Building insulation may be lurking fire hazard LERAYSVILLE Fanners, seeking to take advantage of every form of energy savmgs, may be unknowingly trading one type of costly practice for another that can Fire insurance claim of $441,717.98 is paid to Mr. and Mrs. Archie Williams, right, of Leßaysville, Bradford County, by Robert Yoder, left, Claims Manager of Old Guard Manager, and Tim Franklin, Wysox Insurance Agent. Silos behind the group are all that remained of large dairy complex and 160- head herd destroyed in fire. regulatory personnel,” Marzman says. “It gives USDA warehouse examiners necessary information that aids in completing their ex aminations.” Finally, the task force identified a need for more information about COMPUTERIZED GRAIN MANAGEM How would you like to save the energy cost of grain drying? You can with AeroDry. Compared with conventional high temperature grain drying, AeroDry can • Save up to 90% energy cost. • Reduce shrink loss by 50%. • Increase feed value in gram. Plus you get a 25% tax credit. The AeroDry System can be fitted to your existing bin. Ask about our lease plan. For more information contact: MlHord Mast E Iverson, PA. 215-286-9118 Ken Sauder Brownstown, PA. 717-656-6519 Paul F. Detweiler Newville, PA 717-776-3288 ~ tP rn (,aain prove to be much more expensive. The cost factor involves efforts to insulate and seal barns, storage or other farm buildings and reduce operational costs. USDA (Continued from Page A 24) elevator bankruptcies. Suggested: a national clearinghouse for the study of elevator failures. Part of it could be based at USDA to monitor gram elevators and help track emerging problems. The biggest improvement in gram drying since the corn crib. Observe Farm Safety Week: But both insulation industry and safety experts stress that the in sulation must be installed properly or it can be a dangerous and costly fire hazard in farm buildings. "If farmers use insulation without the proper thermal barrier protection in machinery sheds or livestock buildings, a potential fire hazard exists,” according to Dennis Murphy, Extension safety specialist at Penn State. “In a livestock shed, even if the flames or fire do not reach the animals, they may die from the toxic fumes which are given off from the burning insulation.” Earlier this year, Bradford County dairy farmer and Holstein breeder, Archie Williams, of Leßaysville, suffered a fire with losses totaling nearly three quarters of a million dollars. Some 160 head of milkers and young stock were lost in the blaze, m which polyurethane sealer is believed to have played a role. “When we built the latest barn addition back in 1972, we used a polyurethane sealer to comply with regulations. At that tune it was the thing to use. I think it was the polyurethane which caused the fire to spread so rapidly. ’ ’ The Williams received an in surance claim of $441,717.98, the largest ever paid in the history of Old Guard Insurance Company, but it was still more than $300,000 below total losses. The Urethane Foam Contractors Association, an international trade association of 1,500 polyurethane foam contractors and suppliers, has appealed to farmers nation wide not to violate accepted fire safety standards in use of the foam insulation. “Sprayed polyurethane foam is ISTRIBUTED EXCLUSIVELY BY Athnnced Ag Systems Inc. combustible,” said Vemon Lowe, executive vice-president of the UCFA. “Like other combustible building materials it has to be used in accordance with appropriate safety guidelines, which are defined in all of the national model building codes. Improper in stallation and failure to use a thermal barrier can create a fire hazard.” At this year’s Ag Progress Days at Penn State Aug. 25-27, farmers will have the oppurtumty to wit ness the fire dangers of various insulations. Safety Extension specialist Murphy will demonstrate the burning characteristics of various insulations and the ways to install them properly to protect against fire hazard. Many rigid insulations have been adverftised as nonflammable or self-extinguishing, but controversy THIN BUII I READ LANCASTER FARMING'S | I ADVERTISING TO I | YOUR NEEDS! j Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 25,1951—A25 has arisen over the validity of these claims, says Murphy. The risk of fire can be minimized if the insulation is properly covered - keeping the air from getting to the insulation in the event of fire, he explained. The insulation should be covered with some nonflammable material, such as drywall, sheetrock, gypsum board or some similar material. Building codes require a covering material that gives at least 15 minutes of protection against fire. However, many rural and agricultural areas are exempt from fire codes, said Murphy. The fire safety demonstrations will be conducted in the morning and afternoon on Tuesday and Wednesday of Ag Progress Days, which are held at the Rock Springs Agricultural Research Center, located nine miles west of State College on Route 45.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers