17 Feb 2022

Leads 2 Business is Mobile Friendly

by | posted in: Did You Know, Frequently Asked Questions | 0

Did you know Leads 2 Business has a Mobile Optimized Website?

What this means is that www.L2B.co.za has a dynamic mobile-friendly layout, accessing it from your Home screen can even become an app-like experience.

Whatever mobile device you’re using, you can pin a shortcut of L2B to your home screen for quick and easy access. The icon will appear on your home screen like any other app shortcut or widget, so you can drag it around and put it wherever you like. Creating a bookmark on your Homescreen lets you use it as a one-tap portal to access L2B content.

So what does this mean for you? It means you can access our site on all your devices.

Follow the steps below if you want to take advantage of L2B’s Mobile-Friendly website on your device.

For screenshots view our Wiki.

1. Open your Mobile Browser. This may be Chrome, Firefox or a built-in Browser.
2. Go to the website you want to save. You can either search for the website or enter its URL directly into the search bar.

3. Tap the three-dot menu ⋮. It’s at the top-right corner of Chrome.
4. Tap Add to Home screen. It’s toward the bottom of the menu. A pop-up window will appear.
Edit the shortcut title (if needed). This is the text that will appear under your shortcut’s icon on the home screen.
5. Tap Add. The shortcut is now on your home screen.
6. One-tap. And you can access L2B instantly, anytime.

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

 

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

22 Oct 2018

10 Things Successful People do before Breakfast

by | posted in: Did You Know | 2

10 Things Successful People do before breakfast

There are 86400 seconds in a day, how you use them are critical. The habits you cement on a daily basis create and define the building blocks of who you are. So what differentiates the ordinary from the extraordinary? If you are in the realms of just being comfortable at the bottom, consumed with the day to day humdrum, what should you change it so that success becomes your habit?

Let’s take a look at the common list of things successful people do before breakfast:

1. Wake up early

The dawn always holds the potential for greatness. It is uninterrupted time to focus, it maximises the day and enforces the habit of good sleep to boost productivity, which means a consistent bedtime, something which most of us are guilty of not getting right!

2. Prioritise

Using your mornings to do big-picture thinking helps you prioritise and set a defined trajectory for the day. Equipped with the details of what needs to be achieved you are setting yourself up for a successful and productive day. The important thing is not the paper, GTD app or other software you use, it is the consistency to ensure you do it every day. As you complete tasks, check them off so you know what you have achieved and what is still outstanding.

3. Express gratitude

When I researched this topic I found this fascinating, it did not require too much digging to establish that it’s not just about being thankful or positivity, but also about not being resentful about the things that aren’t perfect. Its often easier to blame a system, poverty or circumstance as a reason for not achieving success. The reality is, it was more about your attitude, determination, and tenacity against the odds. It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you are not.

4. Connect

Most of us are exhausted at the end of a day’s activities and it is not uncommon for the time to be hastened away between TV or screen time and dinner preparations. This is why many successful people make connecting with their significant other, part of their morning routine. If sex, can make you smarter, boost your income and burn calories, then it might just be another great way to energise your day. It’s not just limited to being frisky, using the time as a couple to talk about your lives, finances, tasks, and week-long plans all serve to build connection and security. All of which promote success.
The all-important connection with others is not just limited to your spouse. Additionally, there are golden time treasures to be found at the breakfast table with your kids, ask them about their day and find out what is happening in their world – it will make you feel more positive about your parenting efforts too.

5. Network

Networking with others appears almost as an extension to connection and supports the mantra of “When you have a million dollar vision, don’t surround yourself with 1 cent minds.” As human beings, we have a tendency to emulate those around us, so finding innovative minds to spark off of can create the critical element which becomes a catalyst for success.

6. Self-care

Exercise, hydration, and meditation are common threads in the lives of the great. A-Type personalities demand from others as much as they do from themselves, as a result, they find it challenging to disconnect from their mental to-do lists and calm their minds. Exercise and meditation are just two examples of the tools that driven personalities use to help clear their minds, create calm and enhance focus. The benefits of exercise are not exclusive to the physical benefit of a stronger healthier being, it counteracts the effects of high-fat diets, helps to reduce stress and promotes deep sleep! Certainly, a plus if you are getting up early to prioritise your day! Increased hydration boosts your concentration levels, and gives your metabolism a lift.

