Welcome, Please Sign In

Volume 20, Issue 3 | 3rd Quarter

Editorial
Employee Spotlight
Articles
Legislation & Code
Product Feature
Archives

× Editorial Employee Spotlight Articles

Feature Article
Article 1
Article 2

Legislation & Code Product Feature Archives

Feature Article

Recycling Batteries Makes Good Business Sense

Ext and Emergency Lighting replacement Batteries

Replacing emergency light batteries has turned into a profitable endeavor for many Fire Equipment Distributors (FEDs). Brooks encourages all of our customers to recycle batteries. We all know that it is good for the environment to recycle unwanted spent batteries, but did you know that it can be good for your business to do so? If you are not recycling batteries, we hope this article will convince you of the benefits to begin recycling. If you are recycling, make sure to spread the word that you are doing the right thing in your community. Making people aware that you are recycling can improve your image and, in turn, increase your bottom line. Here is how to get recognized for being a spent-battery recycler.

Why recycle spent batteries?

All batteries can be recycled. That includes the three main types that are used in emergency lights—sealed lead acid, nickel-cadmium, and lithium batteries. The benefits are twofold. First, when a spent battery is recycled, it can be used to make more batteries. The first benefit is that new raw materials do not need to be harvested to make a new battery. The materials from the recycled battery can be used for that purpose. The second benefit is that disposal typically means more waste products in the local landfill or burned in an incinerator.

In a landfill, the batteries will deteriorate over time, and the chemicals will leak, causing soil and water pollution. Burning them in an incinerator pollutes the air with toxic chemicals. Both of these actions have a negative impact on both humans and animals. That is why most communities encourage or even require recycling of spent batteries.

Spread the word that you are environmentally responsible!

When you do the right thing, it usually creates a positive outlook on your company. Doing the right thing starts with your technicians. They improve safety by testing and replacing parts and batteries on emergency lights. People in buildings are safer, because the emergency lights are up to code and will work. And people can find their way out during a power outage. Your customers have created a safer environment with properly working emergency lights because of your services. Most companies, today, want to be environmentally friendly and promote that image. When you are environmentally responsible, you can spread the word and promote being environmentally conscious and proactive for the environment. So make sure your employees and customers know you recycle batteries for the good of the environment. Because they will spread the word, which should improve and expand business for you. Also, on your website, include information on battery recycling for emergency light servicing. If customers (or potential customers) are considering your services, they are likely to choose an environmentally sensitive company that recycles batteries over one that does not. Do not lose a customer or potential customer because you were not forthcoming on promoting your recycling efforts.

Brooks Makes It Easy to Recycle Batteries

We have the resources to support your recycling. Check out the following resources.

Drop off your used sealed lead acid batteries at a Brooks warehouse. Check out the following link to see all of our warehouses (Brooks Warehouse Locations).

Here is the safe-handling information for lead acid batteries that you will need to prepare for a dropoff at a Brooks warehouse.

Do not mix Sealed Lead Acid Batteries with NiCad or Lithium Batteries for recycling dropoff.
We do not accept car batteries or leaking or damaged batteries.
Protect the battery terminals from coming into contact with metal or other battery terminals.
Use plastic caps, electrical tape, or cardboard to cover terminals.
Place the batteries upright into sturdy boxes and use packing paper to keep batteries separated.
Maximum weight per box is 70 lb.
For larger quantities, use a pallet that can support their weight (batteries must first be boxed at the 70 lb limit per box). Then place them on a pallet (do not stack the boxes over 3’ high to avoid crushing lower boxes). Then secure them to the pallet with shrink-wrap and/or bands.

You can also recycle from your facility. Here is a link to help you properly package spent batteries, if you decide to recycle spent batteries from your facility. http://www.brooksequipment.com/images/batteryrecycle/BatteryPackingGuide.pdf

NiCad and Lithium Batteries

The nickel-cadmium or “NiCad” battery is a rechargeable battery that uses a nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes. These batteries have a wide variety of uses, including cell phones, handheld electronics, power tools, medical equipment, and emergency lighting. Lithium-ion or “Li-ion” batteries are rechargeable batteries that are found in electronic devices, such as laptops, cell phones, cameras, power tools, certain specialty devices, and emergency lighting. They are the most popular types of rechargeable batteries, due to their high-energy density and low self-discharge. The metals and plastics they contain can be reused in new products, so there is value in recycling them.

