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THE I-STAIR – A NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION HAZARD

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I would first like to give a special thanks to the staff at Firefighters CloseCalls for sending this information to me. So I could share  it with you all on Green Maltese.

Also a special thanks goes out to Lt Steve Dykema City of Wyoming Mi. Fire Department for being very heads up training officer and bringing this issue to light.

I-STAIRS:

Attached is info on a new type of stair construction for residential buildings, and a safety bulletin that was put out for  the City of Wyoming Fire Department. The stairs are constructed using 2x4s for the main support. The triangles shown hold the stair riser and tread in place. The metal on the bottom of the tread and riser is essentially a gusset plate, similar to truss gusset plates.The inventor of the products has passing on the info below. According to him, if the stairs are on the main floor to second floor configuration, the bottom needs to have drywall. If it is coming from the basement in an unfinished area, no drywall or other protection in required. The entire stair assembly is manufactured in a factory and shipped to the jobsite.

The I-Stair is just one of many hazards we as firefighters face. The key to our success on the modern fireground is  a good proper size-up, early fast water and a proper Go or No Go decision-making sequence.

For information on the Go or No Go sequence:

Downloaded drill – http://firetrainingtoolbox.com/gonogo.pdf

Video link – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7m8TViEUOk

I-Stair FAQ Information from the Inventor:

1.Why is pre-built i-stair better?

Steel stringer brackets. (no 2×12 shrink and split)

Treads and risers are glued and screwed to steel stringer brackets (no squeak)

Installation is simple and fast. (no layout or cutting stringers, treads and risers) Saves frame and finish labor.

Safer: Potential home buyers and clients are safe and not nervous climbing temp treads.

Code compliant immediately at installation. (less liability exposure during construction)

2.How is i-stair ordered?

Framers call with wall and floor height, width and landings along with job location.or stair specs are taken from the plans.

3.When is i-stair delivered?

Usually next day, sometimes 2 days.

4.Is there special framing needed?

Hanger board is not needed. Cut subfloor nosing 1-3/4″ and frame the opening consistent for width.

5.How is i-stair installed?

1. Set i-stair and nail top riser tight to floor-joist header & subfloor nosing.

2. Glue stringers to subfloor and bottom riser to floor.

3. Lag-screw stringers to wall studs. ( lag-screws supplied )

If under stair is to be dry-walled, nail 2x4s between stringers every 2 brackets ( 2′ o.c. )

6. How heavy is a typical i-stair?

About 200lbs.

7.How is i-stair protected on concrete floors?

2 pieces of water-shield are provided to slip under the stringer feet,or water-shield is stapled to stringer feet.

8.Why only 2 stringers?

The Tread-Riser-Gusset form I-beams that span the width of the stair.

( Ultimate failure load test, 2040 lbs.)

9.How is drywall under an upper stair supported?

The framers nail 2 x 4s between the stringers every 2 brackets ( 2′ o.c.)(This is not pre-built because of assembly constraints)

10.How is i-stair finished?

The skirt-boards are installed between i-stair and drywall. (The i-stair treads and risers are ready for pad and carpet)

11.What are the two numbers labeled to the riser?

The 1st is the skirt board bottom length.

The second is the skirt board floor cut angle.

12.Can the tread-riser-gusset weather rain and snow?

Yes I-stair exposed to weeks of rain and snow have had no problems.

13.Is i-stair accepted by the local building official?

Almost all of West Michigan code officials have seen and approved i-stair.

Load Testing performed by Progressive Engineering Inc., ISO 17025 Accredited. Load Test Report by P-E-I is available from MPI Concepts Inc.

Down loadable Drill from City of Wyoming Mi. Fire Department:

step safety bulletin i stairs

Additional Information:

US7946085B2 i stairs patent

P-E-I Certificate for I stairs

i stair brochure

i stair 2011 Test Report 5-06-11

Please share this with your crews. This is just one more of many reasons why we  as the Fire Service needs to advocating for sprinklers every building!

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on January 24, 2013 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Is your Fire Prevention message up to date?

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As most firefighters should know this week is National Fire Prevention Week . I am sure many of you are out spreading the message of Fire Prevention this week. I would like to say thank you for serving your communities and  you will probably never know how many life’s were truly saved by your wonderful dedication to your communities.

