Highlights
- Firestop Industry Conference
- FCIA at AIA, NFPA, FM, NASFM
- Call for FCIA Board Nominees
FCIA Firestop Industry Conference - The 2004 Firestop
Industry Conference celebrates 5 years in existence as a group.
From small beginnings of 40 people meeting in Chicago, this
group has grown to over 100 members in just 5 years. Celebrate
5 years as an organization, and participate in "International
Effective Compartmentation" as our theme. Seminars are
planned on Perimeter Fire Containment Systems, FM 4991 Approval
Procedures, Fire Walls / Floor patching & Repair, Fire
Dampers, Fire Doors and Hardware, and how firestopping fits
into the big picture. In addition to seminars, the FCIA Program
Committee has scheduled free time for touring, golf, fishing,
and fun. Bring your spouse, and don't miss this event! Visit
our site for Meeting Information
and Air Travel (discounted fares on American through CTMG)
and Frenchman's Reef Hotel Reservation Form to FAXBACK to
the hotel. Watch for the FCIA FAXBACK form next week on the
website.
FCIA "Letter" to editor published in ENR
- Under the direction of FCIA's Board of Directors, Bill McHugh,
FCIA Executive Director wrote ENR about Firestopping and Effective
Compartmentation. Read FCIA's
statement about the "False Alarms" article published
June 7, 2004 in ENR. Although the cost of firestopping
was misquoted, the general direction of the article is correct.
FCIA at AIA Convention - FCIA Executive Director Bill
McHugh spent time at the AIA Convention in Chicago a few weeks
ago. It was great to see FCIA Member Specified Technologies
educating the attendees about the importance of Firestopping.
FCIA at NFPA Headquarters - FCIA Members Aedan Gleeson,
Gleeson Powers, Inc., Blase Reardon, and Bill McHugh spent
time with Robert Solomon, NFPA Vice President discussing Fire
and Life Safety. We learned more about NFPA's "Total
Fire Protection" Approach. Total Fire Protection includes
the Human element - Firefighters, building management and
occupants, Effective Compartmentation, Alarms and Detection
as well as Sprinkler Systems. We continue to learn more about
NFPA, and will meet with them again in August.
FCIA at FM Approvals - The team of Aedan, Blase and
Bill also visited FM Approvals and are pursuing the education
of FM's Engineering Group. FM Engineers assess risk in buildings
for insurance rates, rather than the typical actuarial approach.
The FCIA Board will be visiting FM in August during it's board
meeting.
FCIA at NASFM Conference - FCIA met over 50 new contacts
at the National Association of State Fire Marshal's Conference,
in St. Louis, MO. FCIA Members Don Murphy, PPMI Firestop,
Inc. and Jay McGuire, Firestop Technologies, Inc. spent time
meeting new friends while at the Conference. We heard from
many State Fire Marshals that Firestopping is misunderstood
by inspectors and contractors alike. They were glad to know
that FCIA Member Contractors exist as a resource for them
in each state.
While at NASFM, we heard from Marriott Corp., who's been
a NASFM member for many years, supporting NASFM. Marriott
has a culture of doing more than what's required by code for
fire and life safety in its properties. Listening to their
corporate philosophy from NASFM Members, it's apparent that
an educated buyer of Construction Services is a good buyer
for those who provide value. For those who don't provide "systems",
or oversell, these buyers eliminate those firms from vendor
lists at firms like Marriott very quickly.
Firestopping installation services and documentation is a
complicated, systems oriented, sell to a building owner or
general contractor. Without knowledge of the quality protocol
that a Professional Firestop Contractor provides vs. others,
buyers will not know how to tell what the "correct"
value is for a particular project. Our hats off to Marriott
for knowing how to buy fire and life safety systems. Also,
while at the trade show, FCIA Coffee Mug winners were Doyle
Sutton, Nevada State Fire Marshal, and James Hoebel, Consumer
Product Fire Safety Consultant. Thanks for stopping at the
FCIA Tabletop and dropping your business card.
