FSSA Technical Committee Meets At 31st FSSA Annual Meeting February 23, 2013
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The FSSA Technical Committee met on Friday, February 22 at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Asociation. 18 committee members and 16 guests attended the meeting held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Grove Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida.
Technical Committee chairman, Dan Hubert, led the meeting which covered a variety of industry topics including:
- FSSA’s representation on various NFPA committees
- Agency reports from representatives from both UL and FM
- Sub-committee reports on numerous projects including:
- Room Pressurization
- Clean Agent/Hazard Analysis Guide
- Best Practices for Recycled Agents
- Radiant Heat Flux
- Co2 Design Guide
- Training Modules
The FSSA Technical Committee is active in developing technical reference documents and manuals that are published and available through the FSSA web site at www.fssa.net. Many of these technical publications are referenced in several NFPA standards including NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Extinguishing Systems (9) and NFPA 12 Standard on Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishing Systems (10).
The 31st FSSA annual meeting formally starts tonight with a poolside welcoming reception for all attendees.
Fire System Contractors Advisory Board To Meet February 20, 2013 June 8, 2012
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems, Uncategorized.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, low-voltage, NFPA, Protex Central, security
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The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office has announced that a Fire Extinguishing System Contractors and Alarm Systems Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 20, 2013 beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the ICN Room #122 at the Public Safety Building – 215 East 7th Street in Des Moines.
The proposed agenda includes:
- Call to Order – Chairperson Hoover
- Introduction of New Licensing Clerk, Jeannie Shepherd
- Approve February 1, 2012 Meeting Minutes
- Continuing Education for the Fire Protection Installer & Maintenance Worker Licensing
- Licensing Endorsements for the Fire Protection Installer & Maintenance Worker for Pre-engineered kitchen and Pre-engineered industrial
- Jonathan Lund, City of Des Moines Fire Department
a) Underground piping for sprinkler systems
b) Fire alarm installation as it relates to electricians
c) Residential 13D systems
- Presentation on The Compliance Engine – Ray Reynolds
- Public Comment
- Other Business
For information about the Board or to contact the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office, call 515-725-6156 or visit the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Web Site.
FSSA Prepares to Celebrate 30th Annual Meeting February 25, 2012
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Uncategorized.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, Data Centers, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, hot aisle cold aisle, NFPA
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The Fire Suppression Systems Association is set to celebrate 30 years of fire protection excellence beginning tonight at the opening reception at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Over 150 attendees will gather to renew friendships, share industry experiences and learn about new activities and initiatives being undertaken by the FSSA.
The in addition to numerous committee reporting sessions, this three day annual meeting features several seminars including:
- Keynote Speaker: economist Alan Beaulieu
- Technical Session: Fire Protection Challenges with Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle Containment in Data Centers
- Educational Session: Liability for the NICET Designer
- Educational Session: Maximizing Your Productivity & Efficiency When You’re On the Road
Industry leaders William Eckholm, President and CEO of Firetrace International, and Roger Bourgeois, Founder and President of Bourgeois & Associates, Inc., will be presented with FSSA’s Leadership Award during the President’s Banquet on Monday evening, February 27th.
The FSSA Leadership Award is presented annually to honor individuals in the special hazards fire protection industry that have shown great leadership and responsibility in their professional and personal lives. When choosing a recipient, the FSSA Awards Committee takes into consideration a variety of attributes including dedication to and longevity in the industry, integrity and fairness in their work, and a desire for innovation and change to improve the industry.
To learn more visit: www.fssa.net.
The 30th Annual Meeting concludes on Tuesday, February 28th.
Open Letter to Iowa House Commerce Commitee February 18, 2012
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Uncategorized.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, iowa state fire marshal, nurse call systems, Protex Central, surety bond requirement
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The following letter was sent to the Iowa House of Representatives Commerce Committee in opposition to HB 2035.
Representative Sodeberg and sub-committee members:
Please know that I, as a registered Iowa contractor and an Iowa State Fire Marshal certified contractor for fire alarm, fire suppression, security and nurse call systems, am opposed to HF 2035 requiring contractors such as myself to post a surety bond.
Requiring a surety bond is unnecessary and, frankly, another attempt for government to interfere with private agreements between contractors and owners. In fact, many owners both public and private already require surety bonds to be posted as a part of the contract.
