Topic: Combustible dust continues to be a significant fire and explosion hazard exposing people and property. A recent 10-year study by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board revealed 105 combustible dust explosion incidents resulting in 303 injuries and 59 fatalities. From a property conservation perspective, a recent 10-year study by FM revealed 109 combustible dust explosion incidents resulting in a total gross loss of $312M. This lunch meeting will discuss the following:

• Loss history and case studies

• Fundamentals of combustible dust explosions

• Best practices for hazard identification

• Solutions to mitigate exposures

• Training resources and raising awareness

• NFPA 660 and FM Data Sheet 7-76 Updates

Bio: Stephen Dale, PE, CFPS, ARM is Director of Technical Services for the Loss Control Department at The Cincinnati Insurance Company. He leads a unit of subject matter experts in fire protection, employee safety, construction risk management, product safety and transportation safety. A fire protection engineer and property loss control specialist, Stephen serves as a principal on four NFPA committees; is a member of SFPE’s CPD committee; leads the SFPE PE Exam Review course; and is Vice President of the Tri-State SFPE chapter. Prior to joining Cincinnati Insurance, Stephen worked as an HPR Engineer at Zurich Insurance and in various loss control and technical specialist roles at Liberty Mutual Group. Stephen has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University, has completed a Certificate in Technical Leadership from the University of Wisconsin, is a licensed professional engineer (PE) and holds the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) designations.

Bio: Bill Smith, ARM, CFPS, is a Group Manager of Field Engineering for FM, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurance carriers. With over 1,800 engineers worldwide, FM has a unique business model that believes the “majority of property loss is preventable”. Over his 20+ year career with FM, Bill has served in numerous roles, most recently as the Group Manager of Field Engineering for the Kentucky and Southwest Ohio region. In this territory, Bill manages a team of resident field engineers who provide property loss prevention advice to clients operating commercial and industrial facilities. Bill has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton. His areas of expertise are in combustible dust and ignitable liquid hazards.

Register and Payments

Lunch is served at 11:30 AM. All Attendees should register using a Single Meeting Pass ($25) or the One Pass Meeting Registration Button ($0) registration button so buy the right amount of food. We hope to see you there!

NOTE - - DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR THIS MEETING ONLY. This meeting will be held at the Trane Cincinnati Offices at 10300 Springfield Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45215 Parking is available on-site. Lunch at 11:30 AM and Training at Noon.

Topic: This Lunch Training will discuss which clean agent systems have been retired, and what replacements are being used for Clean Agent fire suppression systems. We will review code requirements, AIM Act implications, safety requirements, methodologies, design considerations, and general requirements for Clean Agent systems.

Bio: Dan Jasper is the National Business Development Manager for ORR Protection Systems focused on mission-critical applications. Dan has been supporting business locally and nationally since 1982 by designing, specifying, and maintaining specialized fire detection and suppression systems for unique applications in industrial and commercial environments.   

Lunch is served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Prepay or Register

All Attendees are requested to REGISTER so we have an accurate food count for lunch. This is the last meeting to purchase a 2024-2025 OnePass Ticket for this season. The Individual Meeting Price is $25 per meeting.

Bio: Mary Jorgensen has 20+ years’ experience in insurance loss control with a specialization in fire protection and life safety. After several years spent as a field loss control representative at Cincinnati Insurance Companies, she spent an additional 10 years as a property specialist. Since 2021, Mary has overseen all field loss control operations ensuring all field associates are equipped with the most up to date technical expertise. During her tenure at Cincinnati, she has been involved in NFPA and SFPE, serves on two NFPA technical committees and also serves on the Membership and Chapter Relations Committee for SFPE.

Topic: As a principal member on NFPA 420: Standard on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities, Mary will provide an overview of this new standard including key chapters and the direction for fire protection and other controls for the industry. She will review key features of the standard, the current status of the standard and expected timeline for publishment.

Lunch is served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

All Attendees are requested to REGISTER so we have an accurate food count for lunch. This is the last meeting to purchase a 2024-2025 OnePass Ticket for this season. The Individual Meeting Price is $25 per meeting.