7. Emotional intelligence

Emotionally Intelligent people are constantly looking for ways in which to add value and contribute to their immediate environment. This skill feeds progressive thinking and stimulates active solutions to unique challenges. Interestingly this quality helps them to inspire others to be successful too.

8. Read

Whether expanding your own knowledge base or aligning yourself with the events of the world from a newspaper. This empowering habit augments your own intelligence and of course, quickens your mind with the task of how it can change the world in all the headlines!

9. Personal Passion Project

Fervor and joy add a certain zing to your day and when you are truly passionate about anything it automatically translates into more enthusiasm and energy. So what are the essentials of identifying this kind of project? A passion Project will be bigger than you – it will extend beyond your own interests, agenda or need for recognition it will push you beyond the call of duty and will be driven by self-motivation in the face of adversity. The secret to this is that it carries passion into their profession. In the words of TD Jakes, “It is your passion that empowers you to be able to do the thing you were created to do!”

10. Make their bed

It amused me immensely that this was something that most successful people do! It may seem mundane and not something that can necessarily cause you to get more work done,  but interestingly this “keystone habit” can spark a chain reaction that helps the formation of other good habits.

I hope that some of these inspire you to greatness. When I read through this list, it is energising, but it does have me wondering what time successful wake up in order to get a task list as long as this done – every single day!

Wishing you every success! Out of curiousity let me know in the comments below how many of these you check the boxes on or is there anything else you believe contributes to success?

 

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Taryn Duckham

I am a lover of marketing, customer centricity and the art of influence. Being able to effect this through analysis, content and front end design is part of my work, my great love of creatively solving problems that reach across as many parts of Leads 2 Business as I can.

8 Oct 2018

Common Causes of Construction Delays

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Common Causes of Construction Delays

Did You Know?

Common causes of Construction delays
What is construction delay?
In construction projects, as well in other projects where a schedule is being used to plan work, delays happen all the time. It is what is being delayed that determines if a project, or some other deadline such as a milestone, will be completed late.

Construction delays can be very costly and can reduce your company’s turnover, in a worst case scenario your firm could be ruined by liquidated damages. Liquidated damages is a sum of money (agreed-to and written into a contract) specified as the total amount of compensation an aggrieved party should get, if the other party breaches certain part(s) of the contract in this case if a work delay cost your client money. It also gives your company a bad image showing you are disorganized and unprofessional, and the client could even give your company a bad reference and word of mouth travels very fast ruining your company’s name which you definitely do not want.

Your company can try to avoid some type of construction delays by recognizing their most common causes and working to mitigate those factors before they take effect.
Planning is crucial so you better have a good project manager, you’ll also need to depend on analytics and close oversight to determine when things are falling behind and make the right decisions to keep your project on track.

Here are the 5 most common causes of construction delays
Poor Weather
Oh yes mother nature, the weather is something we can predict but it’s not so predictable if you get what I mean. Yes we have a weather forecast to assist with the planning of our projects but it can change at any time.
Unfortunately you won’t be able to use the weather as an excuse if you are busy with indoor renovations and running behind on schedule.
For outdoor projects, however, poor weather like rain or snow can leave you way behind schedule, threatening your already-slim profit margins with each passing day.
Any one want to take a dip?….. In a mud hole that is! If you’re busy with an excavation project and there’s some rain a freshly dug hole can turn into a mud pit ready to swallow an excavator or any other machine you drive into it. Hungry much?
And no high rise construction or roof is going to get done with high winds. Good luck to you if mother nature is very angry, because there’s no end to the delays that can result from flooding, or worse, a Tornado or Hurricane.


You’ll have to build allowances for natural disasters into your contracts to ensure that you don’t end up paying liquidated damages because of a storm. Rescheduling activities like concrete pours in accordance with the weather schedule is also a good idea, and you should always keep water pumps at a job site so you can dispose of any water that accumulates and gets in the way.

Budget and Resource Shortages
No more funds available…..eeeeek
Running out of money is a very bad scenario for a construction firm that’s in the middle of a project, especially when the client has already paid and you’re digging into your own pockets to get the job done.

It is important that construction project managers have access to costing software that will not under cost projects and put a company in the red. One must be well informed about updates on the firm’s financial health in order to ensure that projects don’t eat up the budget.
Banks can also be flexible with providing loans, especially if you’re an established firm with collateral to offer. This last resort works well if you need your hands on some cash to purchase the last materials for a project, pay workers, and avoid a costly delay.

