Highlights
 FCIA Board Meeting- FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference
- FCIA at NASFM, CSI, Orlando, and ICC Code Hearings
FCIA Board Meeting
FCIA's Board of Directors met in Chicago, January 13 &
14, 2005 to reaffirm FCIA's Mission, and set direction for
this year and beyond. FCIA's mission is below...with more
emphasis on systems installed by Specialty Firestop Contractors....
"The FCIA’s mission is for member organizations
to be recognized throughout the construction industry as preferred
quality contractors of life safety firestop systems. FCIA
Member Contractors are committed to providing consistent,
high quality firestop systems as a critical part of Effective
Compartmentation."
TOPICS DISCUSSED
- Membership Growth - FCIA's membership has grown
rapidly from 7 to 120 in five years. To promote FCIA Contractor
Membership and continue the growth rate, a Membership Committee
has been formed, with Allen Rams, Beverly Life Safety Systems
as chair. The committee will pursue new contractor members
in the US and Canada as its first priority.
- Programs - To support membership growth, FCIA's
Program Committee recommendation to the board that 2005's
FCIA Conferences be located in the Western US was accepted.
FCIA looks to grow its western contractor membership by
taking FCIA to them!
- Technical - FCIA's Manual of Practice is being
updated significantly. The Committee is writing the update
while representing FCIA on NFPA's Fire Protection Features
Committee and UL's 1479 Standards Technical Panel as well
as ASTM Meetings.
- Accreditation - The committee is focused on FCIA
Member, FM 4991 Contractor support from FM and growth in
the number of FM Approved Contractors. And, Aedan Gleeson,
FCIA Accreditation Chair, has developed a "Fire Cert",
for use with AHJ's and others when closing out a Firestopping
Project. Watch for introduction in April.
- Marketing - Look for tools from the Marketing Committee
that can help your firm become a recognized leader in the
marketplace at the FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference
in April, 2005, to be held in Las Vegas.
- Education - At the Las Vegas Conference, the committee
will roll out its contractor education tools and AIA CEU
Credit Presentations for all FCIA Members to use that will
help them become leaders in the marketplace.
FCIA Conversations with NASFM – FCIA continues
to have conversations with the National Association of State
Fire Marshals about their "Partnership for Safer Buildings"
Campaign. FCIA Past President Scott Rankin attended meetings
in Virginia to offer FCIA's support of Effective Compartmentation
and Firestopping in the International Building Code and NFPA
5000.
 NASFM's
position about Effective Compartmentation and Structural Fire
Protection Features is crystal clear. Effective Compartmentation
is needed as much as Detection and Alarms, Sprinklers and
Education of building occupants and firefighters. Additionally,
Michelle Jones, NIA Executive Director and Michael Kwart,
ICAA Executive Director, Don Smith, AWCI, plus AFSCC's Consultants
were there as well. Visit http://www.firemarshals.org to learn
firsthand NASFM's opinions that are being promoted throughout
the US to building code organizations and government agencies.
FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference
FCIA's Education and Committee Action Conference returns
to the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, April 27 - 29, 2005.
The conference, "Effective Compartmentation & Firestopping
Leadership", brings the industry together through active
participation from both FCIA Contractors / Manufacturers,
and the International Firestop Council as well. Some FCIA
and IFC Committees are meeting jointly to jumpstart our efforts
as an industry. Join the seminars on Effective Compartmentation,
Legal Issues in Firestopping and Specifications, UL, and FM.
FCIA Member Manufacturer updates will add value to your business
through industry strategy and product presentations by leaders
in our industry.
REGISTRATION INFO:
The FCIA 2005 ECA Conference, returns to the 1999 site,
the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, NV.
Hotel Room Rates per night are: $119 -Tuesday, Wednesday,
$149-Thursday, $209 per night-Friday. Reservations -Call
800-929-1111 and identify that you're with the Firestop
Contractors International Association or “fci006”.