Topic: VACTEC (utilizing negative pressure in dry and pre-action systems to achieve corrosion mitigation)

• Understand the difference between Vactec and traditional dry and pre-action systems

• Understand how Vactec works

• Advantages of Vactec systems

• Sprinklers listed and why sprinklers need to be listed

• Applications

• Insta seal fittings on exposed pipe

Bio: Bryan Berkley Business Development of Special Hazards has 24 years in all aspects of fire protection inspection, installation, design, manufacturing, and applications. He is NICET IV in water-based systems, II in special hazards, and II in inspection & testing. He started in 1996 as an inspector for water-based fire protection systems for 2 years, became a fitter installing water-based fire protection systems for 4 years, moved into the designing role for 9 years, and then design manager for the last 3 years in the designing of water-based fire protection systems, foam systems, and clean agent systems. Over the past 10 years, he has been a national technical representative, and special hazards business manager for Viking, covering East and South America. His responsibilities include working with engineers on specifications for the Viking and Fireflex products, working with AHJ on new standards, and training contractors. He has also performed fire sprinkler and clean agent seminars for SFPE (Society of Fire Protection Engineers) and ASPE (American Society of Plumbing Engineers).

Lunch is served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

Everyone coming should Register so we have a good head count for lunch. OnePass Ticket $100 is only available until 12/31/24 for this season. Individual Meeting Price $25 per meeting.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Sharonville Fire Dept HQ (map)
11637 Chester Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246

Topic: John will summarize the points made at the February 2024 California Energy Commission six-hour webinar on Battery Energy Storage Systems and the SFPE Greater Atlanta Chapter Conference in March 2024, along with his own experience from his perspective as an insurance property loss prevention engineer.

Some of the topics to be covered are:

• Perspectives on fixed systems including sprinklers

• Perspectives on letting a fire burn

• Emerging trends in New York City

• Uses of UL 9540A reports

• Space Separation

• Getting expert guidance on scene.

Bio: John Frank John began his career as a professional firefighter and rose to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief at a major industrial logistics center and aircraft overhaul facility for the United States Air Force. He subsequently joined the Highly Protected Risk insurance industry as a property loss control engineer. John is currently the Property Center of Expertise Leader at AXA XL Risk Consulting, where he and his team provide advanced fire protection engineering support to the organization and its customers.

As a volunteer firefighter in metro-Atlanta, he was part of the hose team that affected final extinguishment of a large bin box carousel ASRS fire that was controlled by four sprinklers. The residual fire was deep in an inaccessible part of the carousel. Because of his successful experience with this fire, final extinguishment of ASAR fires are among his areas of focus. John was also a technical advisor at a tire warehouse fire and rolled paper warehouse fire.

For more than 20 years, John has conducted custom pre-emergency planning classes for insured properties and their fire departments. These departments range in size from small volunteer to large urban. He has also evaluated fire department response capability in for sites in Germany, Switzerland, Russia, and throughout the United States.

John’s education includes an undergraduate degree in Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Fire Protection Engineering, and an MBA. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Fire Protection Engineering, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, and holds numerous fire service certifications. In 2014, John was elected to the grade of Fellow in the SFPE.

John has a total of 44 years in the fire protection industry. He is currently a Director at Large for the SFPE.

Topic: Fire Protection Design for Parking Garages - This training session will be a Panel Discussion of best practices for fire protection system design in parking garages, upcoming NFPA updates, and the impact on electric vehicle charging have on these garages. The panel will consist of professionals from the area to provide insight, answers, and open discussion about what we are seeing in the current design sphere for these buildings.

• Historical Perspective and Examples

• NFPA 13 & NFPA 88A Updates

• Classification of Garages

• Electric Vehicle & Battery Charging

Bio: Lee Kaiser is Vice President of Engineering and Training for ORR Protection—a national fire protection contractor focusing on mission critical facilities. Lee is a professional engineer in both fire protection and mechanical engineering with licenses in several states. He leads the system design and technical training functions for ORR Protection. He is the Chair of NFPA 75 Technical Committee on Electronic Computer Systems, a principal member of NFPA 200, NFPA 418, and NFPA 915. He is the chairperson of the Fire Suppression Systems Association Technical Committee and is a frequent speaker and presenter for seminars, workshops, and conferences across the country. Lee is married, has four children, and lives in Louisville, KY. Company: ORR Protection is a national fire protection contractor headquartered in Louisville, KY. In business since 1971, ORR provides custom fire alarm, sprinkler, and special hazards systems and services and focuses on mission critical businesses. With the rise in energy storage systems ORR has become a leader in protecting large-scale lithium-ion battery plants in the United States.

