The whole FIRE thing...am I crazy???

[Mr Music]

I am treating my room exactly like this

http://www.hp-h.com/p/hapicmpur/homespunStudio.htm

BUTTTT I was always wondering why everyone is talking about this whole fire thing...

I CAN SERIOUSLY TELL YOU THAT I NEVER KNEW.....that traps can combust on fire on their own?...


I dont get it, how? too much kinetic energy?

I am getting regular fabric to cover the traps...not special acoustic fabric....

so what is it that i should spray on it? and whats the best spray....

do i spray the fabric or the fiberglass????????????????????????????

I never knew about this...I thought it was the risk of electical devices going on fire and then passing it onto the traps...
but i never thought its the actual traps that would go off?

am i crazy?

[applejax]

I'm wondering about all the fire hazards of accoustic material too... I know some are "self extinguishing" and non-flammable...Weird about the bass traps...lol

[FALKEN]

no; I don't think they spontaneously combust, heh. I think the problem is electrical fires, blunt roaches, lava lamp... there is a spray you put on the fabric. I don't remember the name but I have some links on my laptop; I'll post them tomorrow.

[Innovations]

one of the things about fabric is that when you hang it vertically flames spread VERY fast up it. This goes for both drapes as well as hangings. Do a search and you will find the spray-on stuff...or get fabric that has been pre-treated from a store that specializes in decorating fabrics.

It is the fabric that is combustible, not the fiberglass, which might melt and smolder a little, but it is GLASS. Rock wool is even less combustible.

Now the foam stuff is a different matter. It is a question of the type of foam. Some foams not only burn fast but also emit toxic smoke.

[VSpaceBoy]

Originally Posted by Mr Music

I CAN SERIOUSLY TELL YOU THAT I NEVER KNEW.....that traps can combust on fire on their own?...

Innovations had it right. They don't just burst into flames if they are in a loud room or anything. You just don't want a buddy smoking next to one and starting a fire the will spread hella fast.

[FALKEN]

yeah dude I could'nt find a good link. they'll probably have it at wal-mart or the fabric store.

[HapiCmpur]

Originally Posted by Innovations

Do a search and you will find the spray-on stuff

Here you go: http://www.natfire.com/flame.retardant_fx.htm. This stuff's great. Easy to use, non-toxic, and inexpensive. I sprayed my clouds with it.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

but i never thought its the actual traps that would go off?

You're joking of course? Imagine curtains catching fire. Which will burn off quick. However, imagine another scenario.

You have 12 fabric covered panels on the walls, and 2 fabric covered clouds on the ceiling.
Like most HR enthusiasts, you also have designed your room for recording, not safety. You also didn't get a permit/inspection when installing the electrical. Not being an electrician, you inadvertantly place two out of phase circuits in the same room. One of these is a 15 amp lighting circuit fed from an adjacent room outlet, tied with an outlet in the studio to feed the musicians equipment. You also didn't use a lever latchset on the door, but managed to put a double keyed deadbolt which you lock when recording, but do not think ahead and remove the key.
You have 4 people, a set of drums, 3 amps, your recording gear and various other things in a small room. Unaware that the circuit you tied into for the lights is also feeding a freezer in the next room which was installed by the previous owner also without permit. However, he tied in the circuit with a j'box and a 14 gauge extension cord. You must pass through this room, which the previous owner added to the house, to get into the studio.
The musicians are playing, you are recording, and the freezer compressor kicks on. Unbeknownst to you, the circuit is holding, but the 14 ga wire is overheating at a cable clamp in the J box. At some point, the extention cord vinyl jacket melts, and the conductors short together and arc...oops, the previous owner didn't put a cover on the J box either, which allows the arc ignite the adjacent wood chips from drilling a hole in a stud for the wire. Now, when the wires shorted, it throws the circuit breaker that feeds your lights as well as the musicians equipment too. The music stops as does the light. Well, this is a studio, and you have no windows, but you do have total darkness now. Hmmm, whats going on.
You tell the musicians to hold on while you check the breaker. You fumble around looking for the key to the deadbolt. Hmmm, its not in your pocket. Now what did you do with that key. Hmmm, 5 minutes pass while you fumble around in the dark trying to feel for the key you set someplace. Wait,. what is that? You smell something...Meanwhile..

the fire easily climbs the stud, as he also didn't bother to nail in a fireblock in the wall. Nor did he use drywall as a shiething. Since this was "only" a utility room, he used 1/8 ply with a vinyl coating. Ahhhh, but you used 2 layers 1/2" drywall with a 45 minute fire rating each on your side of the wall. Now the fire easily burns through the ply and spreads. The whole wall in the adjacent room is now on fire, as the vinyl melts filling the room with viscious hot smoke which is now spreading to other areas of the house. Now it burns through the 1/8 ply ceiling, and fills the attic smoke, and the structural framing catches fire now.

