NFPA Journal - March/April 2012 - (Page 6)

>> mail call IN YOUR OWN WORDS “There is a shortage of detailed case studies of spontaneous heating of oily rags, and a more complete account of the fire and its follow-up might well be helpful to the fire protection community.” —J.C. Jones SuRgIcAL FIRES HELIPORT SAFETY cONFERENcE+EXPO PREVIEW JAMES SHANNON ON 2012 gOALS January/February 2012 www.nfpajournal.org THE FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY DANGERS OF TOO MUCH STUFF hoArding + A hoMeBuilder AdVocATeS For reSidenTiAl SPrinKlerS Fire SAFeTy concernS For The occuPy MoVeMenT The AuThoriTy on Fire, elecTricAl & Building SAFeTy 1-12_Cover.indd 2 12/22/11 2:55 PM McMurdo-bound? I just read “nowhere to Go” by Carol Fey in the September/october 2011 issue of NFPA Journal about the fire protection features at mcmurdo Station in Antarctica. Having just retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a combat photographer, I have had the unique experience of deploying to mcmurdo Station three times. What an amazing opportunity it was each time. of course, being a fire prevention Still living in the era of ‘oops’ I just read “The oops Factor” by William Koffel in the november/December 2011 issue. The article was very well-written and addresses a topic that is an ongoing problem and, unfortunately, does not seem to be going away. mr. Koffel noted a situation that occurred in the early 1980s while he was working with the maryland Fire marshal’s office. A set of plans came across his desk for an automatic sprinkler system design. mr. Koffel’s review comments AFTER 30 YEARS of emphasizing fire protec- referenced nFPA 13. The registered engineer, after tion design training and the emergence of receiving the comments, certifying bodies, the expectation would be called mr. Koffel and asked, that there would be a lessening of the Oops “What is this nFPA 13 Factor. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. you’re referring to?” As absurd as this may officer (as my full-time civilian professound to all of in the fire protection sion), I am always interested in seeing industry, this situation still continues 30 the station and learning about the fire years later. Fire protection plans are still protection wherever I travel. It was very being issued with little or no knowlinteresting to learn their procedures edge regarding current fire protection and technologies for firefighting and codes. Thirty years ago, we often heard fire prevention. Carol’s article brought about designers and engineers who back lots of memories from my trip would pull out previous designs and there in 2003/2004. I fondly remember specifications and issue them again living in those dorms and eating at with a new title block and the supposed Building 155! When I retire from the well-intentioned phrase included in the fire service, I have plans of working at deliverables, “Designed to Code.” After least one season down there. maybe 30 years of emphasizing fire protection they will need a new fire marshal by design training and the emergence of then! certifying bodies, the expectation would JoE ZUCCARo be that there would be a lessening of Fire Prevention Supervisor the oops Factor. Unfortunately, we’re San Bernardino County Fire Department not there yet. If you think I’m kidding, Fire Marshal, Victorville Division attend a local SFPE chapter meeting Victorville, California sometime and ask the attending fire protection contractors how often they have to redesign the issued project so it meets approval by the AHJ. Tom AnTAl, FPE Antal & Associates, Inc. Minnetonka, Minnesota The era of ‘oops,’ part II I really enjoyed William Koffel’s recent “Perspectives” article, “The oops Factor,” in the november/December 2011 issue. I hope people understand what he’s saying—I certainly know where he’s coming from. In the late 1970s, I was working for the Kentucky State Fire marshal’s office as a hazardous materials field inspector. In 1977 I was transferred into the office of the newconstruction division, and my first day in that job was the first working day after the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, Kentucky, that killed more than 160 people. Bill’s example of the project engineer who didn’t know what nFPA 13 was is right on—Kentucky is a state that does not register fire protection engineers, and most of the engineers will admit they do not have a clue when it comes to fire suppression systems. ElWIn G. JoyCE, CET Instructor, Fire and Safety Engineering Program, Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, Kentucky TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Email your letters to journalmail@nfpa.org, or mail them to Editor, NFPA Journal, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169. Please include your title, company or organization affiliation, and where you’re based. NFPA Journal reserves the right to edit letters for content and length. 6 NFPA JOURNAL MARCH/APRIL 2012 http://www.nfpajournal.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - March/April 2012

NFPA Journal - March/april 2012
Contents
First Word
Mail Call
In a Flash
Firewatch
Perspectives
Research
Heads Up
Structural Ops
In Compliance
Buzzwords
Outreach
Electrical Safety
Wildfire Watch
Elemental Questions
Dangerous by Design
A Harder Look at Detection
Conference + Expo Preview
Membership: The Sections
What’s Hot
Looking Back

NFPA Journal - March/April 2012