So since it is  Fire Prevention Week this post will be about this years Fire Prevention theme in the context of our modern fire environment.

The NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week is October 7-13, 2012. This year’s theme is “Have Two Ways Out” and focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice in the home.

In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage. One home structure was reported every 85 seconds in 2010.

Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready:

I must say I am actually excited that the NFPA theme this year is about Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready because it will fit perfect with a project I am working on and the message I have already been preaching locally here in my recent fire behavior and search classes.

So not to take anything away from this years theme but to only add too. I would to challenge everyone going out and doing Fire Prevention this week and from now on. To add a few  more things to your presentations that I feel will save life’s and reflect the modern fire environment that we are faced with.

If you have been in the fire service more than a week you have probably heard someone say something  like Today’s Fires have Changed! While this statement is usually said with good intentions it isn’t 100 percent accurate. Fires still require Heat,Fuel and Oxygen just like they did when the first Cave Man rubbed to sticks together :) However what has changed is Fire Behavior within a building.

These changes are a result of people having more stuff made of plastics  and buildings being more airtight than ever before. So you are probably asking yourself by now what does this have to do with my next Fire Prevention program? The answer is real simple. We need to add one more step to Having Two Ways Out and being Rabbit Ready.  CLOSE THE DOOR!

I think a very important part of fire escape planning we fail to convey is the need of civilians closing the door behind them on their way out!

 

So one might ask why is it so important to teach civilians to close the door?

Answer:  Modern Building Construction + More Plastics = Extreme Fire Behavior

With these two changes firefighters need to have a better understanding more than ever before of how ventilation drastically affects fire development.

Today’s fires are Ventilation Limited due to having  more hydrocarbon based fuels available and the structures are very airtight as well.

I am NOT a expert on Fire Behavior however want to share a few things I have gathered from many other experts as it pertains to Fire Behavior is modern buildings. The following will help you as a Fire Prevention presenter better understand why we need to stress the extra step of CLOSING THE DOOR!

  • Air Track *
  • Flow Path*

Air Track:  Air track is the movement of air and smoke as observed from the exterior and inside the structure. Air track is used to describe a group of fire behavior indicators that includes direction of smoke movement at openings (e.g., outward, inward, pulsing), velocity and turbulence, and movement of the lower boundary of the upper layer (e.g., up, down, pulsing).

 

 Flow Path: In a compartment fire, flow path is the course of movement hot gases between the fire and exhaust openings and the movement of air towards the fire.

Flow path can significantly influence fire spread and the hazard presented to occupants and firefighters.

 

Now with a very basic understanding of how air majorly affects modern fire behavior lets look at a few more examples of the need to CLOSE THE DOOR!

This picture is from Thermal Imaging Camera view at a  Kill The Flashover   burn. KTF is great group that every firefighter needs to follow their research.

Look at how quick you change the fire environment by closing the door!

 

The next example is a very sad one where a brother of ours lost his life and it might have been prevented if the civilian  had closed the door on their way out!

On January 19, 2011 we lost firefighter Mark Falkenhan of Baltimore County, Maryland.  During this incident a fire started in the kitchen on a second-level apartment.  Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire conditions present and fire extending into a common foyer area.  The ventilation flow path allowed this fire to extend to an adjacent apartment on the third level where the LODD occurred.

The following pictures show how a door closed by a crew conducting VES on this incident made a major difference in that room.

Behind the CLOSED DOOR!

 

ATF FDS Analysis of 30 Dowling Circle videos:

I hope with the information I presented that you will now be willing to accept the challenge of updating your fire prevention program with one more step CLOSE THE DOOR!

I feel that by changing this public behavior we will save more life’s and keep fires more choked up in a early decay stage instead of the fire getting all the fresh air it needs grow and take over the entire structure before we have a chance to extinguish it.

Thanks

Lt. John Shafer

For another Fire Prevention article written by Lt. Shafer check out http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/?s=ounce+of+prevention

 

A special thanks to Chief Shawn Oke from KTF for discussions we have had on this subject of closing the door.

 

For more information and the complete expert source I used for the definition of Air Track & Flow Path * go check out  Chief Ed Hartin work at http://cfbt-us.com/wordpress/?tag=ventilation

 

 

Posted by on October 9, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Safe Building Codes Incentive Act

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A bi-partisan bill seeking support from public safety aims to reduce loss of life and damages after disasters.