You can either drop off your NiCad and Li-ion batteries at a Brooks warehouse (see above) or recycle from your facility.

In our industry, we strive to be environmentally responsible, because it is good for the health of our communities, and it is the right thing to do. Make sure you are being responsible and recycling your batteries. Your community will benefit from an environmental standpoint and your business relations with your customers and everyone in your community will improve, because you are doing the right thing by being environmentally responsible.

PART #	DESCRIPTION
NCB20	20 lb Battery Recycling Bucket, 8″ x 7″
NCB35	35 lb Battery Recycling Bucket, 8″ x 9″
NCB55	55 lb Battery Recycling Bucket, 11″ x 11″

Article 1

National Backflow Prevention Day: August 16th

National Backflow Prevention Day is dedicated to the celebration of backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Backflow preventers are the unsung heroes of water safety, as they often go unnoticed, yet play a crucial role in supplying clean, safe water all over the world. Without backflow prevention, people would face the risk of consuming water with toxins, chemicals, waste, and countless other contaminants.¹

Backflow preventers help ensure safe drinking water to a building. Here are common questions and straightforward answers that will help you keep people and the water to a building safe.

What is a backflow preventer?

It is a device in the drinking water piping that prevents backwards flowing of contaminated water (e.g. fire sprinklers or irrigation) into the drinking water supply. People could get severely sick if contaminants were allowed to flow into drinking water. Backflow preventers help ensure a safe drinking water supply.

How can backflow happen and when?

Backflow is water moving in the opposite direction of its intended flow. This happens because of a change in pressures within the piping systems. For example, a sudden surge in pressure, when a fire pump starts, could cause a backflow. Backflow preventers are needed to keep that from happening.

Does NFPA standards or plumbing codes reference backflow preventers?

Although NFPA 25 requires periodic testing and maintenance of backflow preventers, NFPA 13 does not require them to be installed. Many local plumbing codes require backflow preventers to be installed, inspected, and maintained. Some locations also have environmental protection regulations for backflow preventers. The Model Plumbing Codes, International Plumbing Code (IPC), and Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) contain these requirements and are adopted as or inserted into state and local codes.

How often do backflow preventers need to be inspected?

Inspection is required after installation, after repairs, and on an annual basis.

When a technician goes to a customer’s location, where can the backflow preventers be found?

In the south, backflow preventers are typically outside and above ground. In the north, they must be protected from freezing and, therefore, could be inside of the building. In all cases, they are downstream of the water meter. Trouble finding the water meter? Check with the local waterworks department.

What are the reasons a backflow preventer could fail the annual inspection?

Backflow preventers, in fire sprinkler systems, have a tendency to fail, because they are not exercised for long periods of time. For other backflow preventers, parts (such as o-rings) fail over time, due to normal usage (wear and tear). Very often, failures are only discovered during the annual inspection.

Does a technician need a certification and special tools to perform a backflow inspection?

Most states require technicians to have a license to install, inspect, test, and maintain this equipment. Some states require a certified plumber with a special cross-connection certification to do the work. While others allow only licensed sprinkler fitters to work on the backflow preventers in fire sprinkler systems. Most often, common tools, like wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers are all that is needed, but the training that a technician receives will identify any additional tools that are needed for certain tasks.

After a technician does a backflow inspection, how long does the inspection ensure the backflow preventer will work properly?

The inspection only verifies the backflow preventer has been inspected, according to code. Although it verifies things are in good working order, nothing is guaranteed for any period of time. That is why it is important that the inspection be done annually, according to code.

By installing and maintaining backflow preventers to code, building owners can be reasonably assured that contaminants remain isolated from the drinking water and building occupants remain safe.

¹https://www.nationaldayarchives.com/day/national-backflowprevention-day/

Article 2

Why it is Important to keep the FDC Secure

When a fire occurs in a building that is protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, the Fire Department Connection (FDC) is one of the most important features for the responding fire department. That is because the fire department connects their hoses to the FDC to supplement the water supply to the sprinklers and standpipes within the building. The result is that building occupants and firefighters are safer and fire losses are dramatically reduced. The FDC is so important to fire departments that every FDC is required to have a sign identifying its location so that the firefighters arriving on-scene can quickly find them and connect hoses. But problems occur if the FDC is not secure. Here is the information you need to improve safety for firefighters and building occupants by installing FDC locking caps and plugs.