Bio: Bill Smith is a 20 yr. veteran of FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurance carriers. With over 1,800 engineers worldwide, FM Global has a unique business model that believes the “majority of property loss is preventable”. Over his career, Bill has served in numerous roles, most recently as the Group Manager of Field Engineering for the Kentucky and Southwest Ohio region. In this territory, Bill manages a team of resident field engineers who provide property loss prevention advice to clients operating commercial and industrial facilities.

Bio: Terry Cannon, P.E. is a professional engineer at ThermalTech Engineering, Cincinnati, OH and has been working in the mechanical, plumbing, energy, and fire protection world as a consulting engineer for over 30 years. Terry’s focus has been in public and municipal work environments and has been heavily involved in government work for the last 20 years.

Bio: Scott Brooks, Division Chief, West Chester Township, Loss Prevention Bureau which is responsible for enforcement of the Ohio Fire Code and all other applicable codes and standards. Fire Protection plans examiner including new construction and alterations to existing systems. Fire and explosion investigator managing the fire department fire investigation team.

Bio: Michael Barth has over 30 years of experience in electrical design and analysis and facility engineering. As the ThermalTech Life-Safety Leader, he keeps current on fire alarm technology and codes. His typical project responsibilities include project management, electrical analysis and design, and construction administration.

Lunch is served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

Water Mist Fire Suppression Technology - latest updates and technologies

Topic: This training will cover recent industry changes for water mist fire protection systems, latest code updates, and real-world insight into using these systems.

Bio: Dan Jasper is the National Business Development Manager for ORR Protection Systems focused on mission-critical applications. Dan has been supporting business locally and nationally since 1982 by designing, specifying, and maintaining specialized fire detection and suppression systems for unique applications in industrial and commercial environments.

Topic: Flame Arresters and Low-Pressure Conservation Vents - This training session will cover flame arresters and low-pressure conservation vents and a comprehensive range of topics associated with these devices including:

• Flame Arrestor Standards, Zones, Layers of Protection, and Intro to Flame Arrestors

• Process Conditions Necessary to Consider for Flame Arrestors

• Applications of Flame Arrestors and Types of Combustion

• Types and Technology of Flame Arrestors

• Third-Party Approvals and Testing

• Typical Tank Setups and Tank and Venting Standard Intro

• API 2000 – Revisions and Calculations

• Types of Vents & Venting Technology

• Testing Leakage Rates/Emissions reduction strategies

• Selecting Vent Settings and Sizing

Bio: Joe Jones serves as the East Regional Manager, overseeing operations in a broad geographical area spanning MI, IN, KY, TN, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, WV, OH, PA, MD, DE, NJ, CT, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, and ME. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina School of Engineering and boasts a professional background that includes valuable experience as a process engineer in chemical plants before joining PROTEGO in 2018. Eric Tetzel from Trivaco from Tri-State Valves and Controls will also be on hand for local support and questions.

Lunch served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

Topic: Mass notification presentation will cover NFPA 72 chap24 and creating a risk analysis.  It will also cover MNS layers then cover requirements such as intelligibility, messages, pathway survivability, coverage and more. 

by: Bruce Gerould II
Field Sales Engineer – Great Midwest Area
Global Fire Detection Products
NICET # 140514 - Fire Alarm Systems Level III

Bio: Bruce is a Field Sales Engineer with Johnson Controls Fire Protection covering the Great Mid-West.  Bruce has 18-year experience in the fire alarm industry starting in 2000 with the US Navy as a Fire Fighter.  He has been with JCI now for 10+ years as a technician, ops installer, project manager and now Field Sales Engineer. 

Lunch served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

Topic:

Over 25% of workplace-related fires are caused by electrical problems. Electrical fires rank among the top five causes of commercial building fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Hear from a seasoned infrared thermographer about how this method can be used to identify and correct electrical issues before the commercial property becomes another statistic, and get some hands on time with various camera models as well as live electrical labs.

