SFPE-NEC 2021 Annual Fire Protection & Life Safety Seminar

SEMINAR PROGRAM

Morning

• 7:30 am to 7:45 am:   Webinar Log in

• 7:45 am to 8:00 am:   Opening Remarks / Sponsor Acknowledgment
  

• 8:00 am to 9:00 am:    “An Evaluation of the Firefighting Effectiveness of Fluorine Free Foams” by Jerry Back, Jensen Hughes — The NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) contracted Jensen Hughes to conduct an experimental program to assess the firefighting capabilities of fluorine free, Class B firefighting foams on fires involving hydrocarbon and alcohol fuels. The objectives of this study were to determine the fire extinguishment and burnback times for five fluorine free foams (FFFs) and one C6 AFFF formulation (for baseline) as a function of application rate (gpm/ft2) and foam discharge density (gal/ft2) for a range of test parameters including fuel type, water type and fuel temperature.  The data provides a general characterization of the firefighting capabilities of FFFs as a “Technology” or a “Class” of foams for use in standards making decisions.  The presentation will provide a detailed description and discussion of the test results and findings of the program.

• 9:00 am to 9:30 am:   Sponsor Spotlight
• 9:30 am to 10:30 am:   “Massachusetts Building and Fire Code Review”, by Jen Hoyt, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services — This presentation will provide an overview of the current building and fire codes in Massachusetts.  Emerging technologies and trends within the building industry will be addressed along with the applicable code regulations.  Recent and proposed changes to the code will be highlighted throughout the presentation to provide attendees with a scope towards possible future requirements. This presentation will be beneficial for code users, designers, architects, building owners, authorities having jurisdiction, and engineers.
• 10:30 am to 11:00 am:   Sponsor Spotlight
• 11:00 am to 12:00 pm:   "Drones in Firefighting and Public Safety" by Charles Werner, DRONERESPONDERS — Drones are rapidly becoming an invaluable tool in firefighting and public safety. This presentation will provide an overview of drones, how are they being used and impacting operations and will provide access to resources to guide starting a new program, SOPs, task books and more.

Afternoon

• 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm:   Lunch Break
• 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm:   “Fire Protection Solutions for a Multi-Purpose Transformative Performing Arts Center” by Joe Watson, Jensen Hughes — The design of the new Brown University Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island is a one-of-a-kind dynamic building for students to fully integrate all forms of performing and visual arts. The building includes a main hall with five (5) radically different preset configurations to utilize the space to its fullest extent. To house the five (5) configurations into a single multipurpose room it was designed such that the seating gantries around the perimeter of the room and suspended from the structure above can be automatically reconfigured. Large seating and technical production areas that can be repositioned introduces challenges not prescriptively addressed in current building and fire codes.
• 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm:   FP Technology Update "NIST Fire and Smoke Simulation Software" by Alejandro Jorquera, CYPE —  CYPEFIRE FDS presentation, this Dynamic fire simulation module uses the graphical interface of its CYPECAD MEP software to provide the FDS motor developed by NIST the required data, and SmokeView viewer also by NIST the necessary information to generate the 3D animation of the results obtained. Neither of the tools developed by NIST have a graphical data introduction interface, so the data must be introduced in a complex way. CYPEFIRE FDS does all this, without the user having to intervene. In addition to simulations, it analyses and interprets the results for the user to obtain reports containing time graphs of the evolution of the variables monitored in the simulation. It also takes into account many factors which influence the safety of buildings, in case of a fire. CYPEFIRE FDS can also be used with other fire protection design software that generates ifc standard files, thanks to its Open BIM technology.
• 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm:   “Cyber Vulnerabilities of Fire Protection Systems” by Victoria Hutchison, Fire Protection Research Foundation at NFPA — Fire protection systems are increasingly being networked to building control systems, the Internet of Things, and other platforms that are exposed to the Internet.  For the fire protection and emergency response communities, this emerging environment could lead to unique and novel cyber vulnerabilities, and cyber oriented attacks have the potential for significant adverse consequences.  This session will provide a more thorough understanding of cybersecurity issues related to fire protection, and include an update on an FPRF project focused on reviewing the available information to assess the vulnerabilities of connected fire protection systems.
• 3:45 pm to 4:00 pm:   Closing Remarks