Why the FDC is Important

Although there is no requirement that an FDC deliver a specific volume of water, the FDC is intended to supplement the water supply coming into the building from the domestic supply piping. The normal domestic supply may be inadequate for many reasons. Here are four common reasons that a supplemental water supply is needed.

Someone may have inadvertently closed the supply valve from the domestic water line leading to the sprinkler system.
There may be another fire in the area with a heavy demand on the domestic water supply.
A break in the water main nearby can cause a drop in the water supply and pressure.
A change to the occupancy of the building can represent a greater hazard than the sprinkler system was designed to handle.

Firefighters do not attempt to guess whether any of these conditions or others might adversely affect the water supply to sprinklers and standpipes, they are trained to immediately hook hoses up to the building FDC and provide supplemental water to the sprinkler system. The water they provide is not intended for the sprinkler system demand— that is why it is called “supplemental water”.

The combination of water coming from the normal domestic supply, combined with the supplemental water from the FDC, is intended to compensate for a closed supply valve to the fire main, heavy water demand in the area of the fire, water main breaks, or an inadequate sprinkler system design (e. g. sprinkler system designed to handle a lesser hazard). Firefighter safety is enhanced, since they do not enter the building until the sprinkler system has had a chance to control fire intensity and spread. Firefighter injuries and fatalities are greatly reduced when the FDC is employed as intended and fire ground protocols are followed.

FDC Caps and Plugs

The FDC is simply the open end of a building’s fire line. It is typically a 4 inch pipe with two inlets for connecting hose. The FDC is on the outside of a building and is easily identified with a sign that says “FDC”. Every FDC is provided with caps or plugs when the building is constructed. But since the FDC is on the outside of the building, and exposed to the public, the caps or plugs often are missing, due to vandalism. But the real problem for firefighters is the stuff that ends up in the pipe without the cap. Debris, trash, and even animal nests are most often found in FDCs without caps, which inhibits and slows down hose connection and allows fire growth.

A Secure FDC Ensures Safety

To ensure that only the fire department has access to the FDC, a locking cap or plug is provided. This ensures the safety of firefighters as they do not enter the building until the fire sprinkler system has gained control of the fire. If building occupants are still evacuating upon fire department arrival, the safety of those evacuees is enhanced with the supplemental water provided through the FDC. Additionally, property damage is limited and the dollar loss per fire event is much lower where supplemental water is needed and provided through the FDC.

Can the AHJ Mandate FDC Locking Caps?

Although FDC caps and plugs are required to be installed (NFPA 13), and periodically checked (quarterly) to see if they are still installed (NFPA 25), they often go missing right after installation or inspection. That is why the fire codes (IFC or NFPA 1) allow the AHJ to mandate the installation of locking caps. Your state fire code is based on the International Fire Code (IFC) or NFPA 1, Fire Code. Here are the specific paragraphs to help you locate them in your state fire code.

Fire Department Connection Locking Caps

International Fire Code (IFC), Section 912.4.1, Locking Fire Department Connection Caps. The fire code official is authorized to require locking caps on fire department connections for water-based fire protection systems where the responding fire department carries appropriate key wrenches for removal.

NFPA 1, Fire Code, Chapter 13, Fire Protection Systems, Section 13.1.13, the AHJ shall have the authority to require locking fire department connection (FDC) plugs or caps on all water-based fire protection systems.

Building Owners Increase Safety with FDC Locking Caps

In locations where the AHJ does not mandate locking FDC caps and plugs, the building owner or property manager has the option of having them installed. Here is the paragraph from NFPA 13 which mandates FDC caps and plugs.

Fire Department Connection Caps and Plugs

NFPA 13, Sprinkler Systems, Chapter 16, Section 16.12.3.2 Fire department connections shall be equipped with approved plugs or caps, properly secured and arranged for easy removal by the fire departments.

A building owner has the option to have locking caps and plugs on the FDC, provided the fire department has the key for removal of the caps and plugs. Make sure your customers understand that they can have these locking caps and plugs installed by you, where their FDC has a history of vandalism. The only caveat is that the fire department must have the key to unlock them.

