April 23, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

We have implemented an upgrade to our call system to reduce call hold times on our toll-free phone line (888-768-5240) - so let us know how we’re doing when you call!

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April 20, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

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You may have noticed that institutional furnishings are made to a higher standard than your typical office furniture. Police stations, jails, prisons, military bases, detention facilities, medical institutions, parks, schools, and many other public and private facilities all demand furniture that is inexpensive, durable, and can survive whatever man or nature can throw at it. So what goes into making an item institutional-quality?

When people think ‘institutional’, they typically think of an environment where conditions towards furnishings are especially abusive, and durability is a top concern. The typical injection-molded plastic chair for use in an institutional environment is impact and flame-resistant, capable of surviving being hurled across a room without the slightest sign of damage. Your typical mattress for prison or dormitory use is designed to resist cutting and burning, while still being easy to clean. Comfort is typically a secondary concern.

This isn’t always the case, though. Take this lovely item, for instance - a stylish wooden chair with a soft foam cushion that wouldn’t look out of place in a waiting room, yet conceals a skeleton of steel that allows it to withstand damage that would shatter a lesser chair. For your office commander who wants something a bit more durable, there’s even office chairs designed with lasting quality and durability in mind. ‘Institutional’ quality doesn’t necessarily mean uncomfortable, just durable.

Institutional furniture also doesn’t necessarily mean ‘prison furniture.’ This dining table is actually common in high school and hospital cafeterias, due to its combination of durability and affordability. Folding tables like these are used as demo tables in high-traffic stores such as Wal-Mart due to their sturdiness under pressure. These outdoor rectangular tables are frequently found in state and national parks due to their ability to endure the worst weather. Institutional quality simply means a product that is designed to last.

Anchortex Corporation is a leading distributor in institutional-quality furnishings and fixtures through its correctional division, American Detention Supplies, as well as directly to businesses and organizations across the United States. If you’re looking for furniture that can survive the test of time and the tribulations of mankind, look no further and contact us for more information.

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April 15, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

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Industrial workplaces can be noisy environments. While the best solution to prevent excessive on-the-job noise from damaging hearing is to properly engineer the work environment to reduce exposure to noise, there are some working environments where one cannot reduce the overall noise level, or where sudden high-volume noise is still expected. In such circumstances, workers should wear a hearing protection solution to prevent hearing damage.

Sound pressure is measured in decibels, with the extent of normal human hearing extending down to 0 decibels (though some people with extremely good hearing can register noises rated down to -15 dB.) Hearing protection is rated in Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR, which is the effective reduction in decibels the product provides for purposes of hearing protection. Since each 3 decibels represents an effective doubling in sound pressure (or protection), using NRR 20 dB earplugs underneath NRR 20 dB earmuffs would only provide a total effective NRR of 23 dB. Deceptively, a difference of 3 dB is barely perceptible to the average human ear, whereas a difference of 10 dB is considered twice as ‘loud’.

OSHA recommends that hearing protection be worn under any circumstances where workers are exposed to 100 decibels or more of noise for any period of time, or 85 dB or more of noise over the course of a typical work day, as either circumstance can result in permanent hearing loss if no protection is worn. They recommend a maximum exposure time of 8 hours for 90 dB, 6 hours for 92 dB, 4 hours for 95 dB, 3 hours for 97 dB, 2 hours for 100 dB, 1.5 hours for 102 dB, 1 hour for 105 dB, 30 minutes for 110 dB, and 15 minutes for 115 dB, even with protection in place.

Typically, when determining the noise level for a workplace environment, a noise level meter will provide an instantaneous measurement of noise present, whereas a dosimeter or integrated sound level meter is recommended to determine the overall noise a person is exposed to over the course of normal workplace operations. A full analysis of the noise hazards of an environment is required as part of a comprehensive noise reduction strategy, and employees should be trained in the use of any hearing protection required.

In order to provide full rated protection, your hearing protection solution must be worn for the entire exposure period. Even removal for a short period can drastically reduce the effective protection provided. Wearing hearing protection 99% of the time (removed for five minutes during an average 8 hour shift) reduces maximum protection to 20 dB. Wearing hearing protection 95% of the time (less than a half hour during a typical eight-hour work shift) reduces maximum protection to 13 dB, and wearing hearing protection 90% of the time (roughly 45 minutes during a typical eight-hour work shift) reduces maximum protection to 10 dB. Hearing protection must be worn at all times to provide listed benefits, without exceptions.

Your work environment must be rated individually to determine the weighted average noise level for your work area, and what level of protection is required; the following are merely overall estimations of possible workplace noise levels. A typical office environment has an overall noise level of roughly 50 dB; a normal conversation is rated at roughly 60 dB; typical street noise is rated at roughly 70 dB; a noisy office environment or call center is rated at roughly 80 dB. Anything above 85 dB will cause hearing damage with sufficient exposure. A noisy factory setting can easily rate roughly 90 dB; a lawnmower engine rates roughly 100 dB; a wood chipper or a rock concert rates roughly 120 dB. Anything above 125 dB will cause pain and risk immediate damage for any exposure length without protection; 140 dB is the maximum prolonged exposure recommended while wearing hearing protection.