Meanwhile the musicians are smelling smoke and begin to yell and panic, as they are in the dark and get disoriented. One finds his way to the door and grasps the knob which is now 400 degrees, blistering his hand. He screams in pain, turns and trips over a cord and falls, blocking the small aisle between the drums and an amp. The rest of the musicians are totally panicing as are you. Now you find the key, but are unaware of the fire burning through the wall at the joints in the drywall, which were not even taped. Simply covered with mud. The fire now reaches a nylon fabric covered absorber panel. It burst into flames, lighting the room, while all the musicians are beginning to cough and scream, which no one hears because of sound Transmission loss construction. Now the fire jumps to the ceiling panels which allow melting nylon to drip on the people below, lighting their clothing on fire, and sticking to skin. Screams fill the air while you try to get to the door..which is blocked by the others...you scream to get out of the way to unlock the door, which you are unaware is engulfed in flames on the opposite side. You make it to the door and try to insert the key, only to burn your hand on the deadbolt housing...you scream as you try to insert the key without touching the housing again....luck is with you, and the key turns...but now you have to grab the latch handle and turn it..without thinking you grab it.......screaming again...if only you had used a LEVER latch set..........you now are being overwhelmed by the others, who are clamboring over you to get out, one who is now screaming from the clothing on fire..wrestling on the floor to put it out...total panic...you grab the handle again from total fear regardless of the heated latch..it instantly burns your hand but you quickly turn it, only to have the backdraft of the fire blow the door open and knocks everyone back....there is no escape...the room is totally engulfed in flames.........

Improbable if not mpossible you say....think again.. people die every year from Murphy induced scenarios mostly caused by non inspection of electrical and ignored building code construction. Add flamable materials on walls and ceilings and you add to the probability that someone may get hurt, especially in closed off spaces with only a door for egress, such as a studio. No wonder you have to get a special permit for NO WINDOW construction.

Murphy is ALWAYS around, just waiting for the slightest lack of forethought,
laziness, or just plain stupidity. Just ask those who buried their loved ones because of it.
fitZ

[thane1200]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

You're joking of course? Imagine curtains catching fire. Which will burn off quick. However, imagine another scenario.

You have 12 fabric covered panels on the walls, and 2 fabric covered clouds on the ceiling.
Like most HR enthusiasts, you also have designed your room for recording, not safety. You also didn't get a permit/inspection when installing the electrical. Not being an electrician, you inadvertantly place two out of phase circuits in the same room. One of these is a 15 amp lighting circuit fed from an adjacent room outlet, tied with an outlet in the studio to feed the musicians equipment. You also didn't use a lever latchset on the door, but managed to put a double keyed deadbolt which you lock when recording, but do not think ahead and remove the key.
You have 4 people, a set of drums, 3 amps, your recording gear and various other things in a small room. Unaware that the circuit you tied into for the lights is also feeding a freezer in the next room which was installed by the previous owner also without permit. However, he tied in the circuit with a j'box and a 14 gauge extension cord. You must pass through this room, which the previous owner added to the house, to get into the studio.
The musicians are playing, you are recording, and the freezer compressor kicks on. Unbeknownst to you, the circuit is holding, but the 14 ga wire is overheating at a cable clamp in the J box. At some point, the extention cord vinyl jacket melts, and the conductors short together and arc...oops, the previous owner didn't put a cover on the J box either, which allows the arc ignite the adjacent wood chips from drilling a hole in a stud for the wire. Now, when the wires shorted, it throws the circuit breaker that feeds your lights as well as the musicians equipment too. The music stops as does the light. Well, this is a studio, and you have no windows, but you do have total darkness now. Hmmm, whats going on.
You tell the musicians to hold on while you check the breaker. You fumble around looking for the key to the deadbolt. Hmmm, its not in your pocket. Now what did you do with that key. Hmmm, 5 minutes pass while you fumble around in the dark trying to feel for the key you set someplace. Wait,. what is that? You smell something...Meanwhile..

the fire easily climbs the stud, as he also didn't bother to nail in a fireblock in the wall. Nor did he use drywall as a shiething. Since this was "only" a utility room, he used 1/8 ply with a vinyl coating. Ahhhh, but you used 2 layers 1/2" drywall with a 45 minute fire rating each on your side of the wall. Now the fire easily burns through the ply and spreads. The whole wall in the adjacent room is now on fire, as the vinyl melts filling the room with viscious hot smoke which is now spreading to other areas of the house. Now it burns through the 1/8 ply ceiling, and fills the attic smoke, and the structural framing catches fire now.

