Fire Side Chat with Shane Clary

Accurate recordkeeping is essential to be successful in any business enterprise, but for fire systems contractors it could be a matter of life or death. Brush up on the requirements and catch up on new additions to NFPA 72’s Documentation specifications.

Sharing knowledge, wisdom and experiences is the path to continuing to move fire and life safety forward. This goes for innovating products, saving lives and reducing injuries and property loss, as well as running more successful businesses. That’s why conferences like NFPA’s recent Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications Symposium (SUPDET) are so important. .

SSI’s latest research shows 10% of fire/life-safety systems contractors are involved in the installation, inspection or testing of consumer electronic (CE) devices. For those providers willing to gain the expertise, sprinkling offers a solid growth opportunity.

Those in the fire/life-safety industry should be conversant in the processes both ICC and NFPA use for code and standards development. As the ICC process is open to all for the submittal of changes or additions, those who use its codes should not be shy about submitting proposals if they see a need for a change. Read on to better understand how ICC functions.

Although NFPA codes may be foremost in most fire technicians’ minds and practices when it comes to how they install and service safety systems, there are other important documents that come into play. At the top of that list are the codes emanating from the International Code Council (ICC).

Saying something is very European usually means it is provocative. Similarly, it is across the Atlantic where the adoption of new fire/life-safety technology is often swifter and more progressive than domestically. A recent venture abroad offers a glimpse into our industry’s larger scope.

Fire/Life-Safety standards endure much analysis and scrutiny by a number of committees and interested parties en route to ratification. As these decisions affect installing professionals, it is wise to be familiar with the process and participate where and when appropriate.

While NFPA 72 is the most widely referenced document for installing fi re system contractors, the codes and standards it contains are a distillation from a host of other influential organizations and governing bodies. Being a true professional means understanding not just what these directives are but also the how and why.

New requirements for total coverage, remote alarm indication, audible and visible notification, mass notification systems, and evacuation messages are among the many changes in store for the latest version of NFPA 72. Get a jump on what you’ll need to know to satisfy AHJs with an overview of the updated National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.

The NFPA 72 standard, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, has long been the most highly referenced and respected guide for building managers, AHJs and fire systems contractors alike. The recently adopted 2013 edition contains several important changes to support the mission of protecting lives and property within built environments.

As in other professions entailing a high level of skill, toiling in fire/life safety demands practitioners adhere to a well-defined and stringent set of regulations, codes and guidelines. Whether you plan to design, install or service systems, find out what is expected.

The heightened attention given to CO detection in recent years is reflected in updates to the International Residential Code and NFPA 720. Learn what these changes are, their importance, and when and where not to apply them.

Carbon monoxide (CO) detection is increasingly being mandated by more and more localities, meaning safer buildings and growing opportunities for installing security and fire systems providers. Learn important definitions and monitoring practices.

Mass notification and emergency communications systems have received a lot of attention in recent years and represent a growing market for installing life-safety system contractors. Picking up where the previous column left off, find out where and how code plays a part, as well as the many different types of systems and applications.

Mass notification systems have received a lot of attention in recent years and represent a growing market for installing life-safety system contractors. Find out how this area developed, where it differs and overlaps with emergency communication systems, and where this market is heading.

Fire/life-safety pros unite to stem false alarms, or face disconcerting consequences.

Due to the criticality of their mission, fire/life-safety practices and systems tend to change more slowly than a lot of industries. However, even it is beginning to reflect technology’s accelerating pace. Find out what to expect in 2012 and just beyond.

Video image detection is pushing past the boundaries of long established fire safety systems. Able to detect smoke or flame anywhere within cameras’ field of view, this method is not limited by standard detectors’ reliance on distance and area.

While codes go into great detail about how to ensure fire and life-safety systems perform as intended, making sure the systems operate in concert with each other remains a work in progress. Integrated testing is a means to bridge existing gaps and maximize systems’ ability to mitigate loss of property and life.

Commissioning is a process of documentation, adjustment, testing, verification and training, performed to ensure the facility operates in accordance with the owner’s documented project requirements and construction documents. As a fire systems integrator, knowing commissioning fundamentals helps meet expectations for your aspect of the project.

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