Two profs design new system for saving livestock from fires By ALICIA M. BOWERS Collegian Science Writer Smoke billows from the roof and flames leap through windows the barn becomes a mass of burning timb er. Trapped animals scream in terror and kick at their stall doors. A hero races inside, dodges a falling beam and saves the animals. This scene may seem fitting for a movie, but the reality of barn fires is quite different. "Most farm fires end in total destruc tion. They start when no one is around and get large quickly," said Dennis J. Murphy, associate professor of agri culture engineering. Murphy and William C. Arble, a tech nical specialist for the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, have developed a new foe protection system for livestock buildings that is designed to save animals. "Historically, systems have been designed to save the building. In the modern livestock confinement building, the value of the livestock far outweighs the value of the building. There is a need for life safety for the animals in that building," Arble said. Murphy and Arble said they have developed a system more reliable and effective than current systems while maintaining affordability. N Smart people read Collegian ads. , ----m, 4 , - . I', .: Ir, l t ~.kli L SI ~._ t i... .-;%. .f_ I Am' e l 1 b, N y t ' 0 0 10111 , • 1 4/1 all Sae INN 10 6 4 • 4 41- I G/ b% V..-.4•4564i., ial s 10 , -41 ZZ: bud SORRY... Our Beauty Shop, Special Orders and Lay• Aways are not included The conditions in a typical barn make the use of standard industrial fire pro tection systems ineffective, Murphy said. The rural livestock building usually does not have an adequate water supply or water pressure to fight a fire. Addi tionally, the conventional smoke detec tor cannot be used because of dust, moisture and ammonia that can cause false alarms or failure of alarms, he said. The new system overcomes these problems with a special sprinkler sys tem that reduces the amount of water needed. The system uses a heat-sensing detector that quickly responds to a fire situation and alerts either fire authori ties or farm residents faster than the conventional detector. Because help arrives earlier, less water is needed, Arble said. The heat-sensing detector measures temperature, monitoring very fast increases, Murphy said. When the fire is detected, specially designed sprinkler heads begin spray ing a select area with water. A maxi mum of three sprinkler heads respond and control the fire at one time. To fur ther conserve water, the hole in the sprinkler head has been reduced, Arbie said. "The quick-response sprinkler is designed to release water more quickly ALL PURCHASES THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7T" i_.~r and it releases it in a way that will reduce the levels of gas and smoke the real dangers of the fire," Murphy said. "It allows a minimum of ten min utes to control the fire." If the fire is small, this extra time could allow the fire to be either extin guished or controlled by the farmer, he said. The system also solves water short age problems by dedicating a water tank for firefighting. Water pressure is increased with compressed gas, Mur phy said. Because farms are often subject to freezing, water is held in the tank out of the pipes, he said. "The cost depends on the size and amount of problems to overtome," Murphy said. "The actual cost is about $l.OO per square foot of building." While the system is "affordable for the average farmer," it will costs tens of thousands of dollars to install, Arble said. "Historically, entire cities have been levelled by fire," he said. "Our goal is to prevent major catastrophic losses to the farmer or his insurance company." More information will be available at the end of September in Murphy and Arble's brochure, "Fire Control in Live stock Buildings," located at the Publi cations Distribution Center, 112 Agricultural Administration Building. 20% OFF PENN STATE NIGHT is our way of acquainting all Penn State Students, Faculty, Employees and LOYAL FANS with our many services and Fashions for you, your home and dorm OUR DOWNTOWN STATE COLLEGE STORE will close from 3:30-spm in preparation for Penn State Night. WON'T YOU JOIN US TOO? And take advantage of this very special event PENN STATE NIGHT, Thursday, September 7th SPM to 9PM, at DANKS... CORNER of S. ALLEN and BEAVER, downtown State College FOR YOUR ADDED CONVENIENCE our Nittany Mall and Bellefonte stores will remain open as usual and WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE in Penn State Night, SPM to 9PM ~I'I ~ ~~11 Seven Ohio town positions open, but only one man runs for election PATTERSON, Ohio (AP) If Tom Wigle is the only person elected to vil lage office this fall, will he be a one man government? As a councilman, will he be a quorum by himself? Could he elect himself as council president, allowing hkpsdf to become mayor? State officials are trying to answer those questions,' since Wigle was the only person to file petitions as a can didate in the November elections in this northwest Ohio village of 153 peo ple. No one is running for mayor or five of six council positions. The Ohio secretary of state's office is searching state statutes in hopes of finding, out whether one person can legally run the government and to establish a procedure for the 128-year old Hardin County village. Steven Fought, spokesman for the secretary of state's office, said the office was not aware of any other sim ilar case in Ohio history. "They may be breaking new ground," Fought said yesterday. *igle, who is running for re-elec tion as councilman, thinks a one-man government isn't such a bad idea. His theory is that one person knowing what he's doing is better than seven who get nothing done. IT T To find the jol It's a one-cr Developmen It's im - How - Wh• - How - Wh, -How - Wh, There are ni Independen prob For more in "I've often wondered why one person couldn't run this village with a lawyer and a bookkeeper." "I've often wondered why one per son couldn't run this village with a lawyer and a bookkeeper," he told the Kenton Times. The village has a history of vacated offices. The newspaper reported that about eight mayors and 16 members of council have resigned and been replaced during the past 10 years. Council members Theresa Kalb and Sue Grubbs joined Mayor Susan McClurg in resigning this year. Although Councilwoman Pat McKee assumed the role of mayor, vacating her council seat, no one took the three open council positions. Making matters worse, the posi tions of mayor and those held by all three remaining council members are up for reelection. Wigle was the only ....1- 44 ~.:...A , S p - t. t . 7 4 : : 2 . 11 2 .. ..: dui -N L IP r --:m vw *1.14 4111111 b,, •• P•v 0 0 V II • . 3 Mg so. be" A POI • • ( IN, I+ 6 I GO gi, ;.-. " -is - • *II L. it i- ,„ ),- . .. • IQ e 0 VIIII ' Ind Oil Sae 11.414 • • L + 64 . - IG 1 1 I‘.Sl'a 4. The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Sept. 6,1989 TOM WIGLE, candidate one to file petitions by Thursday's deadline. The mayor makes $3OO a year and council members $96 annually. One question is whether Wigle could become mayor if he is the only person elected. In the past, when the mayor's office was vacated the coun cil president, who is elected by coun cil, moved up to mayor. State officials are not sure whether Wigle legally could elect himself as council presi dent. Patterson's problem could be solved if other residents run as write in candidates, Fought said. Such can didates must file by Sept. 28. McKee said many residents feel that the only answer is for Patterson to turn over village control to Jackson Township. The village incorporated in 1861. "It's just too much of a hassle," McKee said. "I just want to get out of it and let the trustees take it over." But the remaining council mem bers fear that township trustees will not be concerned about weeds, streets and other services in the village. Village Solicitor John B. Neville said the council has tried to clean up the village by enforcing ordinances involving junk cars and weeds. T.• • year, invest 0). or at Career m Penn State gency. Penn State a question or hone. .1 r ~~ ~~1
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