November was an exciting month full of Fire Prevention Officers Meetings, member visits and I am looking forward to a busy month of November. Take a look below for more information on news and events coming up in the Southwest Region as well as Nationally.

On October 14th ICC released the following article written by Mike Pfeiffer, P.E., Senior Vice President of ICC Technical Services.

Due process and transparency are fundamental tenets in the code development process and the Code Council’s position is that of a neutral facilitator with a responsibility to protect voter privacy. To provide an enhanced level of transparency in the process, and in response to requests for individual member voter data or voting data by state, the Code Council Board of Directors has decided to provide additional data, which includes a snapshot of the number of eligible voters for the Public Comment Hearings and Online Governmental Consensus Vote on a state-by-state basis for the 2019 cycle. It is anticipated that this will be done going forward for subsequent cycles.

California leads the way with 935 eligible Consensus voters and Public Speakers. For the full article and to see the list of voter numbers by state go to: https://www.iccsafe.org/building-safety-journal/bsj-hits/snapshot-eligible-voters-for-the-2019-public-comment-hearings-and-online-governmental-consensus-vote/
NFSA is Calling for Presentations for the 2020 Annual Seminar

The NFSA Annual Seminar is at the Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona will be an event bringing together leaders of the fire sprinkler industry for four days of networking, knowledge sharing, exhibits and camaraderie. NFSA is seeking dynamic, engaging, and knowledgeable presenters to share best practices, successes, innovative programs and proven techniques with industry professionals from across the country and around the world during the Networking and Knowledge Exchange sessions that will be held on April 29, 2020 through May 2, 2020. These professional development sessions consist of three topic categories as follow:
• Technical presentations include topics related to fire sprinkler technology, codes and standards, hot topics in the fire sprinkler industry or exploring new fire sprinkler frontiers.
• Leadership presentations include topics related to the best practices and responsibilities for running and maintaining a successful association or fire sprinkler business.
• Business presentations include topics related to the best practices and information for the operations of a successful business. Topics areas include, sales, human resources, finance, or legal issues.

Proposals are solicited for 60-minute and 90-minute presentations that are interactive, creative, dynamic, and feature best practices. The presentation timeframe will include introductions, presentation material, question and answer session, and evaluation. Attendees should leave with specific knowledge and skills about various aspects of the topic and how it relates to their future development. Presentations should provide attendees with educational value and refrain from promoting a specific business, product, or service.

To apply go to: https://members.nfsa.org/page/call-for-presentations

Southwest Chapter News

Randy Howell elected to Los Angeles Area Chapter President
The Los Angeles Chapter met for a special Chapter meeting on October 10th to count the ballots for the next Chapter Chairperson. Randy Howell, President of Kimble and Company was elected as the next Chapter Chair after ballots were sent and received by Chapter members throughout the Los Angeles Area region. Also appointed by the Chapter for Chapter Treasurer was Jeff Landon, Regional Sales Manager for Lubrizol and Bruce Lecair, Regional Manager, NFSA, for Chapter Secretary.
Randy Howell will succeed Don Becka, President, Qualco Fire Protection and Jeff Landon will succeed Stuart Cook of Potter-Roemer served as President and Treasurer. Both Don and Stuart served from 1999 through 2019 and have stepped down after a long and successful service to our members.
The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter met on September 18th in Fremont, CA. at the Saki’s Spin a Yarn Restaurant and Grill. Greg Anderson, Office of the State Fire Marshal Division Chief of Codes and Regulations was the featured speaker. Anderson discussed the codes and regulations process in California and gave an update on the progress of current regulations being moved forward in our state. The next meeting will be on November 13th with Vice of Engineering Mark Hopkins in attendance to discuss changes in fire sprinkler protection of storage occupancies including cardboard storage and ESFR sprinklers.
The Arizona State Chapter met on September 10th at the Phoenix Fire Department Headquarters at 150 S. 12th Street in Phoenix, Arizona for a luncheon meeting to discuss membership options for AHJs, pump sizing and rubber storage requirements. The meeting was sponsored by Matt Virtue, Regional Sales Manager, Victaulic. The last meeting of the 2019 schedule will be on November 12th with Vice of Engineering Mark Hopkins will be in attendance to discuss changes in fire sprinkler protection of storage occupancies including cardboard storage and ESFR sprinklers.

