Udec Corporation

UDEC: LIGHTING THE WAY TO SAFETY
Historical Moment: Fraser Pier Fire (Ocean Park, CA)

A fire broke out at Fraser’s Million Dollar Pier in Ocean Park on September 3, 1912.

The fire started by someone carelessly tossing a smoldering cigarette in some bedding in the Japanese servants’ quarters in the basement. A strong late afternoon breeze fanned the flames and within minutes cries of “Fire!” came from a dozen different directions.

Sparks, leaping two hundred feet high, showered down like a fiery bath over the flimsy paint canvas and light wooden grill that adorned the pier’s attractions. Over a thousand visitors were still on the pier heading for the two main exits when the Skating Rink caught fire, blocking one of the exits. 

Fire companies’ efforts amounted to a few puny streams of water until Venice’s high pressure system was used. The Los Angeles Fire Companies speedy arrival only 27 minutes later did little to control the blaze.

Panic on the pier erupted. People, including owner Fraser and his young son, reached the docks and escaped by boat. Other’s leapt into the sea.
 
The fire totally destroyed the pier, all the amusements and five square blocks of the business district. All 225 structures burned, two people died, several were missing, 75 people were injured and 800 people were homeless. The loss was set at $2,000,000 with little of it insured.
 
It’s impossible to avoid every calamity or accident, but prevention and safety are our top concerns. UDEC Emergency Lighting provides quality lighting when you need it most. 

UDEC’s Featured Product: Emergency Lighting Fixtures Accessories: Fluorescent Emergency Lighting Ballasts

The BAL fluorescent emergency Ballast allows the same fixture to be used for both normal and emergency operation.

In the event of a power failure, the BAL switches to the emergency mode and operates one or two of the existing lamps for a minimum of 90 minutes.

The unit contains a battery, charger and inverter circuit in a single package. The BAL can be mounted in the wireway or on top of the fixture, and is UL Listed for factory installation or retrofit applications.

All Ballasts are Standard with Dual 120/277 Volt Input.

Emergency lighting and exit signs are about saving lives. UDEC Corp. offers powerful and unique solutions and 40 years of experience of emergency lighting and exit signs.

UDEC: LIGHTING THE WAY TO SAFETY
Historical Moment: Coney Island’s Dreamland Fire

On May 27, 1911 at two in the morning, opening day for Coney’s new Dreamland Hell Gate Attraction was only a few hours away. Several lights bulbs burst, buckets of tar were accidentally tipped over, and Hell Gate exploded into flames.
 
The fire spread quickly to the rest of the park, but fortunately for the fire companies at the scene, the wind’s direction calmed the fire that had the potential to destroy the rest of the park.
 
All of Dreamland was destroyed, along with Coney Island icons like Thompson’s Scenic Railway, and the Iron Tower.  Dreamland’s lathe & plaster structures were so flammable that it caused the Dreamland tower fire to be exceptionally bright. People in Manhattan could see the tower fire during a period where the city’s buildings averaged only ten stories tall. 

It is believed that William H. Reynold’s greed was the undoing of the park. He set down Dreamland so fast that the city did not have time to pull up their fire hydrants. The firemen reported serious issues of low pressure, assumed to have been caused by the dozens of hydrants leaking water amongst the ruins. 

It’s impossible to avoid every calamity or accident, but prevention and safety are our top concerns. UDEC Emergency
lighting provides quality lighting when you need it most. 

UDEC’s Featured Product: Light Fixtures: Incandescent Emergency Light Fixture with Battery Backup

• Universal Voltage of 80 VAC up to 300VAC; ceiling or wall mount; Two adjustable; halogen; glare-free light heads; Rechargeable; maintenance-free;  replaceable 6-volt; 4.5-ah lead calcium battery provides 90 minute of emergency operation; Push button test switch and charge rate indicator included; White injection molded thermoplastic housing; Unit snaps together for easy installation. Quick wire connection; UL listed for damp location; UL 924; NFPA and NEC approvals; Warranty; Email or call for quantity discounts.