Bio:

Michael VanWormer
Certified Infrared Thermographer, Level 3
Senior Technical Specialist, Electrical Systems & Thermography
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Michael began his career 17 years ago in loss control working for CNA as well as Great American Insurance before joining Cincinnati Insurance in 2016. A senior loss control technical specialist, Michael Van Wormer oversees the growing thermography program for Cincinnati Insurance, training all of the loss control and machinery & equipment field staff as well as performing thermal scans nationwide.
After earning a degree in industrial electrical maintenance, Michael got into insurance and quickly joined a team of thermographers. During that time, he also obtained a master’s degree in safety sciences.

Lunch served at 11:30 am, Discussion begins at noon.

Register | Prepay

Topic: Energy Storage from Compliance to training: a view of “safety by design” and applying VR for training.

Bio: Christina F. Francis, PE, FSFPE
Ms. Francis currently serves as Senior Staff Fire & Regulatory Specialist for Tesla, Inc. Her previous roles include Global Fire Protection Engineer for The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G), loss control associate with Industrial Risk Insurers and design engineer with Bechtel. With almost 30 years in the fire protection industry her experience includes design, construction management, loss prevention, risk management and code consulting on a variety of industrial projects throughout the world.
Ms. Francis has a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, is a registered professional engineer in Fire Protection and is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS). She is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Industrial Fire Protection Section Board member (past chair), previous Board Member of Fire Protection Research Foundation and recently joined the First Responder Institute Board.

Register | Prepay

Topic: BCD234 Codes that Safeguard Buildings Under Construction

This program provides information to assist the Fire Service charged with responsibilities for fire and life safety on a construction site to follow best practices. Builders and building officials will also benefit from the information provided. The purpose is to reduce the risk of injuries and losses from fire. The information applies to the design and planning stages as well as the actual construction phase of buildings. Many hazards can be addressed before they become an issue by the adoption of best practices and rigorous code enforcement. The primary focus of this program is on large buildings during construction. Other topics that include demolition, alterations, renovations, repair, and maintenance, as well as newly completed buildings will be discussed. This program provides guidance that is based on compliance with Chapter 33 of the 2021 International Fire Code, Chapter 33 of the 2021 International Building Code, and NFPA Standards 1 and 241.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify risks & hazards on construction sites. Learn the leading causes of fires in structures under construction.

• Apply model codes and standards that pertain to safety precautions during construction. Including code changes in the 2021 IFC and 2019 NFPA 241

• Identify best practices regarding housekeeping, hot work, equipment fueling, smoking, food preparation and other hazardous activities on construction sites.

• Identify the components of a good fire safety plan and be able to work with builders to develop a plan.

Instructor Bio: Ed Lisinski is the Midwest Regional Manager, which includes IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD and WI. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He worked for a construction company with his dad growing up, a design-build firm after college, and as a plan reviewer, assistant director and then building official and department director for the City of West Allis, Wisconsin. After 16 years with West Allis, he joined AWC on December 1, 2021. He has been active at ICC, including serving as the chair of the Building Membership Council and chair of the Structural Code Development Committee, which will be considering changes during the 2022 Group B process. He also serves as a principal or alternate on seven different NFPA committees.

Register | Prepay

Sharonville Fire Department Station 86 (map)
11637 Chester Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246

Topic: Recommended Fire Protection for Distilleries and Application of DISCUS Standards
In 1973, three organizations – The Bourbon Institute, The Distilled Spirits Institute, and the Licensed Beverage Industries, Inc. merged to form the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS). DISCUS is a national trade organization representing the interests of leading producers of distilled spirits in the United States. Under the auspice of DISCUS, a voluntary guide, Recommended Fire Protection Practices for Distilled Spirits Beverage Facilities is periodically produced. While it is not intended to be a code or standard for regulatory purposes, it is has been a common reference for fire and explosion protection strategies by property insurance risk professionals, architects, engineers and other consultants. The Fourth Edition was published in 2020. We will review this recommended fire protection guide and its applicability to bourbon & whiskey distilleries from grain handling to distillation, barreling, bottling, spent grain drying, storage and warehousing.