Office of the State Fire Marshal Automatic Extinguishing Systems Advisory Committee votes to move NFPA 25 Forward
On September 11th the California State Fire Marshal’s Automatic Extinguishing Systems Advisory Committee met and voted 11-1 in favor of moving the recommendations of the NFPA 25 Work Group forward. The Work Group was chaired by Regional Manager Bruce Lecair who gave the report on the recommendations of the 3 sub-committees that were voted on by the NFPA 25 Work Group in August.
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal Automatic Extinguishing Systems Advisory Committee and the NFPA 25 Work Group are represented by NFSA members, Regional Manager Bruce Lecair, former Area Director Jack Thacker, Schambaugh and Son, and NFSA Contractor Jason Hudgins from Walschon Fire Protection as well as Darryl Hefley and Randy Dysart from Jorgenson Company. The committee is appointed by the State Fire Marshal and is formed to address fire protection issues and make recommendations to the State Fire Marshal on matters affecting fire protection in California.
The recommendations have been moved forward as draft Incremental Statement of Reasons and are now being reviewed by OSFM staff before submittal to the Acting State Fire Marshal. The goal of is to adopt the 2020 NFPA 25 edition that will be the California 2021 NFPA 25 edition based on the NFPA 25, 2020 edition. Should everything proceed smoothly, the adoption date is targeted for January 1, 2022.

One Fire Sprinkler Save in the Southwest in October

October 14, San Pablo, CA. Fire sprinkler system puts out fire at nursing home; No injuries were reported. A fire at a San Pablo nursing home spurred the evacuation of three dozen patients Friday afternoon, authorities said. Firefighters were called to Vale Healthcare Center at 13484 San Pablo Avenue about 2:10 p.m. for a report of a fire, according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman Steve Hill.
View the full post at http://sprinklersaves.com/san-pablo-ca-sprinkler-system-puts-out-fire-at-nursing-home-no-injuries-reported/.

If you have any more longform types of information from NFSA departments, you can paste it here

TRAINING OPPORTUNTIES

Next on the list of 2019 seminars is the 2-days of training in Brea, CA. at the Civic Center located at 1 Civic Center Drive. This seminar is free and sponsored by the Southern California Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board.
We are still working on dates and the classes for the Visalia, CA. after the first of the year. Registration is open for the first 2020 seminar in Tucson, AZ. at the Northwest Fire District Training Center. The dates are February 25-27. The classes are going to be the 2-day Fire Sprinkler Plan Review and the one day Rough-in and Final of Fire Sprinkler Systems.
For more information on NFSA classes and seminars, go to: seminars@nfsa.org or contact Regional Manager Bruce Lecair at: lecair@nfsa.org or (951) 805-8992.

2019 Tech Tuesdays…a free member benefit!
On-line Tech Tuesday seminars are free to members…. but you must be registered 24 hours prior to the event. Once the Tech Tuesday seminar is over, it becomes archived in NFSA’s on-line training portal. You do not have to watch it live to get free price, but again, you must register in advance. These seminars qualify for CEUs and are live at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
• November 19: NFPA 909 Requirement for Cultural Properties
• December 17: NFPA 15: Water Spray Fixed Systems

NOTE TO WEST COAST MEMBERS — a new time slot for Tech Tuesdays will be announced soon. You may be able to sleep in!