Overbooked Crews
Check your diary ! Over booking projects and firms taking on more than they can chew can end up with projects falling behind as their exhausted employees drive around from job to job each day trying to get everything done.
It’s great to be ambitious about your goals, but everyone has limits, and you may find that hiring more crews lightens the load for everyone, avoids delays, and keeps morale higher throughout your firm.

Unreliable Subcontractors
Time is money.
Workers that waste time on the job are a plague not only in the construction business but any industry.
One may not always be to blame as they may lack the tools, training or experience that’s needed to get the job done efficiently, but on the other, they may spend too much time chatting, on a coffee break or even better a chocolate break and lose focus on the importance of timeliness on the job.

It’s important to invest in full-time employees making sure they know the processes and what’s expected of them, and hold them accountable for producing results on a daily basis. If you set high standards and don’t allow excuses, you’ll see how quickly production increases. You will surely reap what you sow.
Having the right equipment is very important as well, this being said the maintenance of these plant and machinery is imperative.

Unexpected Changes
Unexpected changes are always going to be a part of the construction business. Sometimes a requirement for the project emerges that was different from what was expected, and sometimes the customer asks for something extra and it isn’t possible to say no.

Managing expectations is the crucial skill when it comes to building unexpected changes into your schedule. Let the client know about the change, why it’s needed, and what kind of delay it will cause. If the client requested the change, let them know that a deadline extension will be required in order to make it happen, or suggest a bonus for incorporating the change into the existing work schedule.

 

Sources:
Image 1
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Image 4
Esub
Wikipedia

To view more articles, please visit the Leads 2 Business Blog.
If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit the Leads 2 Business Wiki.

About Sharika Raman

I have worked for Leads 2 Business from January 2015. I started in the Leads 2 Quotes Department for Directory, in January 2020 I was promoted to the Deputy Head of Department for Leads 2 Quotes and in July 2021 I was promoted to the Accounts Department as a Debtors Administrator. I enjoy time with my family creating memories, I like to socialize but also enjoy time to myself so I try to keep a balance by indulging in some quiet time when I can. I see myself as a realist, amazing wife and awesome mom…I am sure my family would agree.

24 Jul 2018

Demolition Techniques

by | posted in: Construction Chat, Did You Know, General, Safety | 0
Demolition Techniques
You may assume demolition is simply blowing things up. Some involve explosions but it is however way more technical than that. There are various demolition techniques that are considered as ‘demolition’.

 

It must be noted that before any demolition takes place the following practices need to be completed according to The Constructor

1. Surveying
2. Removal of hazardous materials
3. Preparation of plan
4. Safety measures

 

Taking the above into account the following (according to Civil Engineering News) are selected.

1. Non Engineering Demolition also known as Manual.

a) Refering to tools such as Sledge Hammers, Jack Hammers and Drillers which are used by workers.

Jackhammer - Demolition Techniques.jpg
Jackhammer Technique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Engineering Demolition which is split into 3 categories.

a) Mechanical Method:

Wrecking Ball (think Miley Cyrus but without the theatrics)

Pusher Arm technique (a specialised hydraulic arm used for smaller buildings)

Thermic Lance Technique (using flaming temperatures of 2500 0C to melt reinforcement)

Non-Explosive (drilling and filling with expanding slurry)

Concrete Sawing

Deliberate Collapse (significant structural items are removed)

Pressure Jetting (thanks to H20)

 

b) Implosion: Inward disintegration using explosives

c) Deconstruction: Non-structural and structural

Wrecking Ball - Demolition Techniques.jpg
Wrecking Ball Technique

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demolition encompasses many techniques and is often used in conjunction with new construction or renovation.

In conclusion, I’ll take inspiration from Rumi, ‘In this life many demolitions are actually renovations.’

 

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit Leads 2 Business for more information on demolition tenders.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

 

 

 

About Sasha Anderson

Millennial Mom + wife living the hash-tag life. Remember: If You Fail - Fail Forward

16 Apr 2018

Quotes about our Environment

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Quotes about our Environment

Sir David Attenborough

There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.

Chief Seattle

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together … all things connect.

Albert Einstein

The environment is everything that isn't me.

Jacques Yves Cousteau

Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.

Barack Obama

There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate.

