All Property managers and Business owners have a legal commitment to ensure their buildings, and the people that use them, are properly protected against fire. From consistent upkeep to fire risk appraisals, it is critical to make certain fire safety measures are taken seriously. Get in touch with us here Fire Risk Assessment
Fire doors have a critical role in the fire security of a property. They are designed to prevent the spread of smoke, fire and poisonous gases in the event of a fire. Fire resistant doors are different to usual doors, in that they are exclusively designed and tested to offer fire resistant attributes. Need Fire Risk Assessment ?
Typically, fire doors are made of hardwood or metal.
Exactly Why are Fire Doors critical?
There are a couple of principal advantages of fire safety doors:
Increased Safety: Fire doors allow for speedy evacuation of individuals and their possessions, and to allow the fire service to combat a fire.
Lowered Damage: Fire doors decrease the rate of fire damage to a property.
The minimal period fire doors can withstand fire is twenty minutes.
A lot more than only the door
A top quality fire rated door is only as reliable as its fitting. When deciding on a fire door service provider, you need to ensure the installer has the lists of specifications needed and an experienced specialist will help to guide you in making a sound buying decision.
Are your Fire Doors fit for their function?
Fire doors are only practical if they are managed to the highest possible standards and are fit to complete their intended functionality in the event of a fire break out. To make certain the safety of a property’s occupants, you must routinely check all fire doors. While your fire doors really need to be assessed periodically by a fire safety professional, your business also has a responsibility to check for any faults and damage on a more frequent basis.
Did you know 53% of individuals do not know just how to identify a dodgy fire door? Find Out more from Fire evacuation plans
You may have heard by now that there are proposed cuts to Social Security and are not sure if this true or not, well, unfortunately, it is actually true.
Since 2018 the part of the Social Security program that provides retirement benefits (OASI) is and will be running at a loss each and every year.
This means that the amount of benefits that the OASI is providing to retirees is greater than the amount of money that the program brings in.
To provide some clarity on this huuuuge problem:
In 2018, according to the Trustees of Social Security:
The total cost to provide benefits within the OASI program = $853.4 million.
Total revenue for that year = $831.0 million.
There is an obvious shortfall of $22 million and the problem is not getting better, in fact the gap between benefits verse revenue is widening.
By 2022, according to the Trustees, the problem became:
The total cost to provide benefits within the OASI program =. $1,097.5 billion
Total revenue for the year = $1,056.7 billion.
The shortfall grew to $40.8 million in just 4 years and, again, the problem is growing larger annually.
The Trustees of Social Security, in its 2023 Annual Report, is reporting that:
The costs to run the program are going to inflate by over 6.40%
The revenue to provide benefits is only going to grow by 4.90%.
At these rates by 2032 the shortfall for the OASI part of Social Security will be $428.3 billion!
This is why the media is reporting that by 2032 the Social Security program may become insolvent.
Is Social Security really going broke?
What are the current proposed cuts to Social Security?
The Social Security Administration has 9 proposals for cuts to the program which all begin by the end of 2024 and they are:
1st Proposal: Reduce the annual COLA by 1 percentage point.
This option will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees.
2nd Proposal: Reduce the annual COLA by 0.5 percentage point.
Like option #1, this proposal will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees. The only difference is the decrease will be half of Option #1.
3rd Proposal: Compute the COLA using a chained version of the consumer price index for wage and salary workers (CPI-W).
The Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) uses the 3rd Quarter monthly averages of the Consumer Price Index for Workers (CPI-W).
Social Security takes the averages of these 3 months in the 3rd Quarter and compares them to the previous year’s 3rd Quarter.
If the average is greater than the previous year, then there will be a COLA for those receiving benefits.
Chained Weighted CPI-W is a more accurate average where certain averages are disregarded if they are not in the norm.
This proposal will decrease benefits going forward.
4th Proposal: Compute the COLA using a chained version of the consumer price index for wage and salary workers (CPI-W) but start it in 2026 instead of 2024.
This proposal will decrease Social Security benefits for retirees, but will start 2 years later.