A hearing for the Safe Building Codes Incentive Act is set for this Tuesday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. and will be webcast live.

The Safe Building Code Incentive Act would create a financial incentive for states that have adopted and are currently enforcing statewide building codes for residential and commercial structures. Under the proposed law, states that do so would qualify for an additional 4-percent in post-disaster funding.

The program would be administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Congressman Jeff Denham (CA-19), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, spoke to fire service media about the pending legislation.

The bill, HR 2069, was introduced by Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-21) and was referred to Chairman Denham’s subcommittee.

“We can cut the cost and amount of damage done with stronger building codes; we did it in California,” Denham said.

Denham explained that the goal is for nationally recognized codes to be selected and enhanced at the state level to address local perils, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, fire, ice storms and other natural catastrophes.

“We want to make sure we’re empowering states to put in the types of safeguards they need,” Denham said.

In addition, standardized building codes would create a consistent playing field for design professionals, suppliers, and builders, and create a minimum standard that consumers could rely upon.

However, “Most importantly,” Denham said, ” it’s about saving lives.”

 

Original link:

READ MORE

Posted by on July 23, 2012 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , ,

Photovoltaic Systems & Firefighter Safety a New UL study

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Do you know what Photovoltaic (PV) is?            

Photo from UL study for Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Systems

What are the safety hazards with PV?

What  tactics should be used at fires with PV present?

How do I secure utilities on a PV system?

These are just a few questions you should pose to every firefighter next shift or training meeting.

Photovoltaic (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect.

Total global solar energy capacity averaged 40 percent annual growth from 2000 to 2010; grid-connected solar photovoltaic capacity grew 50 percent per year for much of this time. This growth increases the potential of a fire department response to a building with PV, irrespective of the PV being involved with the initiation of the fire event. This growth increases the potential of a fire department response to a building with PV, irrespective of the PV being involved with the initiation of the fire event.

What are the safety hazards with PV?

Under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program – Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, Underwriters Laboratories (UL)this study examines electrical and fire performance experiments were conducted to identify and quantify the electrical shock hazard that may be present to firefighters during the suppression, ventilation, and overhaul activities associated with a building or structure fire involving the presence of PV equipment. The scope of these experiments included:

 Water for Fire Suppression During Firefighting Activites with PV

 Shock Hazard Due to the Direct Contact with Energized Components

 Emergency Disconnect and Disruption Techniques

 Severing of Conductors

 Shock Hazard from Damaged PV Modules and Systems

 PV Power During Low Ambient Light, Artificial Light, and Light from a Fire

 Potential Shock Hazard from Fire Damaged PV Components and Systems

 

What  tactics should be used at fires with PV present?

In this study tactical considerations for PV include:

 Shock hazard due to the presence of water and PV power during suppression activities

 Shock hazard due to the direct contact with energized components during firefighting operations

 Emergency disconnect and disruption techniques

 Severing of conductors

 Assessment of PV power during low ambient light, artificial light and light from a fire

 Assessment of potential shock hazard from damaged PV modules and systems.

 

For more information about this project please see:

PV-FF_SafetyFinalReport

 

Every Incident Commander,Company Officer and firefighter will greatly enhance there safety by taking this online class. UL has  developed an online interactive training module. The program includes a professionally narrated description of all of the experiments, their results and the tactical considerations.  Experimental video is used and graphical data is explained in a way that brings science to the street level firefighter.

 

Other posts Green Maltese has done on PV:

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/10/colorado-is-the-first-market-for-launch-of-the-revolutionary-dow-powerhousetm-solar-shingle/

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/09/indianapolis-international-airport-solar-farm/

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/09/firehouse-podcast-on-some-green-issues/

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/08/solar-power-in-the-wabash-valley-area/

http://greenmaltese.com/2011/05/going-on-a-field-trip/

 

Please share this with every firefighter you know!

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by on December 19, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sprinkler Use Decisioning Web tool

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Below you will find some excellant information sent to me by Mike Love.

