Samsung galaxy: TExT Outbox

Where is the out box for TExT messages on the Samsung galaxy?

See: http://www.galaxys4forums.net/forum/12-galaxy-s4-help/3252-where-outbox-text-messages.html

Business Horizons

Looking to increase your Business Horizons? Then follow this link: http://www.viadeo.com/invite/menasche.scharf

Prevent Theft of BYOD

Need to find a strap that connects the handset to the hand, see:

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Legionnaire's Disease: A risk Assessment of your Property

From time to time reports surface in the news about a new outbreak of legionnaire's disease. The reports normally follow a pattern. They tell of people being taken ill at a public place, such as at a swimming pool or in an air conditioned building, and of investigators having identified high concentrations of the legionella bacteria in the property's water system as being the cause. In the most severe cases the outbreak becomes fatal, lives being lost as a result of the property owner not taking sufficient precautions to assess and control the risk. But what is less well publicised is the fact that the legionella bacteria is often present in all natural and manmade water systems, domestic hot and cold water systems included. In small concentrations the bacteria is harmless. Let it accumulate though and you could find yourself dealing with an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in your own home!

What is legionnaire's disease?

Named after a severe outbreak of illness at a meeting of the American Legion in 1976, legionnaire's disease is a potentially lethal form of pneumonia. It is caused by the inhalation of water droplets / moisture from water sources containing high amounts of the legionella bacteria. Not everyone who inhales moisture laden with the bacteria contracts the disease. Fit and healthy people with strong immune systems, especially those younger than 20 years of age, are very unlikely to have a problem. Males over the age of 45 are most at risk. If the victim is a smoker and/or a heavy drinker, or if the person exposed to the bacteria suffers from respiratory illnesses or has an impaired immune system, the chances of catching legionnaire's disease is that much higher.

The symptoms

Self-diagnosis of legionnaire's disease is not easy. The symptoms are very similar to common flu. Look out for…

• Fever and high temperature
• Chills
• Muscle pains
• Cough
• Diarrhoea
• Pneumonia
• Mental confusion

The easiest way to determine if you have legionnaire's disease is to visit your doctor. They can prescribe a test to help identify the disease. If the disease is circulating in your community your doctor will be aware of this too - a factor that could aid in your diagnosis.

Legionnaire risk assessment and solutions

Legionnaire's disease is caught only from water sources containing high levels of the legionella bacteria. A build up of the bacteria happens over time in water that stagnates. Optimum conditions for development are when the temperature of the water is consistently between 20°c and 45°c, and where there is rust, sludge or organic material present in the system. Very quickly, over a matter of months, legionella can multiply to a dangerously high concentration.

While it is true that blocks of flats, office buildings and other large-scale premises, where water has a greater opportunity to stagnate, are most at risk of harbouring the legionella bacteria, on rare occasions it can be problematic in residential property. The question you have to ask yourself then is are you and your family at risk in your own home? If the domestic hot and cold water systems are in almost constant use it is unlikely that the water will remain stagnant enough for the bacteria really to get any sort of a foothold. However, if there are baths, showers and taps in rooms that are rarely used there is an opportunity for the bacteria to grow in the pipes where the water is not moving. If you leave your home unoccupied for several months, again there is a risk that the bacteria could build up in your water system. Redundant pipe work (deadlegs), such as a pipe to a washing machine that is no longer in use, is another environment for the bacteria to grow - especially if there is debris in the system, this being the bacteria's 'food'.

So what should you do if you think that your water system is at risk? Well, unfortunately, there's no alarm system available yet to alert you to a build up of the bacteria. It's therefore down to you to take preventative action. First, consider regularly flushing your water system through - i.e. open all taps and water outlets and let the water run for a few minutes. Also, look to remove any redundant pipe work and clean the system so it is free from debris. Replacing old steel and lead pipes with modern copper alternatives can help reduce the risk too, as can regularly bleeding your radiators. Another precautionary measure is to periodically increase the temperature of your hot water tank to 60°c or above for a few days at a time: the bacteria is unable to survive in water above this temperature. Finally, if you are worried that your water system is already infected, you can use a chlorine disinfectant to cleanse it. Should you opt for this course of action do flush the system through thoroughly before recommencing normal use.

Renting your home?

