Changing of the Guard at Fire-Protection Associations

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff November 2, 2018

Two major fire-protection industry associations have issued announcements concerning officers and board members:

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has announced that members of its MasterFormat Expansion Task Team will receive a Technical Commendation at its 48th Annual CSI Convention. The presentation will take place on April 21 in Chicago during the event’s opening general session.

Team member Russell P. Fleming, P.E., executive vice president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), represents the fire sprinkler industry on the Task Expansion Team.

MasterFormat Expansion Task Team members will be recognized for their contribution to CSI’s technical programs through their work on MasterFormat 04. CSI created the Expansion Task Team three years ago to revise MasterFormat, CSI’s widely used format for non-residential building specifications. CSI revises MasterFormat every five to seven years.

Established in 1905, the Patterson, N.J.-based NFSA represents all fire sprinkler industry interests including contractors, manufacturers and suppliers and related equipment and fire protection professionals. The organization provides publications, seminars, representation in codes and standards making, market development, labor relations and other services to its membership.

For more information about the IFC, go to www.nfsa.org .

IFC Appoints Executive Officers

Meanwhile, a major association representing passive fire protection, the International Firestop Council (IFC), has announced the appointment of new executive officers and committee chairs.

Founded in 1990, the IFC is a not-for-profit organization of industry experts committed to making buildings safer through passive fire containment. With membership composed of manufacturers, distributors and users of passive fire protective materials and systems, IFC aims to promote passive fire containment through awareness, education and development of codes and standards.

Recent IFC appointees are:

• President: Steven Tyler, Tremco, Inc.
• Vice President: Jim Park, The Rectorseal Company
• Secretary/Treasurer: Brian Becker, Fire Trak Corp.
• IFC Committee Chairs:
• Code Action Committee: Richard Licht, RRL Consulting Solutions, Inc.
• Education Committee: Philip Zanghi, Grace Construction Products
• Marketing Committee: Steven Tyler, Tremco, Inc.
• Third Party Inspection Sub-Committee: Jim Shriver, Thermafiber
• Grease Duct Enclosure Committee: Sarah Brewer, Unifrax Corporation

“IFC’s Executive Committee will continue the path set by past leaders to promote the importance of passive fire containment through research, education and code provisions,” says IFC President Steven Tyler.

For more information about the IFC, go to www.firestop.org .

NFPA Board Votes to Simplify Meetings

Final the National Fire Protection Assn. (NFPA) has announced some significant changes to its meeting agendas. At its regular meeting earlier this month, the board of directors voted to approve the consolidation of its Fall Education Conference into its annual World Safety Conference and Exposition.

Designed to ease member schedules and travel, the change will allow NFPA business to be carried out in one meeting starting in 2005, NFPA’s 2004 WSCE will take place May 23-26 in Salt Lake City. The 2004 Fall Education Conference will be held November 13-17 in Miami Beach.

The NFPA board also voted to change the annual meeting month from May to June, effective next year, in order for the Association to have more flexibility in selecting sites. Typically, fewer large conferences take place in the summer months, including June. By moving the conference to June, there would also be more review-time for the codes and standards-making process.

“We are extremely pleased to offer these changes to our members,” said James M. Shannon, NFPA president. “Most recently, we have heard from members who have found attending two conferences very difficult, given demanding work and family schedules. This consolidation will provide needed relief without compromising our mission and important NFPA programs.”

A detailed information on these changes, as well as a full listing of NFPA document revision cycles and procedures, will soon be available on the Internet at www.nfpa.org .