 

Hi Folks:

I have been digging around at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) looking for
reports and work they have completed that may be of assistance to fire marshals in promoting fire and life safety. One item I discovered I think will be beneficial in some of the conflicts that often arise over cost effectiveness of residential fire sprinklers. It is a Web-tool called Sprinkler Use Decisioning that offers to “facilitate economic analysis of residential fire sprinklers at the homeowner and community level.” I thought this tool sounded useful so I wanted to bring it to your attention with the goal of seeing the tool’s use in real situations. But before I introduce the Web-tool let me provide some background
of the residential sprinkler economic challenge by opponents and the basis for the usefulness of this tool.

 

Builders like to use the argument that residential sprinklers add significant cost to a new home with little added safety value. Fire and life safety professionals disagree and in fact experience that the cost per square foot is very reasonable. The Fire Protection Research Foundation issued a report (Click Here) Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment, Final Report – September 10, 2008 providing evaluated costs from an analysis of 30 different home plans with residential fire sprinklers. Their findings conclude,

“The cost of sprinkler systems to the homebuilder, in dollars per sprinklered [square foot (SF)] SF, ranged from $0.38 to $3.66. This range represents the 30 different house plans, with the average cost being $1.61 per sprinklered SF.”

 

Within that range the low cost was in a California community with a sprinkler requirement that has been in place for many years; the higher cost in the range was for a home in the mountains of Colorado using a well and pump, copper piping and a system designed to prevent freezing. The Foundation report and many others have established concretely what the costs are for builders to provide residential sprinklers. But what about the cost compared to the benefit of sprinklers, can this be determined conveniently in promoting residential sprinklers? Researchers at NIST examined benefits and costs across three typical single family housing types: colonial, townhouse and ranch. Installation costs are higher in colonials and lowest in ranch homes. This is not surprising as it reflects size differences and configuration of the floors. The researchers concluded in the 2007 report Benefit-Cost Analysis of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems, by David T. Butry, M. Hayden Brown and Sieglinde K. Fuller that,

“The benefits experienced by residents of single-family dwellings with sprinkler systems, as measured in this report, include reductions in the following: the risk of civilian fatalities and injuries, homeowner insurance premiums, uninsured direct property losses, and uninsured indirect costs. The primary costs examined are for initial purchase and installation of the sprinkler system. Maintenance and repair costs are not examined because they are negligible.”

 

These are the kinds of benefits the fire and life safety industry began pursuing in the 1970s when residential sprinkler prototypes and a national standard were being created. The report can be found
at this link (Click Here) NISTIR 7451: Benefit-Cost Analysis of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems. But that is all just background. What I wanted to let know about is an on-line calculator that you can use to actually come up with a tangible analysis of your benefit compared to your investment. This can be of value when presenting sprinklers as a solution for reduced risk in your community.

 

Here is what the developer of the Sprinkler Use Decisioning says about the on-line tool.

Sprinkler Use Decisioning is a Web-tool designed to facilitate economic analysis of residential fire sprinklers at the homeowner and community level. It uses the economic framework developed
in NIST Interagency Report 7451 (Benefit-Cost Analysis of Residential Sprinklers), which was used to measure the economic performance of a fire sprinkler system installed in a newly constructed, single-family house. Using the tool, the benefits and costs of sprinkler installation and use can be evaluated to determine whether sprinkler adoption is cost effective for either an individual homeowner or for an entire community.

The tool is comprised of four labeled ‘tabs.’ Two tabs are used to input the baseline and sensitivity analysis values. The other two tabs summarize the baseline and sensitivity analysis
results. A help feature is also provided.

 

As mentioned above there is a help feature associated with the tool. The document associated with the help feature can be accessed by (clicking here). Navigating to this help document provides significant
insight into the underlying formulas, data and assumptions  as well as a simulation of the tool to show how it works.

 

I hope that people will begin to kick the tires on this useful Web-tool and provide feedback as to how it has worked for them, and or any problems they may have had. I am sure that if it is needed we can put people directly in touch with the authors for interaction and feedback. When you have an opportunity
experience this Web-tool let us know how it worked for you.

 

Mike Love

 

Once again a special thanks to Mike Love for all he does for the fire service of america.

 

Posted by on November 22, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education • Tagged: , , ,

Fire Safety Videos for students with Disabilities

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The Michael H. Minger Foundation is working on a grant to develop fire safety information for college students with disabilities. As part of this grant we have been developing a series of videos looking at fire safety for students with visual, hearing and mobility disabilities and learning/developmental disorders.

