FSSA’s 33rd Annual Meeting Underway February 22, 2015
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President, Eric Burkland, welcomed over 190 delegates to the opening session of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Fire Suppression Systems Association at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Burkland thanked all those in attendance for making the effort to attend and support the robust health of the organization.
With 17 new members during the last year and an upswing in revenues from dues, annual meeting fees, increased publication sales and promotions of the new training program, Burkland reported on the significant strides the association as made in the last 12 months.
Several committee reports followed Burkland’s opening remarks including Steve Carter, the FSSA’s current treasurer. Carter recapped several financial highlights and credited the membership with promoting addtional new members as well as supporting the on-line training program and publications.
Dan Hubert, chair of the Technical Committee, shared his committee’s activities by outlining the numerous tasks that the Board of Directors has charged them with including new Guides covering Hazard Analysis/Hazard Protection; “Clean” Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Agents; and two additional separate Guides on Water Mist and Hybrid Systems. Hubert also promoted the fact that several existing Guides are in their 3rd edition: Pressure Venting and Pipe Design. The Testing Guide for use with Special Hazard Fire Suppression Sytems is in its 4th edition.
FSSA’s Codes and Standards Oversight Committee Chair, Derek Wester, presented a comprehensive overview of FSSA’s participation on over 23 NFPA committees and noted that there are currently seven vacancies on various committees that FSSA needs to fill. Wester also announced that an added benefit of FSSA membership will be exclusive access to all NFPA committee meeting recap notices filed by FSSA representatives. This invaluable resource will help keep FSSA members up-to-date on specific committee actions and new developments within the codes and standards committees represented.
The expanding awareness of public policy by the FSSA was reviewed by Bill Eckholm, committee chair. Eckholm touched on numerous international agreements involving climate change and their affect on the special hazards industry. Along with the several protocols being watched, Eckholm highlighted two efforts in the U.S. that warrant members’ attention: Senate Bill 2911 seeking to authorize EPA to regulate short-lived greenhouse gases using the SNAP and the Super Pollutants Act. Eckholm invited all members to be vigilant with keeping FSSA’s headquarters appraised of any local or state initiatives affecting the industry as well.
The final committee report was offered by Joe Ziemba, chair of the Marketing Committee. He summarized the many efforts now underway to promote the FSSA to new and diverse audiences. The overall goal of the committee’s efforts is being led by P E G: Promote; Educate and Grow. In each task, the committee seeks to advance awareness of the FSSA in various formats and venues. Promotion of industry Guides as well as the On-line Training Program are beginning to take shape with this committee’s efforts. A future activity involves development of FSSA sponsored webinars which will focus on various topics important to the industry.
The 33rd Annual Meeting continues tomorrow, Monday, February 23rd.
Industry Gathers for 33rd Annual FSSA Meeting February 20, 2015
Posted by shawnpci in Change Leadership, Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, NICET, Uncategorized.Tags: alarm, Change Leadership, clean agent, clean agents, Data Centers, explosions, fire, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, hot aisle cold aisle, life safety, NFPA, Protex Central
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Over 190 members of the fire suppression systems industry are gathering in Clearwater Beach, Florida to participate in the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Fire Suppression Systems Association at the Sandpearl Resort.
The three-day event will feature presentations from the Association’s Technical Committee Chair, Daniel Hubert, as well as the Association’s Technical Director, Tom Wysocki. Association president, Eric Burkland, will recap recent developments and improvments in the Association’s new on-line Training Program.
FSSA’s involvement with NFPA Code and Standards development will be highlighted by Derek Wester who provides oversight of the Association’s participation. Bill Eckholm, chair of FSSA’s Public Policy Comittee will report on recent committee activities.
The opening session’s Keynote Presentation will be by Geno Church, Chief Word of Mouth Inspiration Officer of Brains on Fire. His presentation, THE PASSION CONVERSATION, changes one’s perspective on marketing by explaining the three motivations for why people talk about businesses and causes.
Other topics of interest to be presented will include updates on NICET, challenges in data center fire protection, exposure limits of HF in museum and archive applications as well as innovations in industrial explosion protection.
As always, several networking events are planned throught the course of the event.
For more information about FSSA and its annual meeting, visit www.fssa.net.
The meeting runs through Tuesday, February 24th.
DSM Business Record Highlights NOVEC 1230 January 24, 2015
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Good Stuff to Share, Iowa Alarm Association, NICET, Uncategorized.add a comment
Shawn Mullen, SET, President and Chief Energy Officer of Protex Central, Inc., was recently highlighted in a column by David Elbert of the Des Moines Business Record.