Reservations must be made by March 30, 2005 to get the group
rate.
For Air Travel, call CTMG - 800.323.3800 - FCIA's Travel
Partner. The best ground Transportation is local taxi to
MGM. And, you will want to fly out late Friday as FCIA’s
Golf Tournament for the Traveling "Firestop Bulk Gun"
Trophy kicks off at the Revere Golf Club, Concord Course,
Friday afternoon.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Join other FCIA members for a great time, great speakers,
displays, and industry leadership at the FCIA Firestop Industry
Conference, November 9 - 11, 2005. This year's conference
is in San Diego, CA. Watch the website for details for this
educational, fun event.
FCIA Membership Renewal - The FCIA Membership Process
is well underway with renewals received daily and retention
doing well. Don't forget to renew. If you need another invoice,
reply to this email.
FCIA Effective Compartmentation Maintenance - FCIA's
Effective Compartmentation and Firestopping Maintenance Program
was written after the International Fire Code Requirements
for Effective Compartementation became part of the International
Fire Code.
As a result, FCIA introduced an Effective Compartmentation
Maintenance Document at the Firestop Industry Conference in
St Thomas. It’s been well received, and downloaded frequently
from FCIA's Website. The document is being edited for use
in the FCIA Manual of Practice. Visit http://www.fcia.org
, review the document, and offer commentary to the Technical
Committee.
FCIA at ICC Hearings
FCIA will be speaking at the ICC Code hearings.... for ASTM
E 2174 Inspection, Effective Compartementation and Firestopping
requirements to protect fire and life safety in buildings.
We'll be against a code proposal to require a ASME/ANSI Approved
field installer (worker) for Plumbing Penetrations as it promotes
one trade over others in code and does not recognize the true
driver of Fire and Life Safety....the Specialty Firestop Contractor
Firm who is qualified to educate employees, has insurance,
has trained personnel and accepts the business risk for the
firestopping performed by the Firm on the project.
Hearings for the 2006 version of the International Building
Code take place in Cincinnati, OH, February 22 - March 4,
2005. Rally with FCIA. Contact the FCIA Office by replying
to this email to join in this important code event.
FCIA Speaks at Orlando CSI Invitation Only Breakfast
- After a successful FCIA Firestopping Presentation about
"The Firestopping Quality Process" last year at
the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Show in Chicago,
Jay Cooper; CSI Orlando's Program Chair contacted FCIA about
a seminar at the Invitation Only CSI Breakfast Seminar, Orlando
Florida Chapter. Over 40 CSI Members attended the program
with much discussion from the specifiers, manufacturers and
contractors about the Firestopping Installation Process, FCIA
and the Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept.
FCIA Manufacturer Members 3M Fire Protection Products, A/D
Fire Protection Products, Grace Construction Products, RectorSeal,
Specified Technologies, Inc. and Tremco, Inc. sponsored tabletops
for the meeting, making the breakfast event free to the architects
& FCIA Member Contractors. Through their comments, participation
and questions this was an exciting Firestopping Industry event.
Thanks to FCIA Member Manufacturers for sponsoring CSI Orlando
Chapter Firestop Industry Quality Program, February 17, 2005.
"We make our own luck ...… through practice,
persistence, patience, focus." Alec Rexroat, IMICO
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director ~ 630.690.0682
©Copyright FCIA 2/22/05 - Permission is hereby granted
to forward, print, circulate, quote with credit to FCIA.
FCIA is a non profit organization of Firestop Contractors,
Contractor Branch Offices, Manufacturers and Associate Members
interested in furthering life safety through the Professional
Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept.
For more information, contact the
FCIA Office
Bill McHugh, Executive Director
1257 Golf Circle
Wheaton, IL 60187
630.690.0682 Phone
630.690.2871 FAX
Email: info@fcia.org
Website: www.fcia.org
To unsubscribe email bill@fcia.org with tagline REMOVE
|