Cities Approved for FDC Locking Caps

Brooks and Knox have compiled a list of cities where the fire department has the Knox® Key Wrench and either allows or mandates the installation of Knox Locking Caps. To improve safety for the public and fire departments, Knox Locking Caps are pre-approved in over 1,000 cities in the US. To download the list of cities go to https://brooksequipment.com/files/KnoxExpressCities.pdf.

NASFM Endorses Secure FDCs

The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) recently developed a campaign to push for the installation of FDC locking caps. The campaign is called “READY. SET. FLOW.” and is designed to increase education for the fire service, businesses, fire sprinkler contractors, and fire equipment distributors on the importance of FDC locking caps. Visit https://www.securefdc.com/ to learn more.

According to NASFM, “Compromised FDC connections threaten the sprinkler system, firefighters, and the structure’s occupants!” The NAFM bulletin goes on to say “…uncapped Fire Department Connections (FDCs) can compromise the effectiveness of the sprinkler system and pose risks to firefighters. Without water, their lives, the lives of occupants, and continuity of the impacted businesses, are put at risk.”

It is no wonder that NASFM, fire officials, firefighters, building owners, and the fire industry are now endorsing secure FDCs…the lives of all people in sprinklered buildings, and firefighters who must enter them during a fire, are at risk without them.

DOCUMENT	TITLE	PUBLIC INPUTS
NFPA 96	Ventilation and Fire Protection, Commercial Cooking	53
NFPA 17A	Wet Chemical Systems	17
NFPA 17	Dry Chemical Systems	10

Employee Spotlight

Meet Tommy Edwards

West Coast Regional Operations Manager, Seattle Warehouse

One of Brooks’ long-time employees, Tommy Edwards, has spent close to 40 years with the company—a huge accomplishment by any standard. Back in 1983, Tommy was part of a local Bowling Team in Houston Texas. Everyone on the team, except him, worked for Brooks. And it was that relationship that eventually led Tommy to a job, with Brooks at their Houston warehouse.

Prior to coming aboard at Brooks, Tommy worked in marine supply distribution as well as at the local bowling alley. When he started with Brooks, he worked in the warehouse picking and packing customer orders. Today, he’s the Brooks Regional Operations Manager for the west coast, overseeing warehouse operations.

Having spent so many years with Brooks, Tommy has cultivated many relationships with co-workers and customers alike. When asked what he enjoys most about working at Brooks, he said, “The relationships I have with my co-workers—old and new!” And when it comes to his customers, no one tries harder to make them feel part of the Brooks family. He doesn’t just listen to their needs, but hears them loud and clear—doing everything in his power to meet them.

Very much like a professional ball team or professional soldiers, there is a comradery that transcends simple friendships. And it’s that type of relationship that gives Tommy, and his coworkers, the motivation to be the best they can be at Brooks. It involves a lot of hard work, too, but that’s another part of the comradery and something they take in stride.

Outside of work, and the bowling alley, Tommy dotes on his beautiful wife. Living in the Seattle area affords them some great scenery and things to do “outside.” And they take full advantage, with day trips and whatnot as often as possible. Tommy also pointed out how thankful he is that his wife hung in there with him as he moved around the country for his work and the chance it provided for advancement. Obviously, it paid off in both cases—he has a great job and an exceptionally great lady

Product Feature

Energizer Alkaline Batteries — Alkaline Batteries

Different Batteries for the Different Work You Do

Brooks makes it easy for you to find the right battery for the right job. From common industrial alkaline sizes for everyday use to heavy-duty sealed-lead acid and NiCad units for alarm and emergency lighting use, we have all your battery power needs covered nicely—in stock nationwide. And when you need to recycle your old batteries, we have you covered there, too, through our Sealed-Lead Acid and NiCad Battery Recycling Programs.

New NiCad & Lithium Recycling Program under Resources on the Brooks Website.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in these articles are the author’s only and provide limited information. Although the information is believed to be reliable, Brooks Equipment Company, LLC expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions. The user of this article(s) or the product(s) is responsible for verifying the information’s accuracy from all available sources, including the product manufacturer. The authority having jurisdiction should be contacted for code interpretations.