, there is the more conservative route of staying in college and getting a degree. On the other hand, many have thriving businesses that are making more money than their degree will ever get for them. Is college simply a hindrance? Or is it a valuable resource that should be continued at all costs. Many college business owners don’t even realize they have the choice of dropping out. Knowing this option is there could be vital to the success of their future business. If you are in college and are an entrepreneur or business owner you must ask your self this question: should I drop out of college?

The answer to this question often comes in many forms from many different people. I was recently at an entrepreneurial conference and had the opportunity to discuss this matter with many rich entrepreneurs. The answers I was getting from them were vastly different from those that my family had given me. On the one side I was being told that college is only useful if you are getting something out of it, and that if I was serious my businesses should take priority over schooling. From the family side I was being told to stay in school no matter what, put schooling at the forefront — there will always be time for business and it will be good to have a safe backup. Both of these answers have their merits, but which one is right?. It became clear to me that it was my decision- not the other wealthy entrepreneurs, and not your family.

Why are you in college?
This question is the fundamental element in the decision to drop out of college. Entrepreneurs must figure out the reality of why they are in college before making a decision to drop out. Some business owners are in college because their parents told them to go there, or because they didn’t realize they had the choice. Other young entrepreneurs are in college because they find the information valuable and want to continue learning while they expand their business. Even more still had childhood dreams of one day being an engineer or architect and want to follow through with their early ideals. You must answer this question truthfully and honestly if you are going to make a choice about running your business full time or staying in college.

Why Do You Want to Drop Out?
It is very important to understand exactly why you want to drop out. Many business owners and entrepreneurs have vastly different reasons for dropping out of college and it is key that you understand yours. I have often fielded this question in conversation, and many times a young entrepreneur will want to drop out of college on pure speculation. This is never a good idea without a solid business plan. I recommend having a solid business plan and some backups in the least, as well as some plans for continued learning of business skills. Dropping out is a risky decision — entrepreneurs will understand and easily accept this fact. Understanding and accepting risk is part of being an entrepreneur and starting new businesses. I have also talked with many entrepreneurs who already have million dollar plus income, and are thinking about dropping out in order to focus more on their business. This instance presents an entirely new set of questions. Whatever your reasoning make sure that you understand and research your position.

Here is the Secret to Making the Decision
It all comes down to balancing the two sides of the argument. If you’ve figured out both your reasons for being in college and your reasons for dropping out and starting a business, then you can easily make a decision. The trick is to look at a list of both sides: your reasons for being in college and your reasons for going out and becoming an entrepreneur. If either side has reasons that aren’t your own, or that have doubt in them, then you will most likely pick the other side. Here is an example situation, look at the two lists and decide what the student should do.

Student A — Reasons to Stay in College:
— My parents are paying for it, and they would flip if I left
— Everyone I know is in college, it would be weird to leave.
— A degree might give me some security later on.

Student A — Reasons to Drop Out and Pursue Business
— I have a solid business plan and have been working on it for months
— My income is almost half of my parents already
— Having more time to work on business would let me expand faster

I think it is fairly clear in this setup that we have an entrepreneur at heart. There is doubt in the reasoning behind college, and he also doubts that he will even need the security of a degree. The second list is much more profound and certain. This student knows he will be successful as an entrepreneur and he only wants to build his business more. There is certainty and understanding in his tone. With this situation it seems very likely that the student would be far better off dropping out of college and pursuing his business goals.

The case is almost never as cut and dry as the situation above, most young businessmen have far more complicated setups. Even with the complications, the end result is always the same. Follow the path that you are sure of in your heart. If you are an entrepreneur in the right position then you will know exactly why you want to drop out and that it will be better for you. Or, you will know that staying in college will teach you more about business and let you grow faster out of college. I will leave you with one last thing.

Listen to your own thoughts, and pick the path that you know is better for you.

Job interview skills tips: sample interview thank you notes

Job Interview Skills Tips: Sample Interview Thank You Notes

Let’s say you have just attended an interview with 20 other people who have also attended the same interview. The interviewer will definitely have a hard time choosing between all the excellent candidates.

So what if you have a degree, others have masters or PhDs. However, all humans are to a certain extent judgemental. So after an interview, it’s apt to write a thank you letter to the interviewer as part of the job interview skills. This puts you in front of the other candidates as you have proven to the interviewer that you are a proactive person and also a team player.

The rule of the thumb to follow when writing a thank you letter is to mention your appreciation and gratitude to the interviewer for taking his/her time to interview you. You should also mention your interest and enthusiasm in the job you are applying for.

The next paragraph should be re-affirming your reasons on why you are an exceptional candidate for the job. You should list down specific skills that relate to the job and also past achievements that you have accomplished whether it is personal or official such as volunteering for a charity organisation for the past 10 years or winning a competition in high school. A good job interview skills coach will be a huge help for college graduates to design a professional thank you letter.

The third paragraph is freestyle writing. This is the core part of the letter in which you can definitely make a long lasting good impression to the interviewer. You can also pose questions to the interviewer especially questions that you have forgotten to ask during the interview. However, do not answer questions that you think you have answered poorly during the interview as this will remind the interviewer of your flaws.

In the closing paragraph, mention once again your utmost appreciation and gratitude to the interviewer for being considered for the job and let the interviewer know that you are looking forward towards embarking on a career in that company.

Do not underestimate the importance of thank you letters as this is the most essential part of the job interview skills.