FIRE-PROFESSIONALS.com Blog

WITH THE FOURTH OF JULY just a few days off, it might be interesting to see how public safety organizations and pyrotechnics organizations view the often controversial issue of fireworks. The information used here is labeled as either a press release or a news release from NFPA and the American Pyrotechnics Association.
First, here’s information from NFPA: “Urging the public to stay away from what they say is an extremely dangerous product, national health and fire safety advocates joined District of Columbia fire officials at a press conference today (June 18, 2008) to denounce the use of consumer fireworks and launch new PSAs in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.
“DC Fire and EMS Chief Dennis Rubin, speaking at Engine 3, voiced his concern about the upcoming holiday, ‘Each year our firefighters battle blazes and respond to injuries that don’t need to occur. Fireworks in untrained hands are an accident waiting to happen.” Chief Rubin also expressed his disappointment that a recent proposal before the city council to ban consumer fireworks failed to pass. ‘Absent their action, the public should act by staying away from consumer fireworks.’”
To read more information from NFPA on fireworks, click here.
Here’s information from the American Pyrotechnics Association: “As July 4th approaches, consumers are visiting the thousands of fireworks retail establishments across the nation to stock up for their backyard Independence Day celebrations.
“According to the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), backyard fireworks have never been more popular or more in demand. Since 2000, the use of backyard fireworks has more than doubled.
“In 2000, Americans used 102 million pounds of backyard fireworks. In 2007, Americans used over 238 million pounds!
Fireworks industry revenue soared to $930 million in 2007, with backyard fireworks sales representing $620 million. In comparison, in 2000, industry revenue reached $610 million with backyard fireworks sales representing approximately $400 million.
“The association attributes the significant increase in fireworks use to an upsurge of patriotism, as fireworks are historically a symbol of American Independence, and to an overall improvement in the quality and variety of fireworks available today.”
To read more information from the APA, click here.

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FINANCIALWEEK.COM is reporting that property owners need to take special caution despite last year’s lackluster hurricane season because a loss of business in a tough economy could be devestating. According to the story, “falling revenue and rising costs are likely more important than anything else to most companies, and given that NOAA’s prediction for a severe hurricane season last year turned out to be a lot of hot air, corporate risk managers may take the opportunity to cut back on insurance, particularly if their company hasn’t had any significant claims over the past few years.
‘“The general economy is influencing everybody right now, and that includes clients looking to cut costs,” agreed Brian Hurley, executive vice president of the Americas at FM Global. “I think people could look at things and say “we’ve had a couple of light years, so perhaps we can take a pass on doing some things.”
“But he contends such complacency could result in a potentially crippling loss for the unprepared, especially when damage results in an extended business disruption.”

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IN THE ONLINE VERSION of his First Word column, NFPA President Jim Shannon suggests that now is the time for NFPA and the ICC to join together on the issue of residential sprinklers. According to the column, “Over the past decade, NFPA and the International Code Council (ICC) have been criticized for not cooperating enough in advancing our common mission to promote safety. While the two organizations have had their differences, we at NFPA believe that NFPA and the ICC should work together, wherever possible, to make buildings safer, because when we cooperate, we are a powerful force for change. Leaders of both organizations have, in the past, expressed the hope that we could, in the future, find more areas for cooperation. The perfect opportunity for NFPA and ICC to work together is now at hand.”
Shannon writes, “Favorable action by the ICC on the heels of NFPA’s approval of residential sprinklers in our codes could propel our campaign, and that is why we will be at the ICC meeting to help make the case.”

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COMMENTS ON THE proposed changes to NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code and NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems are due August 29, 2008. This is an opportunity for anyone with an interest in these two vital codes and standards to make comments on the the proposed changes. NFPA encourages a full-consensus process and this is part of the overall approval of the proposed changes to NFPA 72 and NFPA 13.
This stage of the process is known as the Report on Proposals. According to the NFPA site, “Following the Call for Proposals period, the responsible Technical Committee or Panel holds a meeting to consider and act on all the submitted Proposals. The committee or panel may also develop its own Proposals. A document known as the Report on Proposals, or ROP, is prepared containing all the Public Proposals, the Technical Committees’ action on each Proposal, as well as all Committee-generated Proposals. The ROP for the document in question is submitted for the approval of the responsible Technical Committee or Panel by a formal written ballot. If the ROP does not receive approval via written ballot in accordance with NFPA rules, the Report is returned to the committee for further consideration and is not published. If the necessary approval is received, the ROP is published in a compilation of Reports on Proposals issued by NFPA twice yearly for public review and comment, and the process continues to the next step.
“The Reports on Proposals are sent automatically free of charge to all who submitted proposals and each respective committee member, as well as anyone else who requests a copy.”
For more information, click here.

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OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY is reporting that “nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the United States will have to install fire sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. A rule published this week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation gives facilities five years to comply fully with the rule. Newly constructed and renovated nursing homes already were required to be equipped with sprinklers.”
According to the story, “About 3 million elderly and disabled Americans live in 16,000 nursing homes nationwide, all of which must have comprehensive sprinkler systems in place by 2013. CMS said there has never been a multiple-fatality fire in a facility with a sprinkler system that meets the rule’s requirements.”