Speaker: Daniel R. Linsley, P.E., Vice President, Senior Property Risk Control Consultant at Willis Towers Watson (WTW). Dan has over 35 years’ experience in the property loss control field providing guidance to a wide range of clients on fire, life, and explosion safety and other property protection and property insurance matters, including project support for new construction and new fire system installations. Several of Dan’s clients operate bourbon and whiskey distilleries in Kentucky and Tennessee including Buffalo Trace Distillery, Barton 1792 Distillery, Bulleit Distilling Company, Stitzel-Weller, Cascade Hollow Distilling Company (aka George Dickel), and several others in the US and Canada. Prior to joining WTW in 2013, Dan owned his consulting business; worked for a Atlanta-based Fire Protection Engineering Firm and for property insurance companies including Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI) and Allianz. Dan obtained his PE in fire protection while working in the state of Georgia. He is also a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and a member of NFPA. Currently, Dan and his wife of 34 years reside in Franklin, TN with two working-type German Shepherd Dogs and a Golden Retriever.

Lunch: 11:30 am
Discussion: Noon - 1:00 pm

Presentation Link: 2022-09-28 Discus Standards

THIS MEETING IS RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 25TH

Sharonville Fire Department Station 86 (map)

11637 Chester Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246

Topic: FM Global revisions to 8.9 for storage protection

Speaker: Bryan Berkley, Viking. He has 24 years in all aspects of fire protection inspection, installation, design and manufacturing and applications:

• Nicet IV in water based systems, II in special hazards, and II in inspection & testing

• Started in 1996 as an inspector for water based fire protection systems for 2 years.

  Became a fitter installing water based fire protection systems for 4 years.

• Moved into the designing role for 9 years and became design manager for the last 3 years in the designing of water based fire protection systems, foam systems, and clean agent systems.

• Over the past 10 years he has been a national technical representative, special hazards business manager for Viking, covering the East and South America.

• His responsibilities include working with engineers on specifications for the Viking and Fireflex products, working with AHJ on new standards, and training for contractors.

Speaker: Jeremy Wheeler, PE, Vice President of Operations for 3S Incorporated, Engineered Fire Protection System and he has experienced all aspects of Special Hazard Fire Protection.  Jeremy earned a BSEE from Cedarville University and MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.  Jeremy currently serves as the Installer Division Chair of the FSSA, Secretary of the FSSA Technical Committee, and Tri-State SFPE Treasurer (Cincinnati). 

Topic: The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, which calls for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), is disrupting the clean agent fire suppression industry. We will dive into the AIM Act, its effect on clean agents, and alternative fire suppression systems.

Event has been updated to an OnLine meeting. Please check back for the link.

Speaker is Matthew M. Hunter, BCO. He is the Northeast Regional Manager for the American Wood Council, which produces internationally recognized design standards for wood construction. His experience includes all phases of commercial and residential land development, building inspection, plan review, and civil engineering.

He is currently a certified Building Code Official and holds a total of twelve (12) International Code Council (ICC) and PA Labor and Industry certifications. He is an ICC member and is active in ICC Regions VI & VII and serves as a governing member on the ICC Sustainability Membership Council as well as the Sustainability, Energy, and High-Performance Code Action Committee (SEHPCAC). He is a member of the ASTM E60 Committee on Sustainability. Additionally, he serves on several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees.

This is a good class that gets into the Tall Wood Ad Hoc reasons for the code changes, the ATF fire testing, and some basic heights, stories, and area introduction for the 17 Group A and B changes that are now in the 2021 IBC.

In early 2016, the ICC Board of Directors approved the creation of an ad hoc committee to explore the building science of tall wood buildings with the scope being to investigate the feasibility of and take action to develop code changes for tall wood buildings. Since that time, the Tall Wood Building (TWB) Ad Hoc Committee has reviewed voluminous materials regarding tall wood buildings, including results of various testing around the world, as well as studies domestically in support of the TWB charge to conduct a thorough review of the science of tall wood. The TWB developed its own test scenario(s) to substantiate any code change proposals (testing was carried out at ATF labs); and worked to develop a comprehensive set of technically-substantiated code changes for consideration during the 2018 Group A code development process. The intensive research performed by the Committee was submitted under the ICC Code Development Process, along with the resulting proposals developed by Committee consensus. All of the Group A TWB proposals have been approved and the three remaining Group B changes were also approved.  These proposals are now part of the 2021 IBC.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the make-up of the TWB Ad Hoc Committee and the process used to reach consensus on proposed code changes.

