Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural facility for housing a plurality of animals includes the step of regulating the environment within the agricultural facility with an automated building operational system. An automated thermal event controller is operationally coupled with the automated building operational system and generates a thermal event signal in response to a thermal event in progress, whereby the automated thermal event controller, upon receipt of the thermal event signal indicating that the thermal event is in progress, activates an alarm state. In the alarm state, the automated thermal event controller: sends an alarm signal to a system administrator; places the automated building operational system in a safety-mode condition for a first predetermined time interval; and places the automated building operational system in a normal-mode operational condition after the first predetermined time interval and if a confirmatory signal is not yet then received from the system administrator.

Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural facility for housing a plurality of animals includes the step of regulating the environment within the agricultural facility with an automated building operational system. An automated thermal event controller is operationally coupled with the automated building operational system and generates a thermal event signal in response to a thermal event in progress, whereby the automated thermal event controller, upon receipt of the thermal event signal indicating that the thermal event is in progress, activates an alarm state. In the alarm state, the automated thermal event controller: sends an alarm signal to a system administrator; places the automated building operational system in a safety-mode condition for a first predetermined time interval; and places the automated building operational system in a normal-mode operational condition after the first predetermined time interval and if a confirmatory signal is not yet then received from the system administrator.

Abstract: An improved footwear traction device designed to provide enhanced traction for the wearer while walking on ice, snow, and other slippery surfaces without causing damage to finished floors and carpeting is disclosed. The footwear traction device includes an elastic member having releasable engaging member for attaching the device about the sole and instep of the wearer's shoe. The traction device includes a reversible, frictional component fabricated from a hygroscopic fibrous material which is instantaneously frozen when the water-laden frictional component is placed into direct contact with an icy surface thereby temporarily freezing the wearer's shoe to the icy surface to provide improved traction. The frictional component is constructed to include an interrupted, ribbed pattern on the ground engaging surface thereof which is disposed transversely to the direction of walking so as to provide a measure of mechanical resistance to slippage on surfaces which are not completely frozen.