"Monday, March 15, 2010
WHEATON, Ill. – At approximately 10:25 p.m. on March 12, 2010, the Wheaton Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire at 1760 Plymouth Court. Upon arrival, fire crews identified smoke in both a lower and upper level unit, which led to the discovery of a fire in the laundry room of Unit C of the building. The fire was brought under control within minutes. The fire unit was unoccupied at the time of the fire. All other occupants safely escaped the building and one resident was treated and transported to a local hospital for complications apparently related to the incident.
Investigators from the Wheaton Fire Department were called to the scene to conduct an investigation. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined pending the final results of the investigation, and damage estimates are unavailable at this time. The City of Wheaton Building Department was called to the scene and the first floor fire unit was deemed not safe for occupancy due to the damage. The Wheaton Fire Department was also assisted on the scene by several fire departments from neighboring communities."
Investigators from the Wheaton Fire Department were called to the scene to conduct an investigation. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined pending the final results of the investigation, and damage estimates are unavailable at this time. The City of Wheaton Building Department was called to the scene and the first floor fire unit was deemed not safe for occupancy due to the damage. The Wheaton Fire Department was also assisted on the scene by several fire departments from neighboring communities."
More Information:
CAUTION - DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE TESTS ON YOUR OWN - SUCH TESTS ARE DANGEROUS - HAZARDS INCLUDE A FALL FROM THE LADDER, INJURY BY SPINNING FAN BLADES, FLYING DEBRIS AND ELECTROCUTION.
The fire, I understand, was started by the failure of the vent fan in the utility room. Here is the photo of just such a fan.
How could the vent fan start a fire? My unit is, according to my bank, 33 years old and so is the fan. If the bearing of the fan and motor should fail, the fan will "stall" and the motor will encounter what is called a "locked rotor" condition. Under such a condition, the fan will consume electrical energy, but because the fan is no longer rotating, that energy will be released as heat in the motor and immediate area adjacent to the fan motor. How much energy is released by the motor? That can be readily determined with a simple measurement. Such measurements are essential if we are to deal with "the facts" and possibly establish certainty.
The next photo shows the use of an ammeter for determining the current of the motor, with the motor running freely:
CAUTION - DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE TESTS ON YOUR OWN - SUCH TESTS ARE DANGEROUS - HAZARDS INCLUDE A FALL FROM THE LADDER, INJURY BY SPINNING FAN BLADES, FLYING DEBRIS AND ELECTROCUTION.
The following photo shows the measurement of the motor current, with the motor "stalled".
CAUTION - DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE TESTS ON YOUR OWN - SUCH TESTS ARE DANGEROUS - HAZARDS INCLUDE A FALL FROM THE LADDER, INJURY BY SPINNING FAN BLADES, FLYING DEBRIS AND ELECTROCUTION.
WARNING - ELECTRICAL HAZARD
The Bottom Line:
The fan draws about 2.4 amperes when stalled. That's about 288 watts of heat to be dissipated in a very small area. If the fan is "stalled" and not rotating, that heat accumulates in the windings of the motor and can be entrapped in the fan housing.
Suggestions: Replace the fans in the utility rooms and bathrooms. Consult the Association for specific recommendations for a fan including a thermally protected, continuous duty motor and the appropriate CFM rating.
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References, Errors, Omissions, Comments:
A Broan/Nutone 8210 is rated 210CFM with a 0.8amp motor. Costs are in the range of $100 plus installation. The 8210 is a utility room fan, 9 inch diameter and for use with a 7 inch duct. According to the NuTone "Architectural and Engineering Specifications" this fan will fit in a 9-1/8" diameter opening in the ceiling, the motor includes "thermal protection".
Comment: How much is your fire insurance deductible? How much will it cost to repair and replace the contents of the unit and the damage to the unit itself? Many times the cost of the fan. How much is the insurance deductible of the association? According to the city Building Department "the first floor fire unit was deemed not safe for occupancy due to the damage.". Perhaps unit owners should be "pro-active" and practice a little "preventative maintenance" and replace these fans. What do you think?
Click for Wheaton Press Release Details
The fan draws about 2.4 amperes when stalled. That's about 288 watts of heat to be dissipated in a very small area. If the fan is "stalled" and not rotating, that heat accumulates in the windings of the motor and can be entrapped in the fan housing.
Suggestions: Replace the fans in the utility rooms and bathrooms. Consult the Association for specific recommendations for a fan including a thermally protected, continuous duty motor and the appropriate CFM rating.
==================================
References, Errors, Omissions, Comments:
A Broan/Nutone 8210 is rated 210CFM with a 0.8amp motor. Costs are in the range of $100 plus installation. The 8210 is a utility room fan, 9 inch diameter and for use with a 7 inch duct. According to the NuTone "Architectural and Engineering Specifications" this fan will fit in a 9-1/8" diameter opening in the ceiling, the motor includes "thermal protection".
Comment: How much is your fire insurance deductible? How much will it cost to repair and replace the contents of the unit and the damage to the unit itself? Many times the cost of the fan. How much is the insurance deductible of the association? According to the city Building Department "the first floor fire unit was deemed not safe for occupancy due to the damage.". Perhaps unit owners should be "pro-active" and practice a little "preventative maintenance" and replace these fans. What do you think?
Click for Wheaton Press Release Details
I seem to recall there was a fire in a laundry room in the last year or so from an exhaust fan as well. I don't recall if it was upper unit or lower unit but, nevertheless, it was a fire. Perhaps there should be some discussion regarding this matter, which is important to the safety of all residents.
ReplyDeleteThe fire was on gloucester in June 2009, and was attributed to the failure of the fan in the utility room. Here is a post:
ReplyDeletehttp://briarcliffelakes.blogspot.com/2009/06/fire-on-gloucester.html
Norm: You posted "Consult the Association for specific recommendations for a fan including a thermally protected, continuous duty motor and the appropriate CFM rating."
ReplyDeleteNice recommendation! The only thing you don't give is the recommended CFMs or Cubic Feet Per Minute of the fan.
I haven't seen anything at our "official" website. Events and Announcements are for January and February, and April is four and one-half days away!
Ahh, the busy life of a Communications Director!
How do you do all of this Norm? Fewer parties to attend? Perhaps you are simply more effective; no committee to deal with.