5th Proposal: Add 1 percentage point to the annual COLA for beneficiaries who have lived past a “specified age”.
It appears that only certain retirees who are a certain age and older will receive a COLA going forward.
This proposal may lower benefits across the board for retirees, but the good news, those retirees who reach the specific age may receive a COLA that would be higher than before.
6th Proposal: Compute the COLA using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E).
The CPI-E tracks the expenses specifically for Americans who are 62 years of age or older.
Historically this Index is much lower than what the Social Security Administration uses and may lead to lower Social Security benefits for retirees.
In our quest for sustainability, energy-efficient roofing emerges as a pivotal player. Among the myriad of options, SmartSeal energy-efficient roof coatings stand out Primer benefits. These coatings shine in their ability to reflect sunlight and release heat, thus diminishing the heat your roof absorbs. This innovation doesn’t just cool down your building; it also eases the burden on air conditioners, curtails greenhouse gas emissions, and even extends the life of your roofing materials by mitigating their wear from heat. Moreover, they play a crucial role in combating the urban heat island effect, leading to cooler cities and potential financial incentives through reduced air conditioning expenses.
Key Advantages of Reflective Roof Coatings
Solar Reflectance and Cooling
A key element in energy-efficient roofing is solar reflectance. This metric quantifies a roof’s ability to reflect sunlight, which directly influences its temperature. Materials with high solar reflectance, such as white or specially treated “cool” colored materials, keep the roof surface significantly cooler, translating into energy savings and enhanced indoor comfort.
Cost-Effective Cool Roofing
Energy-efficient cool roofing Solutions are both accessible and affordable. Contrary to the assumption that green technology comes at a premium, these coatings are competitively priced, making them a smart choice for both new installations and retrofitting existing roofs.
Choosing the Right Coating
Selecting a roof coating with a high solar reflectance is crucial for maximizing energy savings. These coatings are especially beneficial in reducing cooling costs during the warmer months, offering a comfortable indoor climate without the hefty energy bill.
Color Matters
The color of your roof is pivotal in its energy consumption efficiency. Innovations in roofing materials mean that both light and “cool colored” options can significantly increase a roof’s energy efficiency without sacrificing style.
The Role of White and Cool Colored Products
White roofing products are at the forefront of energy-efficient solutions, thanks to their superior sunlight reflection capabilities. Similarly, “cool colored” materials have evolved with technology, allowing darker roofs to reflect near-infrared radiation and stay cooler than traditional dark roofs. These advancements offer a broad spectrum of eco-friendly roofing options that don’t compromise aesthetic preferences for energy efficiency.
Tailoring to Roof Types
Different buildings have different roofing needs, and the market responds with a diverse array of coating options. From steep roofs to flat surfaces, there’s an energy-saving solution for every architectural style, ensuring performance and sustainability.
Steep Roofs
For roofs with a pitch greater than 2:12, options include cool asphalt shingles and wood shakes designed to reflect more sunlight. Polymer shingles also offer enhanced solar reflectance with their factory-applied colors, combining efficiency with aesthetic appeal.
Clay and Concrete Tiles
Finding an energy-efficient coating for clay and concrete tiles is straightforward, with options ranging from natural finishes to those imbued with light or cool-colored pigments.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs coated with reflective paints not only cool down your building but also add to its visual appeal, outperforming their unpainted counterparts in controlling temperatures.
Best Practices for Low-Sloped Roofs
Low-sloped roofs benefit greatly from energy-efficient practices. Solutions include the use of light or cool-colored pigments and single-ply membranes to enhance sunlight reflection, leading to cooler interiors and noticeable energy savings. Another strategy involves updating traditional built-up roofs with modifications that boost their reflective capabilities.
In embracing energy-efficient roof coatings, we’re not just investing in immediate benefits like reduced cooling costs and increased comfort. We’re also contributing to a larger movement towards sustainability, combating urban heat islands, and opening up the possibility for financial incentives. Whether you’re retrofitting an existing building or choosing materials for a new project, the selection of the right roof coating is a decision that pays dividends in both the short and long term.