Native American Proverb

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children

Thomas Edison

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not

Hans Christian Andersen

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”

Voltaire

Men argue. Nature acts

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nature never hurries: atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work. The lesson one learns from yachting or planting is the manners of Nature; patience with the delays of wind and sun, delays of the seasons, bad weather, excess or lack of water
 
Environment
 

"An environment is all of the conditions, circumstances, that surround and influence life on earth, including atmospheric conditions, food chains, and the water cycle."

The environment is our surrounding that includes living as well as non-living things. The non-living components like land, water, air, temperature influence how animals, plants and we as human beings live in a particular area. Living creatures too are dependent on each other for food and shelter. If any of the environmental elements change, it automatically becomes harder and sometimes fatal for living organisms to survive.

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/david_attenborough
http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/alternative_energy_quotes_iii.html
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/62807.aspx

 

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

About George Harris

I started my incredible journey at Leads 2 Business in 2006. I am the Content Director, custodian of an amazing research team responsible for unearthing hidden gems of information.

26 Mar 2018

Common Security Myths

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Common Security Myths

Myth (noun) – An unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution

Use strong passwords and don’t go to sketchy websites, and you’ll protect yourself online, right? Well… That’s a good start. But it’s not quite that simple.
The internet is evolving and so too is cybercrime.

Myth vs Reality:

Myth 1: Firewall + antivirus = total protection
Reality: Antivirus software and a firewall make it difficult for an intruder to get their hands on your information, but you also need to take protective measures. Free only offers basic antivirus and doesn’t have antispam, web filtering and behaviour analysis. Keep your software up to date and patched against vulnerabilities. Combining these technologies with good security habits is the best way to reduce your risk. Remember to lock or log off your computer when leaving your desk, even for a moment.

MYTH 2: Private browsing” is always private
Reality: Surfing the web in private (or incognito) mode prevents the browser — like Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer — from collecting data about your activities. But it doesn’t hide your browsing from your internet service provider and the websites you visit. It also doesn’t hide your IP addresses from web servers and online snoops. Private hides your history from other users on the same computer but it will be tied to your computer.

 

 

 

 

MYTH 3: Infected computers display nasty messages and are very slow.
Reality: The most dangerous hacker is not the one who wants to put a joke or a skull on your screen; it’s the one who stealthily works to take control of your computer and cause damage to your equipment or steal information they can use for their benefit. This type of hacker works to ensure that their activities are not noticed by you.

MYTH 4: I don’t go to dangerous sites, and I check my links, so I’m safe.
Reality: Your browser is the biggest vulnerability. Most recent attacks take advantage of weaknesses in browser-related technologies to compromise your system. By simply visiting a compromised website may be sufficient to allow an attacker to gain control of your system. As if this weren’t bad enough, many legitimate sites are compromised and become sources of infection. Avoid accessing the web from protected systems behind your firewall.

Myth 5: Cyber security? Just leave it to the IT department

Reality: Cyber security is a business risk, not just an IT problem. Setting up the proper technology tools to provide cybersecurity protection are necessary. Organizations, management and staff need to adopt and extend these policies to establish a unified security posture. Staff need to be trained, educated and aware of security risks. Implementing appropriate technical controls to safeguard the information that an organisation holds is the first line of defence against security threats.

Myth 6: My Wi-Fi is unhackable if I hide it
Reality: Most routers give you the option of making your network ‘invisible’. This leaves people believing that since no-one can see their network, no-one on the outside can hack their connection. If someone wants to hack your Wi-Fi, it is quite likely that they have the technical competence to know that most networks are hidden and the know-how to make them visible even though you have hidden the network name. Keep older routers up to date, use strong passwords and check your routers manual to learn how to enable WPA2 wireless encryption on your router.

 

Conclusion

The bottom line is IT security must be a priority for your business, no matter the size of your operation. Based on your industry and security needs, you can work with professionals to customize the appropriate level of coverage for your company. It’s important to remember to apply patches and upgrades and upgrade in a timely manner, but that will only carry you so far. The weakest link in security is still the human element.

Sources:

 

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To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
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About Chantélle Naudé

I have been with Leads 2 Business for 9 years, working in the Leads 2 Quotes department. Mother to two beautiful daughters.

19 Mar 2018

Interesting facts about Fire

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Interesting facts about Fire

Doing my diligent research for my blog I found some really interesting facts about fire, and I mean “interesting interesting” not “creepy interesting” like I am a budding pyromaniac looking for ways to burn down the world…..