Typical hearing protection solutions consist of earplugs or earmuffs worn to block out sound; for best results, these solutions must be worn at all times, and should be fitted to the wearer. Ear plugs are simpler to use, more convenient to carry, less expensive to replace, and more comfortable in hot or wet work environments than earmuffs; however, they do not provide the level of protection full earmuffs provide, are not as easily visible (and thus it is more difficult to verify that they are being worn), and must be inserted properly to provide maximum protection. Earmuffs usually provide superior protection, are easier to fit properly, are more durable, and can be worn over earplugs to provide additional protection; however, they are significantly more expensive and are less comfortable in hot environments.

Personal stereo systems with headphones or earphones (such as MP3 players and CD players) are not a noise protection solution, and in fact can cause hearing damage by themselves; a typical personal stereo system can reach a maximum output of between 105 and 120 dB at full volume, and many people use these systems to ‘block out’ external noise - increasing the user’s noise exposure, and causing increased risks of hearing damage. However, NRR-rated headphones do exist, and OSHA has issued a letter of acceptance of this as a protection under the condition that the noise level produced by the stereo system does not exceed 85 dB. Systems with ‘Automatic Volume Limiters’ are typically designed to limit maximum output of the system to meet this specification.

Electronic noise cancelling earmuffs combine the passive protection of an NRR-rated noise reduction earmuff system with active noise cancellation systems geared towards a specific noise environment, or with filtering to reduce or eliminate the effects of impact noise (such as gunfire) while not interfering with speech. These systems are typically given multiple ratings depending on the base NRR level and on possible performance enhancements when used in an appropriate environment.

American Work Safety, a division of Anchortex Corporation, is a major distributor of disposable and reusable earplugs and earmuffs to military, public safety, industrial, and personal users. For more information, or to request products not listed on our website, please use our contact form, or call our friendly sales representatives at 856-768-5240.

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April 9, 2010 by Austin Cushing.

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Hunters, wildlife management officers, and game control agencies often use night vision rifle scopes and other night vision equipment to assist in deer hunting, varmint control, and other activities that are easier at night. The right night vision scope can make the difference between a perfect shot and the buck that got away.

Night vision systems are rated in terms of Generation, or Gen for short. There are three broad  Generation levels, each signifying a significant leap in technological development over the previous generation of night vision equipment.

Generation 1

Generation 1 night vision equipment is designed to function under standard ambient light conditions (moonlight or starlight) or with sufficient IR illumination. It typically makes use of an S-20 photocathode with average photosensitivity of 180-200 µA/lm coupled with electron acceleration to achieve gain. Generation 1 devices are known to suffer from geometric distortion (the fish-eye effect). Gen 1 image intensifiers have a duty cycle of approximately 1,500 hours of continuous operation.

Generations 2, 2+ and Super Gen

Generation 2 devices are prone to significantly less distortion than Gen 1 devices, and provide better-than-satisfactory performance under standard low-light levels. They usually rely on an extended-red S-25 photocathode (with minimum photosensitivity of 240 µA/lm), plus a microchannel plate to achieve gain. European ‘Super Gen’ tubes represent the high end of Generation 2 night vision, achieving performance levels similar to early Gen 3 intensifier equipment. Gen 2 image intensifiers have a duty cycle of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 hours of continuous operation.

Generation 3

The most advanced level of night vision technology currently available, Gen 3 uses gallium-arsenide photocathodes with photosensitivity of more than 800 µA/lm in the 450 to 950 nanometer (near infrared) region of the spectrum, with a microchannel plate for gain. An ion barrier film coats the microchannel plate, extending the life of the end product. Gen 3 night vision provides excellent performance even under extreme low light levels. Mil-spec versions of Generation 3 night vision equipment have practically no perceptible distortion, while even civilian equipment provides substantial advantages in clarity over its predecessors. A typical Generation 3 image intensifier has a duty cycle of approximately 10,000 hours of continuous operation.

Each generation of night vision equipment offers a significant improvement in functional range, expected lifespan, and image resolution over its predecessor. A top-of-the-line commercial Generation 3 rifle scope such as the Night Optics D-760-3A can withstand the recoil of heavy-caliber weapons while providing target recognition out to a quarter of a mile away, ensuring that even at night, you’ll be aiming at the right target.

With hunting season approaching, now is an excellent time to invest in a new night vision scope, high-visibility outdoor wear, hiking boots, and other survival and outdoor gear. If this article has inspired you, we encourage you to visit our website at http://www.americanoutdoorgear.com/ for these and other tools. In addition to our listed brands, we have products from over 120 manufacturers to suit your needs on your next hunting trip - just call for quotes.

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