In a recent change to government legislation providers of residential accommodation are now fully responsible for protecting their tenants from exposure to legionnaire's disease, just as commercial premises are. By law, to control legionella, you are required to carry out a risk assessment of your premises and introduce measures to control risk where it is found. For more information on how to implement risk assessment and control measures you should contact the Health and Safety Executive or visit their website at www.hse.gov.uk

Top tips on using Fire Extinguishing Equipment in your Home

Encountering a fire in your own home is a frightening experience. So many thoughts are likely to go through your mind on seeing smoke and flames invading your living space - but, on discovering the fire, you must act quickly and calmly for your own safety and for the safety of others in your property. Within seconds you'll need to assess the severity of the fire. How large is it? Can it be tackled safely? Is it in a dangerous location? Could it spread quickly or cause an explosion? Has it already damaged the building structure? These are your key questions - questions that will help you decide on a course of action.

If the fire is advanced or has the potential to spiral out of control your first priority is to alert others in the property and evacuate. When everyone is at a safe distance you should dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade. However, if the fire is small and caught early on then you may decide that you can extinguish it yourself using your own fire extinguishing equipment.

Fire Extinguisher Types

There are three types of fire extinguisher suitable for use at home. These are…

• Powder extinguishers
• Foam extinguishers
• Water extinguishers

Two types of powder extinguisher are available on the market. These are standard powders and multi-purpose 'dry' powders. For home use the multi-purpose powder is recommended, as this tends to be more effective in 'knocking down' flames than standard powders, especially when the fire is burning solids. Standard powders are more effective on liquid-based fires.

Foam extinguishers too work well in the home. Just like the powder extinguishers there are two types of foam extinguisher - a standard foam extinguisher and an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) extinguisher. Only the AFFF extinguisher is suitable for our purposes as it can be used to stop all but electrical and chip pan fires.

Water extinguishers are probably the least useful in a house fire. Their function is to cool the burning material, but their usage is severely restricted. At best they can only extinguish burning solids like wood and paper.

How to use a fire extinguisher safely

Fire extinguishers are very easy to use. For most types of extinguisher it is simply a matter of unclipping the hose, removing the pin from the handle and aiming the jet at the appropriate part of the fire. All extinguishers are labelled with instructions on how to use them. As a matter of course you should get familiar with those instructions so in the event that you need to use your extinguisher you can do so with confidence.

When using powder extinguishers you'll knock down the flames quicker if you aim the jet of powder at the base of the fire and sweep the jet from side-to-side. It should be noted though that powder extinguishers do little to cool the burning object(s). The fire that you have put out could therefore reignite. Great care and vigilance is needed then when tackling fires with this type of product.

Water extinguishers and foam extinguishers are used in much the same way as powder extinguishers for solid burning fires. But where the fire material is a liquid a foam extinguisher should be dispensed against a vertical surface, such as a wall, above the fire base. This way the burning liquid is not spread from its original area by the powerful jet or spray dispenser.

Chip pan fires

None of the fire extinguishers mentioned cope at all well with chip pan fires. The main problem encountered is that burning fat and oil is too easily spread around the kitchen by the extinguisher, either by the strength of the jet or by the volume of material it adds to the pan, which then causes the burning liquid to overflow. Water extinguishers can even cause the oil and fat in the pan to explode!

The solution for a chip pan fire then is NOT to use a fire extinguisher. Instead, a fire blanket should be draped over the flames. This separates the burning material from its air supply, killing the fire. 

Ready for action?

Regardless of the type of fire extinguishing equipment in your possession, it will only be of any use to you if you can get to it easily in an emergency. Therefore, don't store fire extinguishers and fire blankets in a back room somewhere or in the understairs cupboard. Instead make the equipment readily available for use in a commonly used area of your home, such as in your hallway, or for a fire blanket, in the kitchen.

For fire extinguishers do remember too that you or a member of your family may need to carry the equipment to a different part of the house to tackle a blaze. Extinguishers should therefore be of a manageable size and easily portable.

Finally, do make a point of having all fire extinguishers in your possession serviced once each year or as per the manufacturer's instructions. It'll ensure that they are in full working order and that they'll be ready to do the job should you need to use them on a fire in your home.

Advice for Landlords

If you rent out your home or a residential investment property you have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of your tenants. Part of your remit is to ensure that appropriate fire extinguishing equipment is available to the tenant, is fully serviced and is in good working order. If the equipment is absent, damaged or non-functional the tenant may have the legal right to prosecute you. It therefore pays to take your responsibilities seriously. Further advice can be sought from your local council.  

