Digging The Trench

Warming your home using radiant heating is not a new concept. Hypocausts were invented by chilly Romans to keep their public baths and villas of the privileged warm and comfortable.

Whilst the modern-day version of the hypocaust is far easier to install and run, no servants are necessary to keep the fires burning as in Roman times for example, the same basic principle is used in this form of radiant heating used for in-floor heating.

Heated water is pumped through tubing laid in a grid pattern under the floor of the designated room. The radiant heat rises gently to warm the air, and ensures that no matter what floor covering you have, carpet, tiles, wood or even just concrete, the floor will always feel warm and inviting on bare feet.

There are different methods for supplying the hot water necessary for in-floor heating. A boiler can be installed to provide the hot water solely to the system, or the in-floor heating system can be connected to an existing boiler.

The other form of heating the water that is gaining in popularity is the use of solar panels. Using the natural energy of the sun may increase the costs of installation initially, but once you have the solar panel in place, as long as the sun is shining your hot water is free for evermore.

The beauty of these radiant heat in-floor heating systems is that they can be retro-fitted. If you already have a tile floor for example, it can be laid on top and a new surface fitted as it only adds about 20 cm depth.

The way it usually works is the tubing is laid in its grid pattern and embedded within a thin layer of concrete. Aluminum heat diffusing material is then laid and finally your flooring of choice.

If you would like carpet as a floor covering, then its best to ensure a thin radiant heat friendly carpet is laid. Although wood, linoleum, vinyl or any other floor covering can be used, the most effective flooring is ceramic tiles. This is because of their heat storage and conduction properties.

There are other methods of heating your home using radiant heat such as ceiling or wall mounted heating panels. These work on the same principle as in-floor heating with piped hot water or heated electric cables.

In order to gain maximum benefit from panels you need to be within line-of-sight or at least reasonably close proximity to them. Some people also find that whilst the ceiling panels obviously don’t take up valuable wall space, the radiant heat will be felt most directly on top of their heads which can prove uncomfortable.

The reason that in-floor heating remains the most popular form of radiant heating apart from its efficiency and low running costs is the fact there are no radiators or panels taking up wall space.

Being able to generate and store heat when power companies offer their off-peak low rates, and then release it via thermostatic control for anything up to 12 hours afterwards would perhaps make our ancient Roman friends a little envious of this wonderful modern form of radiant heating.

A reputation for safety is a source of pride for the John Tillman Company. For welders, Tillman gloves have meant more than 35 years of hand protection. Crafted from reinforced leather, fire-resistant cloth, and comfortable filler, these gloves have saved countless welders from terrible burns and injuries.

Welding began over 2,000 year ago, during the Bronze Age, with a process known as forge welding. Forge welding entailed heating two or more metals in a forge and hammering them together. The tools of the time were basic: a hammer, and anvil, a forge, tongs, and leather gloves. The early smiths had to wrap their hands and arms with two or three layers of animal hide (effectively creating the first welding gloves) in order to protect their skin from the incredible heat of the forge.

The basic process of forge welding was firmly entrenched until 1836. The English chemist, Edward Davy, while attempting to isolate potassium metal, accidentally discovered acetylene. This gas would allow welders to create a localized heat source, moving welding from the forge to the blowtorch (finally created in 1900). The blowtorch would herald a more flexible form of welding known as resistance welding. This process, still employed by tradesmen and welders alike, produces less pollution, but is limited to relatively thin materials and requires the appropriate safety equipment.

Welders, plumbers, and pipe fitters alike have used Tillman Gloves, in particular, since 1928. The Tillman equipment line is not restricted to welding gloves, but includes durable welding jackets, aprons, and blankets. Furthermore, Tillman manufactures an exclusive line of welding helmets, known as monkey shields, crafted from rawhide. Monkey shields are usually used by pipe welders and plumbers who must work in constricted environments.

It is argued the modern world is a world forged by welders. From steel skeletal frames to automobiles to aircraft, these advances are all built one spot weld at a time. The line of modern safety products, including Tillman gloves, will ensure the well being and quality of work for generations of welders and tradesmen to come.

Safety is always a chief concern in construction. Fall protection is used whenever a person has to work 5 or more feet off of the ground, as stated by OSHA Standards. A fall protection device is essentially a harness, which is strapped around an employee’s body and secured by a lanyard to a secure place on a permanent structure. It takes some effort to put on the harness. Initially, an employee must grab the harness by the metal ring worked into the back, where one end of the lanyard is connected, and hold it at waist height. Tangled ends must be straightened before the harness is stepped into and the shoulder straps secured. The chest strap must then be secured, followed by the individual leg straps. When done, the loose end of the lanyard can be connected to either one of the lower hip rings on your sides.

Safety equipment and fall protection have been used, in one form or another, since the building of the first 10 story skyscraper for the Chicago-based Home Insurance Building in 1885. Its use of the iron skeletal frame would revolutionize modern building methods and lead to the abundance of the skyscraper in downtown urban areas. Though the build has long since been demolished, its construction did provide Chicago with a new skyline and construction workers with a new insight into safety.

A skyscraper, according to most definitions, is any building over 500 feet. Any building that exceeds 984 feet is considered to be a supertall. After World War II, the Soviet Union erected seven ambitious “Stalin Towers” in Moscow. During the 1950’s and 60’s, Madrid led the rest of Europe with respect to the number of skyscrapers in development. To date, Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in the world, with 7,558, while New York City comes in second with 5,535.

Centuries ago, the temples and palaces of the world took precedence; today, the skyscraper has supplant both as the symbol of commerce and prosperity. It is predicted skyscrapers will be more prevalent in the decades to come due to the lack of available land. And as the skyscrapers of the future break ground today, there will be a lasting demand for safety equipment and fall protection.

Titan fall protection devices are among the best made on the market today. The Titan product line is not just limited to fall protection. They offer an assortment of safety hard hats that can be customized, safety glasses and goggles, work gloves, steel-toed boots and shoes, ear plugs and ear muffs, safety vests, gas detectors, and dust masks and respirators. They also fashion everything from flashlights to hand sanitizers to first aid kits.