Meanwhile the musicians are smelling smoke and begin to yell and panic, as they are in the dark and get disoriented. One finds his way to the door and grasps the knob which is now 400 degrees, blistering his hand. He screams in pain, turns and trips over a cord and falls, blocking the small aisle between the drums and an amp. The rest of the musicians are totally panicing as are you. Now you find the key, but are unaware of the fire burning through the wall at the joints in the drywall, which were not even taped. Simply covered with mud. The fire now reaches a nylon fabric covered absorber panel. It burst into flames, lighting the room, while all the musicians are beginning to cough and scream, which no one hears because of sound Transmission loss construction. Now the fire jumps to the ceiling panels which allow melting nylon to drip on the people below, lighting their clothing on fire, and sticking to skin. Screams fill the air while you try to get to the door..which is blocked by the others...you scream to get out of the way to unlock the door, which you are unaware is engulfed in flames on the opposite side. You make it to the door and try to insert the key, only to burn your hand on the deadbolt housing...you scream as you try to insert the key without touching the housing again....luck is with you, and the key turns...but now you have to grab the latch handle and turn it..without thinking you grab it.......screaming again...if only you had used a LEVER latch set..........you now are being overwhelmed by the others, who are clamboring over you to get out, one who is now screaming from the clothing on fire..wrestling on the floor to put it out...total panic...you grab the handle again from total fear regardless of the heated latch..it instantly burns your hand but you quickly turn it, only to have the backdraft of the fire blow the door open and knocks everyone back....there is no escape...the room is totally engulfed in flames.........

Improbable if not mpossible you say....think again.. people die every year from Murphy induced scenarios mostly caused by non inspection of electrical and ignored building code construction. Add flamable materials on walls and ceilings and you add to the probability that someone may get hurt, especially in closed off spaces with only a door for egress, such as a studio. No wonder you have to get a special permit for NO WINDOW construction.

Murphy is ALWAYS around, just waiting for the slightest lack of forethought,
laziness, or just plain stupidity. Just ask those who buried their loved ones because of it.
fitZ

On second thought, I think I'll buy that fire-retardant spray and have two extinguishers on hand.

Thanks fitZ!

[iced]

lol ... what about like egg crate foam.. like that shiz for beds..... nvm ..

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Thanks fitZ!

Your welcome. You know, building codes weren't created for nothing. It took people dieing to make them happen. BTW, I hate being the asshole around here, but someones got to do it.
fitZ

[thane1200]

I hear that! I have an entire class dedicated to safety/building codes in my Industrial Maintenace program. *yawn* It's got to be done though.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Thats cool Thane. Then you know about ole Murphy.

[apl]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

However, imagine another scenario...

Thank you for posting this, Rick. You may saved a life or two.

[thane1200]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

Thats cool Thane. Then you know about ole Murphy.

Wasn't he the guy who allowed aluminum wire to be used in houses?!?

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hahahahahahahahaha!!! Thats a good one.

[apl]

If your studio is in the basement, please consider some power failure emergency lighting, too. First Alert makes some.

[Radiohead0709]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

Your welcome. You know, building codes weren't created for nothing. It took people dieing to make them happen. BTW, I hate being the asshole around here, but someones got to do it.
fitZ

Thats definitely true Rick. Like we say in the Navy, all the regulations and rules we follow were written in someone elses blood.

[Jeff_D]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

... BTW, I hate being the asshole around here, but someones got to do it.
fitZ

Nonsense- you like being the asshole! Just admit it!

And, btw- I've actually seen emergency lighting and exit lighting at HomeDepot- so dont say its not readily availible. My basement studio actually has a direct exit to the outside. I feel good about that safety wise.

[LemonTree]

I keep a bucket of water on top of my rack incase of fires