 If you own a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) you'll have extra responsibilities with regards to fire safety. This includes the installation of an adequate fire alarm system and the provision of firefighting equipment on each floor of the property, and in appropriate quantities for the number of residents in the property. Self-closing fire doors must also be fitted. The landlord is responsible too for setting up and maintaining fire escape exits and routes. For furnished rental properties all furniture supplied must be approved as fire resistant. 

For more advice on how to comply with fire safety laws in an HMO do contact your local council authority. The council's fire officer will be more than willing to help you assess your fire risk and to point you in the right direction on how to fulfil your fire safety obligations to protect both you and your tenants.

HMO Fire Safety Laws

In the last article I touched on fire safety in HMOs -- Houses in Multiple Occupation. These are buildings, such as individual houses, flats and maisonettes, where three or more tenants occupy the building, but in two or more household units within the property. So, for example, a house rented to three unrelated students would be an HMO, as would a larger property that has been split into separate living accommodation and rented out to multiple individuals or families. It should be noted however that properties consisting entirely of self-contained flats are, in general, not classed as HMOs provided that the conversion of the house to flats fully complied with the 1991 Building Regulations. If the flat conversions failed to meet these regulations then HMO status applies -- but only in circumstances where more than one-third of the flats are in use by tenants on short term tenancies.  

For HMO properties certain laws apply to safeguard the welfare of tenants occupying the premises. These include stringent fire safety laws. So, landlords and tenants, it's time to listen up. It matters not whether you are an experienced landlord with HMO properties or a seasoned HMO tenant, this article is for you and for all the landlords and tenants out there who are new to HMOs and the regulations that apply to them. What is contained in this article could save your life and, quite conceivably from the landlord's point of view, spare you from serving a prison sentence!

You and the law

On October 1, 2006 new fire safety laws came into force. For HMOs it requires that a fire risk assessment of the building be conducted, and that adequate provisions are made for fire detection, fire fighting and escaping the fire. These elements are outlined below.

Fire risk assessment:

Landlords are responsible for conducting regular fire risk assessments in their HMO. The assessments can be performed by the landlord themselves, or by a responsible and competent person operating on behalf of the landlord. No official fire safety certificate is required from the assessment -- it is purely an exercise in identifying and managing risks.

Government guidelines suggest that fire risk assessments be approached in five steps…

Step #1 - Identify fire hazards. This requires the assessor to pinpoint sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen - the three components needed for a fire to start.

Step #2 - Identify the people at risk. This includes those living in the accommodation as well as neighbours who may be affected by a fire at the property.

Step #3 - Evaluate, Reduce, Remove and Protect from risk. Evaluate the risk and take action to lower the risk based on your findings.

Step #4 - Record, Plan, Inform, Instruct and Train. Keep a record of your fire assessments and the actions that you take as a result. Put an emergency plan in place so people know what to do in the event of a fire.

Step #5 - Review. Keep your fire assessments under constant review. Plan regular inspections and update your actions and emergency planning to take into account changes in the property and in the fire safety laws.

For further details on how to conduct a fire assessment do go and speak to your local council or fire service.

Fire detection and warning:

The new fire safety laws require that you deploy adequate fire detection and warning systems in HMOs. In some instances, battery operated smoke detectors won't cut it. You may instead find that you need an automatic detection and warning system hard-wired into the building, and which is operated from a central control panel. If you are in doubt as to which type of detection system best suits your HMO you should consult your local council or fire safety officer.

Fire fighting equipment:

If a fire is detected HMO tenants need adequate equipment available to tackle the blaze. Serviced and operational portable fire extinguishers must be located on each floor of the property, and in sufficient number. Hose reels and sprinkler systems may also be considered in larger HMO premises, as should access to the building and its floors by the fire brigade. Other installations needed for good fire control are self-closing fireproof doors that can withstand up to 30 minutes of heat.

Fire escapes:

The landlord is responsible for the provision of internal and/or external fire escape routes in the HMO. This could be one or more set of external stairs, internal stairs, corridors or walkways. All escape routes identified as such will need to be fireproofed. The landlord is also responsible for providing adequate signage on where the escape routes and fire exits are located, and how they are to be reached in the event of a fire.