Hearing the word “FIRE!” would strike fear and panic in anyone’s world. From a young age we are taught to respect (mainly fear) fire, it’s drilled into us how dangerous it can be…..don’t get too close, and more importantly…don’t play with fire (I can still remember that as a child I was told “If you play with fire, you will wet your bed”)…..that saying still pops into my mind when I see people standing around the social fire, maybe poking it with a branch to move the coals around, to get air underneath to make it burn better.

 

DID YOU KNOW? Fire is a triangle! In order for a fire to burn it needs 3 components: fuel, oxygen and heat. If one is missing, the fire dies! Those three components each have different methods of being extinguished. Fuel: remove the source, the fire dies! Oxygen: smother the fire with dirt, sand, chemical agent or blanket, the fire dies! Heat: cover with water, powder or foam, the fire dies!

DID YOU KNOW? A small candle will burn at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (1000 degrees Celsius). A candle flame is blue at the bottom as this is the freshest source of oxygen and yellow at the top, partly due to the rising fumes from below which partly suffocate the upper half of the flame.

DID YOU KNOW? The flame is the visible part of the fire. The colour of the flame can be a result of what fuel is being consumed. Sodium colours the flame yellow, calcium red and potassium blue. Oxygen supply can also affect the colour of the flames. Low oxygen will give off a yellow glow and a high oxygen fire burns blue. But that is not all. Temperature can also play a role in the colour of the flames. From just visible to cherry red ranges from 980 – 1800 Fahrenheit (525 – 1000 Celsius), deep orange to clear orange 2000 – 2200 Fahrenheit (1100- 1200 Celsius) and whitish to dazzling ranges from 2400 – 2700 Fahrenheit (1300 – 1500 Celsius). Sounds like a rainbow, albeit a very dangerous rainbow!

DID YOU KNOW? Fire makes water? It’s true. Place a cold spoon over a candle and you will observe the water vapour condense on the metal…(I have not tried this because with my luck it will take a while and I will get my fingers burnt as the spoon heats up)

DID YOU KNOW? Earth is the only known planet where fires can burn! There is not enough oxygen anywhere else…..

DID YOU KNOW? Most house fires start in the kitchen and often start from overheated grease and unattended cooking. Electric stoves are responsible for more fires than gas stoves. Well, if that is not a sure sign that there should be a lot more takeout in my life and less dangerous cooking then I don’t know what is…….

DID YOU KNOW? It is unknown who actually invented the fire hydrant. Ironically the patent was destroyed by a fire in the US Patent Office in 1836.

DID YOU KNOW? Mixing cotton wool and super glue is a big No No (unless you are lost in the woods at night and only have a first aid kit with you which has these 2 items and you need to start a fire to keep warm and protect you from any wild animals). Applying enough super glue (cyanoacrylate) to cotton wool results in a rapid chemical reaction that could release enough heat to catch on fire…. (I was not brave enough to test this!)

Fire is mesmerizing, hypnotic, beautiful, scary, destructive, fierce, calming, consuming…. many many more adjectives come to mind.

Do you have any interesting DID YOU KNOW facts about fire? Would love to hear from you.

Sources:

http://www.scienceforkidsclub.com/fire.html
https://www.northantsfire.co.uk/top-15-interesting-facts-about-fire/
https://www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/Firefighter-Accountability/articles/1206336-9-facts-about-fire/
http://www.amazingfacts4u.com/fire/
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/fire.html
https://skysaver.com/blog/7-interesting-facts-about-fire/
http://discovermagazine.com/2011/oct/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-fire
http://www.kickassfacts.com/25-interesting-facts-about-fire/

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/11/super-glue-chemically-reacts-with-cotton-and-wool-to-generate-enough-heat-to-start-a-fire/

 

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To view more articles, please visit our blog.

About Debbie Wessels

I started at Leads 2 Business in April 2008 in the tenders Department and transferred to the Projects Department during the same year. I was appointed Head of Department for Projects from February 2011 to March 2022. April 2022 I started a new adventure as Content Regulator.

5 Mar 2018

Did You Know #DYK: How To Extinguish Different Kinds of Fire?

by | posted in: Did You Know | 2

How To Extinguish Different Kinds of Fire?

Did you know that in order for a fire to exist there must be four elements present? The four elements are namely oxygen to sustain combustion heat to raise the material to the correct temperature, fuel to support combustion and a chemical reaction – (Oxygen + Heat + Fuel) = Chemical reaction. This very simple formula will determine the extinguishing agent you need to be using in order to put out your fire.

How many people just run for water when there is a fire?