The focus of the article was the “magic” of 3M’s Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid.
Popular Installers’ Townhall Continues at FSSA February 25, 2014
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The popular installers’ townhall meeting was held on the last day of the the 32nd annual meeting of the Fire Suppression Systems Association at the Lowes Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego.
Over 75 installer member companies attended the morning meeting. A wide range of topics were covered including seismic bracing, training expenses, recruiting techniques, third party safety compliance services, shor-term labor demands, DOT Globally Harmonized Systems implementation issues, and the new healthcare requirements.
Participants offered examples and real-life experiences on several of the topics. Many attendees learned of new ways of looking at old problems. The 90 minute session went quickly as members exchanged views, ideas and opinions.
The 32nd annual meeting concludes today, February 25th.
Metal Fire Hazards Discussed at 32nd FSSA Meeting February 24, 2014
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The Monday morning session of the 32nd annual meeting of the Fire Suppression Systems Association featured three presentations on fire hazards associated with metals.
Keith Kreitman, Fire Chief of the Redding, CA Fire Department, presented on the hazards associated with fighting live metal fires from the fire service’s point of view. He cited numerous fires involving metals in chip or powered form. Water-based suppression of these incidents was shown to accelerate and intensify the fires. Kreitman explained that traditional fire fighting techniques hold that with enough water application, a metal fire can be extinguished. However, he noted that approaches are changing and that in many cases allowing a metal-based fire to burn itself out is the best course of action. Follow the link below to view some of the dramatic videos that Kreitman shared with the group.
Mahmood Tabaddor, with Underwriter’s Laboratories, reviewed the numerous tests that UL is conducting on lithium-ion batteries. These types of metal-based batteries are becoming more widely used and present fire protection challenges in both the manufacturing and usage of these batteries. Additionally, he noted that the numerous types of battery configurations present testing challenges.
Katherine Adrian of Tyco Fire Protection and Doug Meyers of Minimax USA offered a joint presentation on challenges addressed by commercially available solutions to fight metal-based fires. They referenced guidance provided by NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals. They also highlighted industries where class D fires are common. Emphasis on the importance of housekeeping throughout processes was noted as one of the most important ways to mitigate class D fires. They discussed that active fire suppression of class D fires is best achieved by inert gases by lowering the available oxygen to the fire to below 4% residual.
The FSSA’s 32nd annual meeting concludes on February 25th.
Industry Networking Featured At 32nd Annual FSSA Meeting February 23, 2014
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Good Stuff to Share, Mass Notification Systems, Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Industry networking is a featured benefit of the 32nd annual meeting of the Fire Suppression System Association at the Lowes Coronado Resort in San Diego, California.
Over 170 participants have gathered for the two and a half day event. Keynote presentations along with focused breakout sessions present opportunities for members to meet, interact and discuss. Trending industry topics being presented include new proposals for the NFPA 2001 standard requiring reclaimed agent purity certification.
Other presentation are centered on an end-user’s perspective of clean agent gaseous systems as well as fire protection options for the petroleum, oil and gas production industries.
Keynote speaker, Tim Wackel, has offered many tips and insights on the continual training necessary to be a top notch sales performer. The informative and entertaining presentation has re-energized members with several positive and professional ways to engage customers. To learn more about Wackel’s perspective visit: The Tim Wackel Group
The 32nd annual meeting continues through Tuesday, February 25th.
FSSA’s 32nd Annual Meeting Set To Begin February 21, 2014
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The 32nd annual meeting of the Fire Suppression Systems Association is set to begin tomorrow, February 21, 2014 at the Lowes Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, CA.
The meeting will feature keynote presentations and seminars on a variety of industry related topics including recent updates on NFPA codes and standards, FSSA’s expanding on-line technician training program, end-user perspectives of clean agent systems, agent purity in reclamation process, fire protection options with metal fires and networking opportunities.
Over 180 attendees are expected to attend the three day event. The annual meeting concludes on February 25, 2014.
IEP Technologies Acquires UTC’s Explosion Suppression Businesses July 24, 2013
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: dustexplosions, explosions, Fenwal, fire protection, Fire Systems, life safety, NFPA, Protex Central
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UTC Climate, Controls and Security announced yesterday, July 23, 2013, that it has sold its Industrial Explosion Protection business to IEP Technologies, LLC of Boston, MA.