For HMO tenants

If you are a tenant residing in an HMO you should make it your responsibility to ensure that your landlord complies with current fire safety laws. If you think that your landlord is not fulfilling their obligations you should first speak, or better write, to your landlord to inform him/her of your concerns. Ask for a response and for a commitment to addressing the issues raised. If no positive action is forthcoming do contact your local council or fire service. They will inspect the property, and in circumstances where there is non-compliance with fire safety laws, they can take steps to remedy the situation. In some circumstances the council may bring prosecution proceedings against the landlord.

Safety Tips for tenants

• Leave a door key accessible at a low level - where smoke will not initially reach - or in the front door, and make sure all occupants are aware of its location. This will make it easier to escape the building in the event of a fire.

• Where old sash windows were replaced with double glazing and only the top part can be opened it is a good idea to leave a hammer close by so that the glazing can be broken and an escape made.

Fire Office Contacts

London: The London Fire Brigade is run by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). Each London borough and the City of London has its own fire safety centre. To contact your local centre telephone LFEPA on 020 7587 2000.

Manchester: The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service covers Bury, Manchester, Salford and Stockport. For details of your local fire safety office you can contact the main switchboard on 0161 736 5866.

Most importantly, be sure to have your Mezuzos checked at least twice in seven years, after all it's your safety which is at stake.

Safe Window Replacements: What every buy-to-let property owner should know

In April 2002 the act of replacing windows in a property became subject to Buildings Regulations. The new law, which was, and still is, designed to help buildings comply with energy efficiency directives, specifically thermal performance standards for glazing, means that any replacement windows installed after 1 April 2002 MUST be / have been installed by either

1. A person or company registered with the Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA), or

2. By a competent individual or firm with specific Buildings Regulations consent from the local authority.

Either way, a certificate to show that replacement windows comply with the new regulations is issued upon completion of the install.

Should you have replaced windows in your property without observing the Buildings Regulations as they apply, you could have a few problems to deal with. Firstly, if you want to sell your property, the buyer's solicitor will make a specific check to ensure that Buildings Regulations were observed for any window replacements. This they will do by asking you to produce your compliance certificate(s). If you don't have them you could find your property difficult, if not impossible to sell.

The second issue is that if the council is alerted to the fact that your replacement windows were not certified, you could have a building control inspector on your doorstep! If, after inspection, your replaced windows are found not to comply with current thermal performance standards, you may be asked to replace the units again.

DIY Window Replacements

Are you planning on replacing windows yourself? If so, here's what you must do to comply with the law…

• Submit a Building Notice / Application to your local authority -- Contact the Building Control department of your local authority and ask for a Building Notice or Application form for permission to install replacement windows. Some local authorities allow you to download the form off the Internet, and even submit your application online.

• Obtain Approval -- Local authorities approve applications as default, normally within 2-3 days of receiving the notice. You will be asked to provide an installation date.

• Inspections -- The local authority will likely make two inspections. The first inspection is conducted at commencement of the work; the second after completion. If the glazing does not meet the required inspection standards at either point, the units will not be approved and you will have to replace them again.

• Completion Certificate -- Assuming the authority inspector approves the final installation, a Completion Certificate is issued. This must be retained and produced as evidence of compliance upon your property's sale.

Your role as landlord

Before replacing windows at your rental property you will need to inform the tenant and make arrangements for access to be granted to the installer on the day of installation. For the tenant's safety and the safety of the installer you should ask the tenant to remove items fixed to the existing window glass, and to remove items on the windowsill. Also ask the tenant to move any objects that they've placed directly outside the window which could obstruct the installer, such as plant pots and garden ornaments. If the tenant is responsible for the maintenance of trees, plants and foliage on the property, make sure that none obstruct the area where the installer will work. This should include, where necessary, the control and cut back of wall-growing ivy that might encroach on the window space.

Advice for tenants

Unless your lease agreement states otherwise, your landlord is responsible for the replacement of windows at your property. The costs involved may be passed onto you if the underlying reason for replacement was due to damage (deliberate or accidental) caused by your actions. However, if the damage was accidental and not your fault - for example if a tree branch falls and breaks the window - you will most likely not be charged for the replacement.

Where windows are fixed into wooden frames it is possible that over time the wood will rot and decay. Again it is the responsibility of the landlord to repair the frame or replace it. However, if you feel that the frame has rotted to such an extent as to pose a hazard to you or the public - for example if the glass pane is loose and liable to fall out - the landlord has a duty to take action under their property safety remit. In the event that your landlord is unresponsive to your requests to repair / replace the frame, contact your local authority for advice.