The California Fire Prevention Officers CFPI planning Committee is now accepting registration for the upcoming Conference form March 9-13 in Buellton, CA. The conference is the week long training event with classes and meetings ranging from the California Fire Sprinkler Coalition Face to Face meeting, fire sprinkler classes, management of fire prevention bureaus, hazardous materials, plan review, and a wide selection of other classes instructed by industry, government representatives of the building official and fire service, and the National Fire Academy and the National Fire Prevention Association as well as the NFSA. You can now register at www.cfpi.org.

Meetings and Events

Arizona State NFSA Chapter Meeting, Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at the Phoenix Fire Department Headquarters at 150 S. 12th Street in Phoenix, AZ. From 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. with Vice of Engineering Mark Hopkins in attendance to discuss changes in fire sprinkler protection of storage occupancies including cardboard storage and ESFR sprinklers.

NFSA San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Meeting, November 13th at Saki’s Spin A Yarn Restaurant in Fremont, CA. from 5-8 p.m. with Vice of Engineering Mark Hopkins in attendance to discuss changes in fire sprinkler protection of storage occupancies including cardboard storage and ESFR sprinklers.

SoCal Fire Prevention Officers Association. Wednesday, November 13th, 2019. The SoCal FPOs will be meeting at the Carlsbad Fire Department Safety Center, 2560 Orion Way, Carlsbad, CA. PROGRAM: Elley Klausbruckner of Klausbruckner and Associates will be presenting on the requirements of High-piled Combustible Storage of the California Fire Code.

NorCal Fire Prevention Officers Association, Friday, November 15th in Richmond, CA. from 9:30 – 3:00 pm. This meeting is hosted by the Richmond Fire Department and will be at the Craneway Building at 1414 Harbour Way S. The afternoon presentation will be a tour of Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park, and a tour of Mountain Hardware and Columbia Sportswear company stores. This the time of the year for the holiday shopping spree for both Columbia and Mountain Hardware company stores. The FPOs will also be presenting the check donations to our burn charities at this meeting.

California Fire Sprinkler Coalition Meeting. The November Fire Sprinkler Coalition Meeting will be held Wednesday, November 20th 10:00 a.m. You will be able to attend the meeting by accessing teleconference at 1-855-747-8824, access number: 446676#.

Diego Fire Protection Association. Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Sizzler’s Restaurant, 3755 Murphy Canyon Road 11:30 to 1:00 p.m.

California Office of the State Fire Marshal AES Advisory Committee Meeting. December 12th at the Office of the State Fire Marshal at 2251 Harvard Street, Sacramento, CA. from 9:30 – 3:00.

NFSA Los Angeles Area Chapter Meeting, February 20th at the Rio Hondo Golf and Event Center in Downey, CA. from 5-8 p.m. Come and welcome our new Chapter President Randy Howell.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS

============================================

Check out the great resources available for reaching out to Realtors!

The California Fire Sprinkler Coalition has a great list of Real Estate Organizations throughout the state and are actively reaching out to our local realtors for opportunities to present on the benefits and how residential fire sprinklers are constructed and how they activate.
So, if you’re putting your fire-sprinklered house on the market, make sure your #realestate agent knows how to promote its added value! Download & share. http://homefiresprinkler.org/selling-a-home. And if you are looking for more information or how to join the California Fire Sprinkler Coalition go to: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Campaigns/Fire-Sprinkler-Initiative/Fire-sprinkler-coalitions/California-Fire-Sprinkler-Coalition.FSA

Not getting the most from your membership???

Are you and your staff accessing time-saving Expert of the Day when you have an issue that is taking a lot of time to resolve?

Do you and your staff know how to search the extensive NFSA Technical archives?

Are the NFSA Technical Updates reaching the right people? Are you involved in the many social media platforms to learn the latest industry information, and share what you and your company have to say?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, please give me a call to schedule a time to stop by your office. I want to make sure you are getting a great return on your investment with NFSA!

Your Regional manager is Bruce Lecair, (951) 805-8992 or at: lecair@nfsa.org.