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UNDERWRITERS LABORATORY TAKES a look at its role in preventing injuries in the latest issue of The Code Authority. According to the cover story, “For over 113 years Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has been researching ways to increase public safety and reduce tragedies related to fire, shock and personal injury hazards. Over a century ago the new, untested electrical industry burst onto the scene, its progress initially marked by building fires and electrocutions due to a lack of adequate safety testing and requirements. UL’s early research into electrical safety and the subsequent development of safety standards directly impacted the lives of generations in public and private spheres.
“Since then, UL’s research has continued to advance public safety in multiple arenas, though one might think that over 100 years of safety research would reduce the need for modern-day safety research. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
To read the rest of the issue, click here.

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SPERIAN PROTECTION AMERICAS has been awarded a Federal Supply Schedule Contract by the General Services Administration for a broad offering of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The company designs, manufactures and sells personal protective equipment that safeguards workers at risk. Its protective and emergency equipment is widely used in hazardous situations found in manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, homeland security, defense, fire service and maintenance.
The company offers a complete range of head and body protection equipment. This includes eye, hearing and respiratory protection, and protective gloves, clothing and footwear. It also offers fall protection equipment with safety harnesses, connectors, lifelines, climbing systems and rescue equipment.
Formerly part of Bacou-Dalloz, the Sperian Protection Americas headquarters is in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The company employs more than 2,000 people.
“We’re excited about this contract because it significantly expands access to our protective equipment for government specifiers and purchasers. This will facilitate their efforts to make government workers safer on the job” said Don Budke, Government Market Manager for Sperian Protection Americas, Government Sales Group. 
“With a wide network of local Sperian distributors, we are already selling to government and industry throughout America,” he said. “This contract, GS-07F-0353U, provides government buyers added supply flexibility.”
For more information, go here.

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OHSONLINE.COM IS REPORTING that support is growing for a bill that would provide grant money for building safety. According to the article,  ”Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, along with Representatives John Boozman (R-Ark.)‚ Michael Capuano (D-Mass.)‚ Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Robert Scott (D-Va.) and Pete Stark (D-Calif.) are the latest co-sponsors of the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act of 2007 (CBCAG). If approved, CBCAG funds would be dedicated to training ‘First Preventers’–building and fire safety officials who prevent harm by ensuring compliance with safety codes before disasters occur. The bill would make possible recruitment and training in under-served communities in greatest need of officials to assure safety through code compliance.
“The CBCAG authorizes a competitive grant through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help local governments hire, train, and equip code officials to save lives and protect property. Introduced last December by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), the CBCAG would aid communities that see their resources over-stretched–or lack resources altogether in the face of building booms or major rebuilds after a disaster.”

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BUILDINGS.COM HAS an article posted on its web site that looks at human error and human behavior as they relate to fire protection. According to the article, “Many of the improvements in fire safety have come from physical requirements in terms of how buildings are constructed and equipped. Today’s fire-safety measures often include automatic fire-sprinkler systems, fire pumps, alarm systems, portable fire extinguishers, fire walls, and requirements for noncombustible materials.
“Protective measures are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex. For example, specialized fire-extinguishing systems fixed permanently over cooking equipment are designed to automatically respond to a fire in a grill or deep fat fryer. These systems detect fires quickly, turn off heat sources, and discharge appropriate chemicals to extinguish fires - all without the often-too-late intervention of a human being.
“Building design has also improved, often incorporating features, such as protected stairwells, that give occupants smoke-free escape routes, specialized fire barriers, and smoke-control systems.”
The article is written by Al Niederfringer and Lee West who both work for Hartford, CT-based Travelers, the second-largest writer of commercial U.S. property casualty insurance. Niederfringer is second vice president and West is managing specialist for Travelers’ risk control department.
The article also states that despite “improvements in design and protective devices, no building is completely fire safe. One of the biggest threats comes from the human element of fire safety. The best protective measures will not be effective if they don’t work when they’re needed - and, most often, they fail because of human error.”
To read the full story, go here.

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THE KELTRON WEB SITE has posted a new case study that examines the life safety solution the massive utility chose for its security monitoring facility.
According to the case study, for more than 180 years, Consolidated Edison (Con Edison) has maintained an unwavering commitment to delivering the energy that keeps New York City and Westchester County running. The Con Edison electric distribution system, the most reliable in the country, serves nearly nine million residents. The company also provides natural gas to more than one million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens and most of Westchester County. In addition, Con Edison delivers steam to Manhattan. How, then, do you seamlessly upgrade one of the world’s largest utilities’security monitoring systems in a post-911 world? Breaches in security that could interrupt electric, gas or steam service are not an option.
Con Edison’s Corporate Security team acknowledged that its infrastructure and customer demands provided challenges and after researching and reviewing the systems available, Keltron Corporation provided the best and most cost-effective solution, said Scott M. Gross, systems specialist for Corporate Security.
The Keltron LS 7000 Life Safety Event Management System monitors all Con Edison’s divisions, substation operations, transmission operations and area substations that serve its customers. The system provides fast, dependable and universally compatible life safety and security event management. It met Con Edison’s critical needs with the fastest, most direct and efficient access to security information at Con Edison’s new security operations system.

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