2. Recognize how the new types of construction compare with existing types of construction in the International Building Code and specify the inherent differences and conservative approaches the new types have.

3. Understand the process by which the allowable heights, areas, and number of stories permitted for the proposed mass timber types of construction were developed and will be able to utilize the information for building design.

4. State the fire resistance requirements for mass timber building elements. Further, they will be able to distinguish when and where non-combustible protection can be omitted.

Save the Date: Speaker Stephen Dale will discuss Dust and Dust Standards. More information to follow. Stephen Dale is the Director of Technical Services at the Cincinnati Insurance Company.

Building Code Updates

• Wednesday, September 29

• 11:00 PM 2:00 PM

• Sharonville Fire Department Station 86 (map)

  11637 Chester Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246

The Tri-State SFPE is pleased to offer a presentation on Building Code Updates presented by Johnson Controls

Presentation:

Summary of Changes to NFPA 72-2019 Edition including global changes relating to Carbon Monoxide (CO), Documentation, Fundamentals, Initiating Devices, Notification Appliances, Emergency Control Function Interfaces, Protected Premises Alarm and Signaling Systems, Emergency Communication Systems, Supervising Station Alarm Systems and Alarms and Household Alarm Systems.

Speaker Bio:

Bruce Gerould will be presenting. Bruce is a Field Sales Engineer with Johnson Controls Fire Protection. Bruce has a wealth of knowledge form his time in the field and in project management.

RSVP by September 24th at 11:30am ET by clicking on the ATTENDANCE page above and clicking on that link.  When completing your RSVP for the meeting please add a note in the comments section if you have a National SFPE membership.  Our Chapter receives credit as part of the chapter evaluation process and we want to be accurate in our accounting of memberships. 

As always the meeting will be 11:00pm-2:00pm with lunch at the Sharonville Fire Department. 



**IMPORTANT NOTE: The Tri-State SFPE is aware of the heightened risks of public gatherings imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, Ohio is allowing gatherings and the meeting is still scheduled. We will continue to monitor the situation and if a rescheduling needs to occur we will communicate to our membership quickly using this communications platform. Please reach out using the "Contact Us" button on the website with any questions or concerns. 

The Tri-State SFPE is pleased to offer a presentation on "Alerting, Notification, and Communication - Three Concepts for Signaling Systems Design" by Mr. Robert Schifiliti, PE, FSFPE.

Presentation:

Alerting, Notification & Communication (A/N/C) are three totally different forms of signaling. Each can be simple or complex in design and implementation. How you present your plan to owners and authorities will determine the success or failure of your design.

If you read between the lines, you will see that NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, incorporates these concepts. However, NFPA 72 is not a design manual. The selection and implementation of A/N/C varies for each project – and so will your success or failure in getting your system approved. It’s a matter of trying to balance costs versus mission.

Occupant notification is not just about being able to hear or see a signal. It’s all about trying to change the behavior of the target audience in the most efficient and effective way possible. It’s also about trying to balance costs versus mission. Prescriptive code-based methods work for most situations, but not for challenging environments. This presentation is focused on audible notification but also emphasizes the importance of integrating other forms of notification.

This presentation shows how to plan and present an effective signaling strategy and how to develop performance-based design/engineering options for Audible and Visual Occupant Notification.

This presentation will be useful for anyone who designs, installs, commissions, or inspects regular and voice-based fire alarm systems. 



Speaker Bio:

Mr. Schifiliti is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer, holds a Master of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and is Board Certified in Forensic Engineering by the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. 

Mr. Schifiliti is past chair of the NFPA Signaling Systems for the Protection of Life and Property Correlating Committee (2006 - 2016), which is responsible for the development of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code and NFPA 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment. He is a member of the Notification Appliances committee, which he chaired from 1993 to 2003. Bob is also past Chair of the NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation’s Detection and Alarm Research Council. He is a contributing author to the NFPA 72 Handbook and the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook.

