Fire Extinguishing Contractors’ Board Postponed Until February 16 January 12, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office has postponed the January 19, 2011 meeting of the Fire Extinguishing Contractors’ Board. The next meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, February 16, 2011 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 3rd Floor State Fire Marshal Conference Room #343.
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Does Recent EPA Ruling Affect Fire Protection Systems? January 10, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.add a comment
The Environmental Protection Agency issued regulations effective December 31, 2010 to require monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from additional sources of fluorinated greenhouse gases, including electronics manufacturing, fluorinated gas production, electrical equipment use, electrical equipment manufacture or refurbish, as well as importers and exporters of pre-charged equipment and closed-cell foams. 
This rule requires monitoring of greenhouse gases for these source categories only for sources with carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, imports, or exports above certain threshold levels. This rule does not require control of greenhouse gases.
Many fire protection professionals have asked if these new regulations apply to fire protection systems and fire extinguishers.
The Fire Suppression Systems Association recently announced that its review of the regulations indicated that it appears that the rule only covers refrigeration appliances and would not include fire protection systems or extinguishers.
For a more details, contact the Fire Suppression Systems Association at www.fssa.net
Iowa Alarm Association Meets January 20 January 8, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire protection, life safety, low-voltage, security
add a comment
The Iowa Alarm Association’s first meeting of the year will take place on January 20, 2011 at Smokey D’s BBQ Restaurant in Des Moines beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Featured speaker for the meeting will be Jonathan Lund, Fire Protection Engineer with the City of Des Moines Fire Prevention Bureau. He will be discussing fire alarm plan review and submittal procedures. Lund has been in the position since joining the department in 2008. He is a graduate in fire protection from Oklahoma State University. He is also president of Lund Fire Protection.
New officers for the coming year were elected at the December meeting and are:
Ron Heldt, President
Bill Howard, Vice President
Matt Sarcone, Secretary
Ken Samek, Treasurer
Persons and companies involved with security, life safety and low-voltage systems are encouraged and welcome to attend. If possible, please RSVP to Ron Heldt at ADT Security Systems.
Fire Extinguisher Contractors’ Advisory Board To Meet January 19 December 31, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: fire, fire alarm, fire suppression, Fire Systems
add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Fire Extinguishing Contractors and Alarm Systems Advisory Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, January 19th, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 3rd Floor State Fire Marshal Conference Room #343.
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Chinese Plant Explosion Impacts HFC-based Clean Agents December 24, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Uncategorized.Tags: clean agents, fire suppression
10 comments
DuPont recently notified clean agent system hardware manufacturers that HFC-based clean agents such as HFC-227-ea (branded as FM-200) and HFC-125 (branded as ECARO) could be at reduced production levels due to a plant explosion in China.
According to a recent industry newsletter, the Chinese plant where the explosion occurred produces a base raw material used in the manufacturing of HFC-based clean agents. Without continuing supplies of this base raw material, production of new agent may be affected.
The length of the disruption in the supply chain and the extent of the agent shortages is unknown. As a result, manufacturers have in many cases have passed along price increases to distributors and installers of their products.
Recycled agents are available from several EPA approved vendors, however, their supply is subject to availability of salvaged sources.
Fire Contractors Advisory Board Meets November 17 November 11, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Fire Extinguishing Contractors and Alarm Systems Advisory Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday, November 17, 2010 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 3rd Floor State Fire Marshal Conference Room #343.
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Among the topics to be discussed will be a review of the implementation of the Fire Protection Installer and Maintenance Worker Program that became effective on October 1st.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Oct 1 Starts Fire Protection Installer & Maintenance Worker Licensing September 24, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Systems, FSSA, Uncategorized.add a comment
October 1, 2010 marks the start of new licensing requirements in the State of Iowa for Fire Protection Installers and Maintenance Workers. After almost three years of back and forth with the Iowa legislature and the State Fire Marshal’s office, the new requirements are finally in place and ready to take effect.
Individuals who work with various fire protection systems including fire sprinklers, special hazards systems (including pre-engineered kitchen and industrial systems) and residential water-based fire protection systems will need to be licensed. The requirements do allow for a Fire Protection and Maintenance Worker Trainee license as well.
For more information and to download a PDF copy of the application form visit: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/building/fesccp/forms.shtml
Proposed Rules Hearing Date Set for July 6, 2010 May 27, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Systems, FSSA, Uncategorized.add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office is planning to hold a public hearing on July 6, 2010 at 9 a.m. on proposed rules for the “Licensing of Fire Protection System Installers and Maintenance Workers.”
The proposed rules would provide for the establishment and administration of the licensing program, including licensing requirements, license fess, insurance and bonding requirements, disciplinary action against licenses, application forms, examination procedures, and procedures for reporting violations of the rules.
Persons who wish to make oral presentation at the public hearing should contact the Agency Rules Administrator at least one day prior to the public hearing. Any written comments or information regarding these proposed rules may be directed to the Agency Rules Administrator at the hearing or by 4:30 p.m. the day of the hearing.
The address for the State Public Safety Headquarters Building is 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319. Additional contact information is available at http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/index.shtml
Protex Central Fires Up Clean and Green Demo April 24, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, fire suppression, NFPA, Protex Central
add a comment
We’re expanding our popular Clean and Green Fire Suppression Demonstrations to our Omaha, Nebraska location. Our next Clean and Green demonstration dates are set for Tuesday, May 4 in our Urbandale, IA location and on Wednesday, May 5 in our Papillion, Nebraska offices.
If you’ve never experienced a clean agent fire suppression event, here’s your chance.
You can learn more by visiting:
Protex Central, Inc. or see a video clip at: PitchEngine
Dry-Pipe Doesn’t Mean Clean Agent April 2, 2010
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: Data Centers, Fire Systems, NFPA
add a comment
Here are a couple of my comments regarding a recent entry found at: http://www.colocationblog.org/
Friend, you’re exactly correct. The notion of “dry-pipe” is a misnomer for inferring that clean agent fire suppression is in place. Moreover, the installation of fire sprinklers is to meet a building code – not the operational objectives of a datacenter (how many 9’s is it?)
One point of clarification – neither Halon 1301, FM-200, Novec 1230 or other clean agents listed for total flooding applications deplete oxygen in a protected space. In the case of Halon 1301, it chemically interrupts the chain of combustion (See NFPA 12A appendix for more information). The other noted agents essentially absorb heat to suppress the fire (See NFPA 2001 for more information).
The idea that all gaseous agents deplete oxygen to suppress the fire flows from the way the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) systems work and, to some extent, the way Hollywood portrays the technology. CO2 is NOT recommend for total flooding applications where personnel may be present (See NFPA 12 for important safety requirements).
This topic is very timely. Read more about Google’s recent datacenter fire at my blog: shawnpci.wordpress.com
Onward and Upward 