(Incandescent Emergency Light Fixture w/ Battery Backup & Remote Control Test
Remote Control Option: Conduct testing for 30 seconds or 90 minutes by selecting the test time on the remote control.)

Emergency lighting and exit signs are about saving lives. UDEC Corp. offers powerful and unique solutions and 40 years of experience of emergency lighting and exit signs.

UDEC: LIGHTING THE WAY TO SAFETY
Historical Moment:  NYC World Trade Center Attacks

I don’t think any adult who was alive then forgot where they were on the morning of September 11, 2001 as el-Qaeda suicide hijackers flew two planes into the World Trade Centers Towers.

At work, we gathered around my friend’s desk and speaker-phone. She worked with the New York district and they were on the phone relating their eyewitness view of the tragic events from their office windows, only three blocks away from the World Trade Center towers.

Can I even relate to you the horror as our New York co-workers started screaming and crying as they watched people jump to their deaths from the flaming, crumbling towers? They abruptly hung up, no longer able to speak. In shock we gathered around our break room television to watch the rest of the horrific story until released to go home.

Ultimately, 2,750 deaths were related to the 9/11 attacks, 340 emergency personnel and 60 police officers were killed in the collapse of the Twin Towers. The World Trade Center site cleanup and recovery continued 24 hours a day and involved thousands of workers. The massive pile of debris smoked and smoldered for 99 days.

It’s impossible to avoid every calamity or accident, but prevention and safety are our top concerns. UDEC Emergency Lighting provides quality lighting when you need it most.              

 UDEC’s Featured Product: Exit Signs - Photoluminescent Egress Marking Systems
Based on the  WTC Commission recommendations , PL was chosen as the only acceptable system for the progressive NYC building code, Local Law 26.

 According to my UDEC source, one of the few things that did save lives was the emergency egress strips installed in the stairwells in the World Trade Center buildings. They glowed in the dark and were thought of as very important in avoiding panic and confusion with all the people in the absolute dark not even knowing which way was down.

Emergency lighting and exit signs are about saving lives. UDEC Corp. offers powerful and unique solutions and 40 years of experience of emergency lighting and exit signs.

UDEC: LIGHTING THE WAY TO SAFETY
Historical Moment: The Station Nightclub Fire

The Station Nightclub Fire on February 20, 2003, was the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. The Station, which regularly hosted glam metal and ’80s rock bands, was a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 

The fire started around 11:08 p.m., when pyrotechnics, set off by the headlining band’s, Great White, manager lit flammable sounding proofing foam behind the set. People thought at first the fire to be part of the act. Only when the fire reached the ceiling and smoke began to billow did people realize it was uncontrolled.

Just 20 seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing, and lead singer, Jack Russell, remarked into the microphone, “Wow… this ain’t good.” 

In less than a minute, the entire stage was engulfed in flames. Although there were four possible exits, most people headed for the door through which they entered. 

The ensuing stampede in the inferno led to a crush in the narrow hallway leading to that main entrance, eventually blocking it completely and resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among the patrons and staff, who numbered somewhat more than 404 - although there are conflicting official capacity limits. 

Of those in attendance, 100 people died and over 200 were injured, either from burns, smoke inhalation or trampling.  Among those who perished in the fire was Great White’s lead guitarist, Ty Longley.

It’s impossible to avoid every calamity or accident, but prevention and safety are our top concerns. UDEC Emergency Lighting provides quality lighting when you need it most.  

UDEC’s Featured Product: Model UR-1 Emergency Lighting Unit

Emergency and economical unit with “EZ” install back plate feature. Modern appearance and low maintenance.

Emergency lighting and exit signs are about saving lives. UDEC Corp. offers powerful and unique solutions and 40 years of experience of emergency lighting and exit signs.