New FM 4991 Approved Contractors - FCIA Members continue
to lead the field as quality contractors of this important
Fire and Life Safety Service. Code Officials, Fire Marshals,
Architects and Engineers recognize that Firestopping can be
"the biggest pain in the neck I have". Recognizing
this, they continue to specify qualified Specialty Firestop
Contractors for projects.
As specifications requiring FM 4991 Contractors and ASTM
E 2174 Inspections appear around the country, FCIA Member
Firestopping Contractors are becoming FM 4991 Approved, and
inspections are taking place on some projects. As an example,
at the SCIP Conference in Chicago, a friend of FCIA mentioned
that a major airport owner in Washington DC requested a Specialty
Firestop Contractor who is FM 4991 Approved be part of the
specifications.
Congratulations to new FM 4991 Contractors Apex Firestop,
Houston, TX, Alpha Insulation, Carrolton, TX, Firestoppers,
Inc., Firestop International, LLC Texas and Florida Branches,
J-Kaulk, Inc. Picayune, MS, Mato, Inc. Denver, CO and SsesCo,
Inc., Fairfield, NJ. FM 4991 has provided a new standard for
construction quality in the industry and these firms have
quantifiably qualified themselves.
LEED - Green Buildings Trend - Additionally, over the past
few years, the US Green Building Council has grown into a
large group with an impressive trade show, and interest from
around the country in sustainable, renewable, environmentally
sensitive design. Unlike past environmental movements that
focused on specific things, LEED Design looks at everything
in building environmentally sensitive. From construction product
production processes, chemical content, distance from the
jobsite, performance in the building, waste created during
construction and at renovation time, to name a few characteristics.
In Chicago, Mayor Daley declared at the AIA National Convention
that " all new public buildings and major renovations
be designed, constructed and maintained using the Chicago
Standard, which incorporates LEED (TM) credits that are most
applicable to Chicago". This will apply to city owned
structures, with hopes that the private sector will follow.
FCIA Member Contractors are being asked about LEED Certification
for Firestopping Systems. We understand that firestopping
manufacturers are reviewing their LEED Environmental qualification
status for their products. FCIA Members look forward to hearing
results of the manufacturers studies shortly.
FCIA New Members - Welcome to Michael W. Holmes, M.W.
Holmes Construction Inc., of Mentor, OH and Cooper Reid, Old
Dominion Firestopping, LLC, Richmond, VA to FCIA Membership
as Voting Contractor Members. We look forward to meeting you
in St. Thomas, USVI at the Firestop Industry Conference.
FCIA New Member Development - The FCIA office has
had inquiries about FCIA from around the world lately...Israel,
Ireland, Turkey, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
FCIA President Ray Usher, while traveling overseas, discussed
Firestopping and our common goals to protect fire and life
safety in buildings with industry representatives from Ireland
and England. FCIA is pleased to form relationships with influential
groups around the world.
FCIA Call for Directors - Each year, three directors
rotate off the FCIA Board. FCIA Thanks Tom Hottenroth, Firestop
Solutions, Inc., Richard Keeney, Firestop International, Inc.,
and Roger McKenzie, McKenzie Insulation, Inc., for their service
to FCIA on the 2004 FCIA Board of Directors. FCIA Voting Contractor
Members who want to give back to the industry through volunteering
for the FCIA Board of Directors can email the Nomination Committee.
Bob Patton (Chair), rpatton@firesafe-systems.com, Bob LeClair,
at rleclair@afunderhill.com , or Scott Rankin at srankin@pyro-stop.com
are the 2004 nominating committee for 2005's FCIA Board. Board
of Directors serve terms of two years. Board members attend
4 board meetings yearly, 2 at FCIA Conferences, 2 at other
times and places. Responsiveness to Email and phone calls
are important to the position....plus an open mind, and willingness
to give back to the industry.
"What you give as a volunteer to your industry, returns
tenfold......" Scott Rankin, FCIA Past President, Pyro-Stop,
Inc. - Nashville, 2002
Don't forget to mark your calendar for our FCIA's
Firestop Industry Conference - November 10 - 13, 2004
- Frenchman's Reef Hotel, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
©Copyright FCIA 07/26/04 - 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
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