Iowa State Fire Marshal certified contractors must currently submit an acceptable certificate of insurance along with other industry related credentials to qualify for a contractor’s certification. The surety bond provides absolutely no additional benefit to the citizens of Iowa that the contractor is more qualified and capable of performing his or her work.
Such a requirement further penalizes the fire systems contractor by requiring yet another expense to be met with no benefit to either the contractor or the public.
I have served the citizens of Iowa as an industry representative to the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Fire System Contractors Advisory Board for six years now. I am very familiar with the current regulations imposed by law on such contractors as I have been part of the process from the beginning. This surety bond requirement is unnecessary and bad public policy.
I encourage you to not allow this bill to come before your full committee for a vote.
Sub-committee members and their respective e-mail addresses are:
Representative Chuck Soderberg (committee chair): chuck.soderberg@legis.state.ia.us
Representative Jeff Smith: Jeff.Smith@legis.state.ia.us
Representative Chip Baltimore: Chip.Baltimore@legis.state.ia.us
Representative Brian Quirk: brian.quirk@legis.state.ia.us
FSSA Presents Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle Challenges at SFPE November 27, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Uncategorized.add a comment
Members of FSSA’s technical committee recently prepared and presented a review of emerging fire protection issues in data centers that employ hot aisle/cold aisle containment techniques.
In response to requests from FSSA installer members, the technical committee set about to itemize the numerous fire protection challenges posed by various methods of containing hot and cold air in a data facility.
Technical committee members Steve Carter, Jeffery Kidd, John Spalding and Paul Rivers developed and presented a review of their findings at the resent Society of Fire Protection Engineers annual meeting held in Portland, Oregon this past October.
Their presentation highlighted five main challenges that hot asile/cold aisle containment system pose to fire protection systems:
- Obstructions
- Inadequate automatic obstruction removal
- Multiple areas of containment
- High temperatures
- High airflow velocities
Additional information and details about FSSA’s continuing awareness on this issue will be presented at FSSA’s upcoming 30th annual meeting in Rancho Mirage, California on February 25 – 28, 2012. For more information visit www.fssa.net.
Click on link to view a copy of the SFPE slide deck presentation: Emerging Fire Protection Challenges With Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle Containment In Data Center.
FESCAB Meeting Postponed Until Dec. 21, 2011 November 10, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems, Uncategorized.add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office has postponed the regularly scheduled November meeting of the Fire Extinguishing Systems Contractors Advisory Board until December 21, 2011.
For more information, please contact the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office at 515-725-6156.
FESCAB Meeting Postponed Until Nov 16, 2011 October 11, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Iowa Alarm Association, Security Systems, Uncategorized.add a comment
The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office has postponed the regularly scheduled October meeting of the Fire Extinguishing Systems Contractors Advisory Board until November 16, 2011. The October date conflicts with the Hawkeye State Fire Safety Association’s annual meeting in Ankeny.
For more information, please contact the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office at 515-725-6156.
Wahl Paints Way Towards New Creative Awareness February 27, 2011
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FSSA President Rick Scott Greets Artist Erik Wahl
Conference keynote speaker and artist, Erik Wahl, dazzled and inspired attendees at today’s FSSA’s Framing for Success opening session.
Beginning by painting a bold-colored portrait of famed basketball star, Michael Jordan, Wahl emphasized how each of us at one point in our lives was an active and creative artist – even with Crayola crayons. At some point, however, we began to suppress the creative right-side of our minds. We began to focus on the logical, orderly left-side where conformity is prized – especially in business.
Wahl encouraged the attendees to recognize that drawing and other expressive activities can be learned and in the process begin to seek ideas and solutions outside the lines. In fact, he encouraged conversation and dialog during his presentation by allowing attendees to text, e-mail and chat on their cell phones and PDAs.
According to Wahl, “fear” kills performance because it represents False Evidence Appearing Real. His solution of exercising right-brain creativity overcomes fear and can lead to new solutions and ideas.
After completing portraits of the Statue of Liberty and Albert Einstein, Wahl concluded his 90-minute presentation by encouraging attendees to stop being perfect and start being remarkable.
Wahl Portraits Drawn During FSSA Presentation
Two of Wahl’s portraits will be auctioned off at the upcoming President’s reception to the benefit of the FSSA’s Educational Foundation.
FSSA’s annual meeting continues through Tuesday, March 1.
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
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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.
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
Onward and Upward 