Large construction fires are occurring across the US. These fires tax the response and resources of local communities, drive up construction costs, and have long lasting effects on the impact of construction. Fire sprinkler contractors and fire sprinkler installation standards are stuck in the middle. The American Wood Council presents on the causes and concerns of the wood industry of these fires and the work being done in model building and fire codes to improve and reduce construction fires. The Cambridge (Massachusetts) Fire Department presents past history and current practices by AHJs to prevent these types of fires. The NFPA presents their recent research report on construction fires and details the resulting data and statistics.
Learning objectives:
- Discuss the past and current methods of protecting areas under construction.
- Understand the requirements in the codes and standards.
- Apply new
techniques and educate owners, fire sprinkler contractors, and code officials
on construction fire safety.
Ray O’Brocki- (Manager
Fire Service Relations, American Wood Council)
Lt. Christopher
Towski- (Construction Fire Safety Compliance Officer, Cambridge Fire
Department)
Richard Campbell-
(Senior Research Analyst, NFPA)