Popular Clean and Green Demo Dates Announced April 30, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, clean agents, Data Centers, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, NFPA, Protex Central
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Protex Central’s popular Clean and Green Fire Suppression Demonstrations dates are set for Tuesday, May 17 in our Papillion, NE location and on Wednesday, May 18 in our Urbandale, IA 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
Iowa Fire Contractors Advisory Board to Meet April 13 April 12, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, Security Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, NFPA, security
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The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Fire Extinguishing Contractors’ Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2011 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319, 1st Floor Conference Room #125.
Slated for discussion are the following items:
- Update from sub-committee on electrical inspections of fire alarm systems
- What constitutes an alarm system that is being installed to be licensed?
- How will the endorsement of the three year provisional be handled on the alarm program?
- Discussion on continuing education for the fire protection installer and maintenance worker
- Qualifying documentation for renewal in two years for the fire protection installer and maintenance worker
The meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Please visit: Advisory Board Home Page for additional information and updates.
Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle Containment Issues Presented March 1, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, clean agents, fire, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, hot aisle cold aisle, NFPA
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Example of HACS/CACS solution
Challenges created by hot aisle/cold aisle containment systems (HACS/CACS) to effective fire suppression system design were presented at FSSA’s Framing for Success Annual Meeting by Jeffery Kidd of New England Fire Systems.
Kidd presented the variety of HACS/CACS solutions that are being implemented in data centers to deal with increasing heat loads. He cited recent studies that showed average data center operating temperatures rising from an average of 72 degrees before 2004 to 81 degrees in 2008. He also noted that it’s not uncommon for hot aisle temperatures to reach well over 100 degrees.
Proposals are currently being presented to the technical committees of NFPA 75 and NFPA 76 to recognize the challenges posed to fire suppression systems by these HACS/CACS efforts.
Kidd noted several items to consider when designing or modifying a fire suppression system where HACS/CACS systems are used including: detection for high air flows; agent design considerations for higher ambient temperatures and obstacle interference for nozzle placement.
FSSA’s annual meeting concludes on March 1.
Non-fire Related System Releases Discussed February 28, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: alarm, clean agent, clean agents, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA
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Non-fire related system releases were discussed during a presentation at FSSA’s Framing for Success Annual Meeting in San Juan. Installers Division chair, Eric Burkland, presented a review of six top reasons for non-fire related system releases.
The top six discussed were: (1) dirty smoke detectors, (2) products of combustion caused by HVAC heating elements, (3) freon leaks, (4) unintentional manual release activation, (5) end-user hazard modifications with no regard on system impact and (6) power surges such as lightning strikes.
HFC-227-ea System Discharge
The top six were a result of a non-scientific survey conducted among FSSA installer members prior to the annual meeting. Burkland also discussed several preventative measures that would help to prevent unwanted system releases.
Those preventative measures included: routine system maintenance by qualified personnel; HVAC maintenance; signage installation; personnel training; installation of surge suppressors and notification of qualified personnel when modifying a hazard area.
FSSA’s Framing for Success annual meeting continues through March 1.
Technical Chair Hubert Highlights Activities February 28, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agent, clean agents, Data Centers, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA, NFPA
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FSSA’s technical committee chair, Dan Hubert, presented highlights of the technical committee’s work over the past year during a session yesterday at FSSA’s Framing for Success Annual Meeting.
Hubert provided details on a variety of efforts underway with the committee including major contributions to the NFPA comment cycles for 2001 and 72. He noted that FSSA is represented on over 37 NFPA standards committees.
Additionally, he announced the third in a series of Carbon Dioxide design guides covering total flooding applications. It forms a trilogy of documents with the previously published guides for local application rate-by-volume and local application rate-by-area.
Other topics being worked on are design considerations for data centers with hot aisle/cold aisle arrangements, and a possible white paper discussing Class C design concentration applications.
Hubert unveiled a unique software program developed by the committee that quickly and easily correlates all of the NFPA occupancy standards with all of the NFPA design standards. Free copies of the software will be distributed to all meeting attendees on a jump drive.
FSSA’s annual meeting continues in San Juan through March 1.
Erik Wahl Keynotes FSSA’s 2011 Framing for Success February 19, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Change Leadership, Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA, Good Stuff to Share.Tags: alarm, Change Leadership, clean agent, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, FSSA
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Erik Wahl, groundbreaking artist and communicator, challenges organizations to transcend mediocrity through creativity and originality. Drawing upon his experiences and understanding as an artist, Wahl passionately leads individuals to innovation and ingenuity.
Wahl will be the featured keynote presenter at the Fire Suppression Systems Association 2011 Framing for Success annual meeting on Sunday, February 27 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
His program, The Art of Vision, is uniquely designed to channel innovative strategies to create extraordinary results. By breaking apart the traditional rules, Erik Wahl challenges and inspires organizations to re-define their commonly held assumptions and misconceptions about vision, goals, success and creativity. And, ultimately, each program ends with a live, dynamically choreographed painting that leaves the audience in awe.
For more information or to register, click here.
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/12166946″>Art of Vision</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user3935308″>Tasha Moffitt</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>March Is Next Fire System Contractors Board Meeting February 9, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, NFPA, security
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The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office has postponed the February 16, 2011 meeting of the Fire System Contractors’ Board. The next meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, March 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.
Framing For Success Is FSSA’s 2011 Forum Theme February 2, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems, FSSA.Tags: clean agents, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems
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The Fire Suppression Systems Association’s annual meeting is set for February 25 – March 1, 2011 at the Gran Melia Golf Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
This year’s theme of Framing for Success encompasses many keynote speakers and presentations including Erik Wahl and his presentation “The Art of Vision.” In addition, several technical related sessions and committee reports will fill the two and a half days of programs.
Unique opportunities for professional and personal networking are hallmark of every annual meeting of the FSSA.
For registration information and a complete listing the exciting schedule visit: www.fssa.net
Happy Birthday, Protex Central! January 31, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: alarm, fire, fire alarm, fire protection, fire suppression, Fire Systems, life safety, low-voltage, Protex Central, security
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Protex Central, Inc. marks the start of its 45th year in business on February 1, 2011.
Through its first 44 years, Protex Central has become a recognized systems integrator in the midwest’s fire and security marketplace.
Starting with only himself and a helper, Dennis Mullen has provided the vision and leadership of this dynamic and reliable enterprise. Operating from three fully-staffed office locations, Protex Central provides a variety of installation, testing and maintenance services across numerous vertical markets.
With second generation firmly in place, Protex Central’s envisioned future is to become the premier systems integrator in its marketplace by continuing to provide premium-level customer experiences. To learn more about Protex Central’s envisioned future click here.
Iowa Senate Study Bill Modifies Definitions January 29, 2011
Posted by shawnpci in Fire Protection, Fire Systems.Tags: fire, fire protection, fire suppression
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Iowa Senate Study Bill 1067 has been introduced in the Senate’s State Government Committee. The bill modifies the definition of routine maintenance found in the fire protection systems installers licensing law commonly referred to as 100D.
The proposed changes affect subsection 11 by further defining routine maintenance as “including the replacement of sprinkler heads or nozzles and the temporary disabling and subsequent restarting of a system as necessary to perform such routine maintenance. “Routine maintenance” does not include any new installation or the expansion or extension of any existing fire protection system.
It appears the Senate is wanting to loosen the requirements for persons performing fire protection system routine maintenance. Currently only fire protection installer certified by the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office may perform such work.
Given the importance of having properly operating and maintained fire protection systems, I’ll be interested to learn more about the reasoning behind this proposed modification.
For a full review of the study bill click here.
Onward and Upward 