Thoughts on Fire Blog

#242 – UL Listed and FM Approvals: Which Listings Matter for Fire Protection Under NFPA 13?

February 2, 2025August 5, 2019

Many fire protection items are listed, approved, or certified—but what do they really mean? Learn about UL listings, FM approvals, & other certifications.

#241 – Guide to Dry Sprinkler Systems, Part 10: Trip Testing the Dry Pipe Valve

February 2, 2025August 2, 2019

Learn the steps, components, and key considerations involved in dry pipe sprinkler system trip tests that are detailed in NFPA 25.

#240 – Pitot Gauges: How Do I Calculate the PSI to GPM Conversion?

February 2, 2025August 1, 2019

QRFS makes using a pitot gauge to calculate gallons per minute simple: convert PSI to GPM manually or with this convenient online calculator.

#239 – Fire in Space: If Star Trek’s Fire Protection Technology Were Real

February 2, 2025July 31, 2019

QRFS explores real fire in space and the technology of Star Trek, looking forward to a future where fire safety goes where it has never gone before.

#238 – Grooved Couplings: The Fastest Way to Connect Pipe

February 2, 2025July 30, 2019

Learn about grooved couplings in pipe systems: how they compare to flanged or welded joints while reducing the labor required for installation & maintenance.

#237 – The Deadliest Fires in U.S. History: Lessons Learned, Part 2

February 2, 2025July 29, 2019

QRFS continues its look at what went wrong in devastating U.S. fires—and how the painful lessons made schools and public assembly occupancies safer.

#236 – The Deadliest Fires in US History: Lessons Learned, Part 1

February 2, 2025July 26, 2019

Learn about the Iroquois Theater Fire & the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire–among the deadliest fires in U.S. history—& the changes they inspired to fire codes.

#235 – What Size Valve Wheel Wrench Do You Need?

February 2, 2025July 25, 2019

For a slip-free grip and maximum leverage, follow QRFS’s guide to sizing valve wheel wrenches that turn handwheel valves safely.

#234 – Guide to Tyco, Gem, Star, and Central Fire Sprinkler Escutcheons: Style 10, Style 20, and More

February 2, 2025July 24, 2019

Use this guide to learn how TYCO’s escutcheons provide code-compatible coverage to fire sprinklers from current and once-popular brands—like Star, Central, and Gem—and how to know when the Style 10, Style 20, or other model works with a particular head.

#233 – What is a Fire Riser Room? IFC and NFPA Requirements

February 2, 2025July 23, 2019

QRFS explains why buildings need these fire sprinkler control centers, where they must be placed, and how fire riser rooms must be maintained.