Unfortunately, it is not that simple!

Let me simplify the concept of fire and how we can extinguish these fires:

 

Types of fire:

Class A – Ordinary combustion, these are flammable materials and these fuels the source e.g. Wood, cloth, paper and even your basic day to day trash.

Class B – This fire source uses flammable liquids e.g. petroleum, different kind of tars, oils and even paint.

Class C – Energized electrical equipment/components e.g. Computers, servers, motors, transformers and our daily appliances.

Class D – Combustible metals e.g. magnesium, titanium, sodium, lithium and potassium – these are mainly present in a laboratory environment.

Class K – Cooking oils and greases – We all cook meals with either vegetable or animal fats and these are the components that can start this fire.

Now that we know about and understand the different classes of fire, let’s discuss our different options for extinguishing these fires.

 

The different types of fire extinguishers:

  1. Water – The water extinguisher has a cooling effect on the burning agent causing the fire to burn more slowly.
  1. Powder – Dry powder extinguishers smother the fire and form a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen that is allowing the fire to ignite.
  1. Foam – Foam extinguishers have a cooling effect on the burning agent, creating a barrier between the flame and the fuel that is causing the reaction.
  1. Carbon dioxide – CO2 Extinguishers suffocates the fire allowing it to kill off the oxygen that is reacting with our fuel source.
  1. Wet Chemical – Wet Chemical extinguishers work by creating a layer of foam that prevents the oxygen from fuelling the fire. It creates a cooling effect and kills the fire.

 

The last thing we will be discussing to solve all your fiery situations are which fire extinguisher types to use for the different classes of fire:

Type Class A Class B Class C Class D Class K
  Combustible Materials Flammable Liquids Electrical Equipment Combustible Metals Cooking Oil & Gas
Water √ x x x x
Foam √ √ x x x
Dry Powder √ √ √ √ x
CO2 x √ √ x x
Wet Chemical √ x x x √

 

Sources

http://surreyfire.co.uk/types-of-fire-extinguisher/

http://www.strikefirstusa.com/2016/05/five-classes-of-fires-fire-extinguishers-stop-them/

http://www.femalifesafety.org/types-of-fires.html

 

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About Roxanne Mustard

My Name is Roxanne Mustard and I started working at Leads 2 Business in September 2016. My role in the Leads 2 Business team is as a Regional Content researcher in the Projects Department.

26 Feb 2018

Did You Know #DYK: BEE Amendments

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

BEE Amendments

BEE Amendments

 

For more information please contact:
Jako Liebenberg
Email:jako@ldsw.co.za
Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jako-liebenberg-a2325552/

Glossary
EME – Exempted Micro Enterprise: Enterprises with an annual turnover less than R10 million or are recently formed or incorporated entities that have been in operation for less than one year. (Start-up enterprises).
QSE – Qualifying Small Enterprise: A business with an annual turnover more than R10 million but less than R50 million.

GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1 DECEMBER 2017
NOTICE 931 OF 2017 – CODES OF GOOD PRACTICE ON BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
http://www.beesa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Amended-Construction-Codes-Final-1-12-17.pdf

 

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About Jako Liebenberg

Jako is a qualified Chartered Accountant, Registered Public Auditor and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Consultant. Jako has a passion for Business Development and has a hands on approach in this regard.

2 Oct 2017

Did you Know #DYK: 10 things you should know about demolition

by | posted in: Did You Know | 0

Demolition

10 things you should know about demolition

1. What is Demolition?

Demolition is a very exciting and fast phase of construction. For a complete demolition, a home can come down and be entirely removed from the site in a day or two. While demolition is typically fast and messy, it’s not necessarily mindless and uncomplicated.

There’s actually quite a bit to know about demolition; beginning demolition without a clear strategy can have significant time and financial repercussions later.

So, it all has to start somewhere, I will start from the beginning and tell you a little more about where it starts and how it ends and the different types of Demolition – Kaboom!
As I see it, what goes up, must come down 🙂

 

2. Don’t try it yourself (Don’t DIY)

Get an experienced crew involved in the plan to accomplish any demolition. Otherwise, you could end up getting hurt and paying expensive bills. The ideal situation is to have the framing crew take on the demolition, the framers will know what to retain and the accountability chain is direct.

 

Note to all Men – Don’t DIY, unless you want to end up in the Dog Box.