An active member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, he is past president of the New England Chapter and principal author of the "Design of Detection Systems" chapter in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering (1st - 5th, current, editions). He authored a series of articles in SFPE’s Fire Protection Engineering magazine on the science and engineering of fire detection and alarm systems. In 2008 Bob was elevated to the grade of Fellow in the SFPE.

 

RSVP by April 10th at 11:30am ET using the link below.  When completing your RSVP for the meeting please add a note in the comments section if you have a National SFPE membership.  Our Chapter receives credit as part of the chapter evaluation process and we want to be accurate in our accounting of memberships. 

As always the meeting will be 12:00pm-2:00pm with lunch at the Sharonville Fire Department. 

The presentation is approved by the state of Ohio for 1.5-hours of CEU’s.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: The Tri-State SFPE is aware of the heightened risks of public gatherings imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, Ohio is largely unaffected and the meeting is still scheduled. We will continue to monitor the situation and if a rescheduling needs to occur we will communicate to our membership quickly using this communications platform. Please reach out using the "Contact Us" button on the website with any questions or concerns. 

The next Tri-State chapter of SFPE meeting will be Thursday, February 6th. We will be presenting on Pre-Engineered Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems, including a review of recent code requirements in NFPA 17A and 96 and some inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) activities. 

This is an information-packed 2-hour presentation that will review all the various systems that can be installed to protect cooking equipment, as well as common inspection points and pitfalls. The presentation will also cover new cooking methods in use, including industrial wood-fired broilers and other new technologies not well addressed in the standard.  A review of upcoming changes to the relevant standards will also be performed. This presentation is recommended for Inspectors/AHJs who are responsible for reviewing these installations, as well as design engineers who rely on NFPA codes.  

The presentation will be by Stan Oman, the Technical Training Manager for Johnson Controls.  

The presentation will be from 12:00-2:00 pm on Thursday Feb 6th.  Due to scheduling conflicts, the presentation had to be adjusted from the typical Wednesday schedule. We check-in will begin at 11:30, with Lunch available soon after. The meeting will occur in the usual location, Sharonville Fire Department HQ/Station #86.

RSVP by February 3rd at 11:30am

Bio:

Stan Oman joined Firefighters Extinguisher Service in Pensacola, Florida in 1987. Involved in all aspects of pre-engineered fire suppression systems, portable fire extinguishers and DOT hydro-testing prior to joining Koorsen Fire & Security (Seven years as their pre-engineered trainer, and most recently as the technical trainer at the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors - NAFED)

Stan has also been involved with compliance with the Joint Commission as safety officer for four years. Presently, in his role as pre-engineered trainer for Johnson Controls, his responsibilities included training both existing technicians and new hires, keeping current on all pre-engineered suppression systems from all pre-engineered suppression system manufactures and implementing new policies and procedures. 

The next Cincinnati Tri-State SFPE chapter meeting will be Wednesday, June 5th. This presentation will review the reorganization of NFPA 13 from the 2016 to the 2019 edition. We will explore the logic behind the changes and how to navigate the new standard to help you find what you’re searching for.  The standard has been revised dramatically, and this presentation will help you better understand the changes.

The presentation will be by Steve Halferty from the Cincinnati Insurance Companies. 

Steve joined Cincinnati Insurance in 2015 with 30 years of experience, most all of which in insurance loss control.  Steve he has spent time as an HPR engineer and middle market multi-lines loss control consultant, as well as a loss control manager and also spent time managing IT projects in one organization. 

Steve is a specialist in IT protection and business continuity, hydraulic analysis and flammable liquid storage.  Steve currently serves as an alternate on two NFPA 101  committees and supports our field consultants in the West as well as Minnesota and Wisconsin.

RSVP by May 31st at 11:30am ET using the website.

This month’s presentation will be a little different than the usual, as it will be both a combination presentation and professional round table discussion.

The presentation will focus on the fire inspection process as seen through the eyes of the Authority Having Jurisdiction.  It will review some common issues seen during inspection, and will address various design choices and concerns engineers or contractors may have with the fire inspection or plan review process.

Following the presentation, a round table discussion will occur on that topic.  

The presentation and round table will be led by Captain Mark Walsh from Colerain Township Fire Department.

So, come with your questions and your comments on the inspection process!  This is the perfect time to learn more about the AHJ’s process.