“ The Foundation will be working with its supporters to replace some doors that have aged considerably through the years, provide for upgraded hardware and locks for the doors and replace some gasketing around the door frame that would help contain smoke in ”
Other centers across the country to get similar attention.
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PRWEB) January 25, 2007 -- The Foundation for the Advancement of Life Safety and Security, in cooperation with the Neighborhood House Association in San Diego, CA, recently sponsored life safety and security inspections for a number of the Head Start Centers located in the San Diego area.
We’re just looking to do our part to provide for a safe environment for these children.
The inspections consisted of walking through 15 centers over a two day period to determine what changes, if any, could be made to doors at the points-of-entry and to fire-rated doors.
"With recent school related incidents across the country and with the known dangers of fire, we knew that we could play an active role in helping organizations understand the balance between security and life safety," said James Tartre, an Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC) and Foundation president. "Doors are instrumental to a child’s safety and we felt that we could have a positive impact at the Head Start Centers."
The inspections were performed by Joseph Winandy, an AHC who is certified by the Door and Hardware Institute and is employed by Ingersoll-Rand Security Technologies. "Individuals like Mr. Winandy write the specifications for almost all commercial and school doors in the country," said Tartre. "There is a lot more to doors, in regards to safety and security, than meets the eye and we are happy to be able to educate and provide the Head Start centers with information, modifications and guidelines for their door openings."
"NHA is excited to partner with the Foundation as we continue to focus on our Head Start child safety efforts," said Rudolph Johnson, NHA President and CEO. "The door and hardware replacements are invaluable to the safety of both our Head Start children and staff."
In addition to performing these life safety and security inspections, the Foundation is working with some of the most impacted centers to make the necessary upgrades.
"The Foundation will be working with its supporters to replace some doors that have aged considerably through the years, provide for upgraded hardware and locks for the doors and replace some gasketing around the door frame that would help contain smoke in the event of a fire," said Mr. Winandy. "We’re just looking to do our part to provide for a safe environment for these children."
The Foundation is actively engaged in the critical areas of fire safety, life safety and security and will continue to play an active role in helping organizations, such as Head Start, to make the necessary changes that will make these centers of learning a safe and secure place to be.
Head Start is a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. The Head Start program is operated by local non-profit organizations in almost every county in the country. In San Diego County, the program, which serves over 10,000 low income children and families, is administered by the Neighborhood House Association.
The Foundation for the Advancement of Life Safety and Security exists to create a safer built environment by informing interested parties, through research, education and community projects, the important role that doors play in life safety and security in all buildings, every day.
For further information please visit:
www.dhi.org/educationfoundation
Contacts:
William Johnson, Managing Director of the Foundation - 703-222-2010
Norma Johnson, Vice President, Children, Youth and Families
Neighborhood House Association - 858-715-2642