 

 

 

3. Pre-Demolition Inspection

Pre-demolition inspection may be one of the most helpful and cost-effective steps you can take to recognise materials that should be removed from buildings before starting the demolition process.

 

4. Play by the Rules

Unless you live in the middle of nowhere or in the woods and your nearest neighbour is miles away, there is no subtle way to sneak a proper demolition. Make sure you are going about it the right and legal way. I’d suggest taking the neighbours a nice box of chocolates or wine to apologise in advance for the noise levels. You will definitely need the patience of your neighbours. Play by the rules and get your permits.

 

5. There are different types of Demolition

If and when you are planning to construct a new building in place of an old one, then demolition is inevitable.

  • Demolition by Hand – you can only use hand tools with this method like sledgehammers, for example.
  • Crane and Wrecking Ball – the wrecking ball is largely outmoded, replaced by excavators and other mechanical means that offer better precision, efficiency, and safety.
  • Implosion – A highly-specialised type of demolition that employs the use of explosives to bring down high structures by undermining structural supports so that it collapses within its own footprint or along a predetermined path.
  • Mechanical Demolition – specialised mechanical equipment and tools. These include hydraulic excavators equipped with specialised attachments that can break concrete and steel, effectively “chewing” the structure apart. Smaller equipment is also used.
  • Total Demolition – It is the demolition of an entire structure, and it can be achieved by a number of methods.
  • Dismantling/Deconstruction – dismantlement or deconstruction of a structure to preserve components for reuse, recycling, or refurbishment.
  • Selective Demolition – removal of specific interior/exterior portions of a building while protecting the remaining structure and nearby structures.
  • Interior Demolition – Interior portions of a structure while preserving the exterior. This usually includes removal of walls, ceilings, pipes, etc.

 

6. Try to find somewhere to live during your demolition

Demolition is loud, dirty and gets dust on everything. It will almost be impossible to enjoy your home under these circumstances and may also not be very safe for you and your family. It’s best to try to find a place to stay during your demolition. Keep the wife happy, no woman likes a dusty house.

 

7. Asbestos Procedures

Do your homework when it comes to asbestos. Nothing will shut down a project faster than an asbestos violation. Inspection prior to demolition or renovation, the affected structure or part of the structure where the work is to take place must be thoroughly inspected by a certified asbestos inspector for the presence of asbestos. Notification requirements vary with the amount of regulated asbestos and type of activity taking place. All demolitions, including those where no asbestos is present, require a notification form be sent to DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources)

 

I don’t know if it’s just Me, but it looks like Chuck Norris was here

 

8. Listen to the guy on site who says “consider the following things…”
He is speaking from experience and he knows what he’s talking about.
Always get the experts involved in any situation, people qualify to do certain things for a reason.

 

9. You’d be surprised how many items and materials can be reused or recycled from the demolition
Deconstruction is a new term for a simple concept: rather than destroying or demolishing a building, the team carefully disassemble the structure, identifying those parts for reuse. Construction and demolition waste recycling is a big industry and is steadily increasing. The amount of construction and demolition waste generated in the U.S. in 2012 was estimated at 480 million tons, according to a 2014 CDRA executive summary.

 

10. Get in touch with the Correct People

You can get in touch with some Demolition/Construction Companies on our Directory, by clicking here

 

Should you wish to subscribe to our services and find out more about what we do here at Leads 2 Business, you are more than welcome to give me (Natasha) a call on +27(0)33 343 1130 or email me at NatashaL@L2B.co.za

 

Now you know a little more about Demolition and so do I 🙂

L2B Blog: Renovation or Demolition?

 

 

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/large-scale-residential-demolition/pe-demolition-inspections
http://www.rbaker.com/press-room.php?id=230

http://rockassoc.com/2017/07/18/10-things-you-should-know-about-demolition/

http://blog.buildllc.com/2011/07/10-things-you-should-know-about-demolition/

http://denr.sd.gov/des/wm/asb/asbdemolition.aspx

http://blog.wegowise.com/2012-10-30-building-life-cycle-demolition-recycling

http://blog.capterra.com/5-tips-for-recycling-your-construction-waste/

About Natasha Lubbe

My name is Natasha Lubbe and I am a very Bubbly and Happy 30-year-old Mother to the Sweetest 6-year-old Little Girl. I have worked for Leads 2 Business since 04 October 2016. I really enjoy a Challenge and Love Learning new things. Feel free to call me at any time, I'd gladly assist. Nothing you wear is more important than your smile.

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