IEP Technolgoies, LLC is a new company formed from four leading explosion protection companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. According to their press release, their mission is to offer leading edge explosion protection solutions to their customers worldwide by designing the best protection solutions, manufacturing innovative explosion protection components; providing precise applications engineering; and supporting their systems with responsive sales/service.
The new company was formed in response to UTC’s transformation to divest non-core businesses. The explosion protection business is a niche business which requires customized application engineering; best suited to a single focused company.
Leadership of the new company comes from the four acquired business units. Randy Davis, Chief Executive Officer and President, is a 26 year industry veteran and most recently was General Manager of Global Explosion Protection for United Technologies Fire and Security.
According to a press release from Sentinel Equity Partners, the private equity firm that formed IEP Technologies, Eric D. Bommer, a Sentinel partner said, “We are very excited about IEP Technologies’ growth potential and thrilled to be partnering with its talented management team.” IEP Technologies’ creation came about through a lot of hard work by IEP Technologies’ management, Sentinel’s team, and a large group of dedicated outside advisers to complete a highly complex corporate carve-out, including four separate business units spread across four different countries.”
Protex Central, Inc is an authorized service center for Fenwal IEP Technologies for the states of Iowa and Nebraska.
To learn more about IEP Technologies, click here.
NFPA Considering New Standard for Hybrid, Gas and Fine Water Droplet Systems May 23, 2013
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, clean agents, fire, fire protection, fire suppression, fire suppression systems, Fire Systems, FSSA, insurance underwriters, life safety, NFPA, nfpa standards council, Protex Central, water droplet, water mist systems
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The NFPA Standards Council is considering a proposal by Victaulic for a proposed new standard for Hybrid, gas and fine water droplet systems. The Council is soliciting public comments on the need for the project, information on resources on the subject matter, those interested in participating on a technical committee if established, and experience in the intended application of this technology. The Council is specifically looking for manufacturers that 
are actively developing hybrid droplet systems and whether there are enough common installation practices and procedures available to support a standard, and the intended application for this technology. The Council is also seeking input on whether the subject matter could be covered by an existing technical committee or possibly through the creation of a new document.
I’ve written to NFPA in support of such a standard’s creation. Here’s my pitch:
As a 28 year veteran of the special hazards fire suppression industry and from my vantage point as past president of the Fire Suppression Systems Association, I write in support of a new standard for hybrid, gas and fine water droplet systems.
The innovative technology involved with these hybrid systems is not adequately addressed by any existing NFPA standard whether it be NFPA 13, NFPA 15, NFPA 750 or NFPA 2001. Because of the lack of any clear and definitive standard, these new hybrid systems are at a disadvantage in the marketplace. AHJ’s, insurance underwriters, owners, engineers and other stakeholders are reluctant to embrace these systems because of no nationally recognized standard to which they can look for guidance in the design, installation, testing and maintenance of these systems. Moreover, independent third party testing agencies are prevented from listing such systems without the existence of a nationally recognized standard from an organization such as NFPA.
As an installer of special hazards systems including clean agent and water mist systems, I see a clear need for an independent standard. Too often we see applications that have to settle for a less than optimum solution because there is no national standard to which they can turn for reference and support. This is a disservice to a marketplace that is innovating new products and systems, yet is prevented from the benefits of similar fire suppression innovation because of the lack of a standard.
I encourage NFPA to seriously consider the establishment of a separate standard for hybrid, gas and fine water droplet systems. If need be, I would be willing to consider submitting my qualifications and resume for membership on such a new standard committee. Feel free to contact me if I may be of further assistance to the Standards Council in considering this important request.
The public comment phase is open until May 30, 2013. Persons wishing to submit comments should address them to Amy Cronin, Standards Council Secretary and e-mail to mmanyard@nfpa.org.
Industry To Gather for FSSA 31st Annual Forum February 22, 2013
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, fire, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, hot aisle cold aisle, NFPA, Protex Central
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Over 170 industry leaders will gather for the 31st Fire Suppression Systems Association Annual Forum in Bonita Springs, Florida beginning Saturday, February 23rd through Tuesday, February 26, 2013. 
A variety of topics ranging from economic outlooks to environmental impact trends will engage the attendees. Mixed with industry networking opportunities and social events The 31st Annual Forum is shaping up to be another great meeting.
Onward and Upward will blog daily from the meeting site with observations and industry insights. Stay tuned!
To learn more about FSSA, visit www.fssa.net
Onward and Upward 