Smoke and Working Condition

Safe working conditions is crucial for every manufacturing operation. The safe working environment allows workers to focus on their task, thus improving the quality and efficiency of an operation. There are many health factors to consider in a manufacturing operation.

Heat, moisture and smoke are produced in manufacturing operations and has big effect on working conditions. Heat and moisture can be kept below acceptable levels through proper ventilation. Smoke, on the other hand, is much more complicated to address.

Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion. Combustion, as you may know, is a process common in various manufacturing operations.

The concern regarding smoke does not only stem on its concentration but more on what is present in the smoke. Some unwanted foreign material might go through the combustion process and create a poisonous fume. Equipment that are not properly functioning can result to increased amount of harmful particles that are present in the smoke.

Installation of smoke tracking devices is an effective way to reduce the threats caused by smoke in a work environment. Some devices not only measure the concentration of smoke but are also to detect the presence of harmful particles.

The Importance of Measurement Devices

Why are measurement devices important? This is a question that seems easy to answer at first, but is actually quite tricky for someone to elaborate on about. It is not because of the  technicality of the subject but because there is often no need for explanation when everyone knows that it is important from the get go. What is definite is that we rely on it every day, directly or indirectly.

Generally speaking, measurement devices provide us with valuable information that lets us analyze various conditions in our surroundings and act upon it accordingly. This applies to different fields and magnitudes. At home, you might you need a various measuring tools for proper cooking. In huge factories, measuring instruments are used in various manufacturing stages of a product.

There are three reasons why measurement devices are important. The first is quality. Measurement devices are used to ensure quality in the manufacturing of products or in carrying out services by making sure that the optimum working conditions are met. Second is efficiency since the speed of manufacturing or completion of a service. Data loggers in assembly lines let supervising personnel know whether products are being made at ideal speed or if there is something needed to be adjusted in the process. the last one is safety. Measurement devices such as thermometers and pressure gauges are used to make sure that equipment are working under safe conditions.

The more accurate the measurement device, the better it is at ensuring quality, efficiency and safety. That is why it is important the devices being used are also of the highest quality and calibrated to give out the most accurate reading.

If you want to find about various measurement devices and their uses, you can check out the list of products from Nordtec. Nordtec is a company that specializes in measurement devices and metrology.

Important Steps to Take To Improve Your Home before winter

Winter is the time of the year your home means more to you than ever. This is because you will be forced to spend most of your timer indoors. Winter is also the time you are likely to see structural faults in the house you could not see during spring, autumn or summer. However, the most important thing is that winter is a cold season and therefore you must ensure that the house is as conducive as possible.

This means you must prepare adequately for the winter so that you can be as comfortable as possible. In this article, you will learn some 5 home improvements to do before winter.

Get a programmable thermostat

The conventional thermostats do not have the capability to dissipate heat according to the prevailing temperatures. A programmable thermostat dissipates heat according to the temperature within the house. This means that during mornings and evenings it dissipates more heat than it does during daytime when the temperatures are a little elevated.

The reason why programmable thermostat is good for winter is that it saves energy and therefore the bills you will be required to pay. On the other hand, some models are fitted with systems that can allow you to control them from a remote location using your computer tablet or Smartphone.

Insulate your water heater and pipes

To maintain the temperature of the water within the water-heating tank, it needs to be insulated so that it does not lose heat to the environment. During winter, the atmospheric air is too cold and this increases the amount of heat lost.

Insulation of the water heater and the pipes reduces energy loss and can maintain your water hot for longer periods. This will save you on energy bills. The insulation kits are readily available in the local stores.

Repair or fix your gutters and roof

The snowfall associated with winter times can have tremendous impacts on poorly maintained roofs. If they are worn out, take the earliest opportunity to refurbish them well before the winter comes because you cannot do this when it is already snowing.

In the case of the gutters, you can install heated cable systems under them. If the snow accumulates in the gutter system, the heated electric cable will melt it away and prevent blockages. If you cannot do this yourself then look for a technician to do it for you.

Cover all openings

During summer and spring, openings in the house are great in maintaining enough ventilation of the room. You may not have created these but they exist anyway. Look for them, find them and seal them before winter arrives. The importance of doing this arises from the fact that these opening can allow the cold air from the exterior to sip into the house and warm heated air to escape to the outside.

Carryout home decoration

As already been mentioned, you will spend a lot of time indoors during winter and therefore one of the most important winter home improvements is home decoration. You can start from repainting the house to a color that is inspiring and comforting. Add some handicrafts on the wall and some entertainment to beat boredom associated with having to remain indoors. 

How Temperature Can Affect Your Things at Home

Here's a question we received recently regarding busted shoes and a basketball player:

I have been busy with a project for the past few months that I never really had the time for exercise. So last week, I went to a local gym for a much needed exercise. I did a few minutes of cardio to warm up then proceeded to do some suicides to work on my legs and gluteus. However, just two rounds into my suicides, my right foot busted out of the side of the sole of my shoe. Needless to say, I had to cancel my gym day. I thought it was weird considering that the shoe was only 1 month old and was never worn. It was brand new.

I thought about going back to the store where I bought the pair to ask for a replacement. Before I did, I went to search online to find out what could possibly cause this problem. Then, I came to find a recent article about NBA player Manu Ginobili's foot also busting out of his shoe in one of the games. It was funny because the way he destroyed his shoe was similar to mine. He was also trying to make a sudden stop from a running motion, which is pretty similar to a suicide routine.

In the same article, Ginobili defended the shoe company by saying that it was his fault because he stored his shoes in his garage and the high temperature inside probably caused the weakening of the bonding agent for the sole and the top of the shoe. I thought what he said was just something to defend the company. After all, why would a shoe company use an adhesive that is sensitive to temperature? And was the temperature really that high to be able to damage the shoe?

To answer the question, lots of things inside your home can be damaged by high temperature. It doesn't even have to be drastically hot. Also, it is not really the heat that can cause the damage. Most of the time, it is due to the high humidity that is caused by hot air. The hotter the air, the more moisture it is able to hold. Regarding your shoes, the adhesive probably got weakened by the moisture in the air.

This is the reason why you'll always find instructions on products to store them in cool places. If you are planning to store some things, you need to make sure that the temperature in your storage area is at the ideal levels. You can do this by simply installing a temperature instrument inside your storage.