 

We have posted these online along with a very short survey to get some feedback. If you wouldn’t mind taking a few minutes to watch these videos, we would appreciate it. They are about three minutes long and there is a survey button on the page…if you could fill out a a separate survey for each video, please…

 

The videos are limited to cooking, egress, sprinklers and smoke alarms. We didn’t have the time or resources in this grant to go into more topics and these were picked in a survey we did of campus fire safety officers as the areas that needed attention and were lacking in information.

 

We will be posting an online guide to go with these videos later in September about working with students with disabilities.

 

So, please go watch the videos and take the surveys…and please share this, particularly if you know somebody that has one of these disabilities who can give us their reaction!

 

Special thanks to Ed Comeau for passing on this information!

Please check out some of the excellant work Ed is invovled with.

www.campus-firewatch.com

www.writer-tech.com

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on August 18, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

FRI 2011

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Fire- Rescue International 2011 is just around the corner.
Even through it looks like I will not be able to attend this year. I wanted to give a shout out to some friends of mine that will be there.
The following are classes that  I would recommend you to try and check out.  These are people I know or have associations with and I believe that these will be some very worth while presentations.

Safety and Survival: The Officers Role on the Fireground

Wednesday, 08/24/2011 1:00PM – 2:30PM , Room B314
Description: The lecture and throughout the program we will identify ways that firefighters get “jammed” up and offer ways for the fire officer to identify these hazards prior to and during an incident and taking actions to eliminate or reduce the chance of injury or death. It is of utmost importance to keep the firefighter from getting in a bad spot to start with. Our lecture will identify ways to maintain good situational awareness and indicators that raise red flags for you on the fire ground.
Speaker: Jason Hoevelmann  http://firefightersenemy.com/

UL Research with the Fire Service: Collapse, Ventilation, Solar Panels

Thursday, 08/25/2011 10:30AM -12:00PM , Room B408
Description: Over the past several years Underwriters Laboratories has been conducting research to improve firefighter safety. With support from DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, UL has conducted 3 significant studies, Structural stability of engineered lumber, The Modern Fire Environment and Ventilation, and Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Systems.
This presentation will go into detail on the results of each of these studies and how they have added to the knowledge of firefighters.
Speaker: Steve Kerber P.E

Going Green to Save Some Green

Thursday, 08/25/2011 10:30AM -12:00PM , Room B409
Description: Environmental sustainability is a growing issue in the fire service with positive impacts on both the communities we serve and the departmental budgets we manage. The IAFC Environmental Sustainability Committee will host a panel discussion with chiefs from across the country who will highlight departmental best practices, lessons learned, and take your
questions.
Speaker: Mike Duyck
Note: I am hoping to write about IAFC Environmental Sustainabilty Commitee as soon as Chief Duyck is able to get me the info so please check out this group.

Strategic and Tactical Options for Firefighting with Limited Staffing

Thursday, 08/25/2011 3:00PM – 4:30PM , Room B312
Description: This seminar will discuss the options available to the Incident Commander in making strategic decisions for offensive/defensive operations with limited staffing.
Speaker: John Buckman III
Although I recommend these classes, this is by no means the only people and topics you should go see.  I am just asking that you take the time to come see these great instructors while they are available.
Be sure and visit the FireRescue booth and check out FireRescue Magazine, FirefighterNation.com,FireEMSBlogs.com and  Firefighternetcast
Also stop by and visit Action Training Systems and tell Sue Townsend I sent you and she can help you with all your training needs.
FRI is a conferance that is commited to Green Initiatives here is the link:
Hope everyone has a wonderful time at FRI 2011
Stay Safe
Lt. JohnShafer
Posted by on June 24, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Expand your fire safety education at no cost.

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Expand your fire safety education at no cost.
Become a BUILT FOR LIFE® Fire Department.

It’s challenging to make fire safety education a priority today. Most departments are strapped for time and money, and have a lot of competing responsibilities with limited resources for educational outreach. HFSC created the BUILT FOR LIFE Fire Department Program specifically to help departments like yours that want to do more to prevent home fire injuries and deaths, but need some help.

 

 

We know you’re up against a lot of challenges. We’re here to
help. And HFSC’s BUILT FOR LIFE Fire Department Program gives you extra
benefits, so why not sign up? You’ll receive national recognition, special
opportunities and educational support. Visit HomeFireSprinkler.org
where you can read
our newsletter, visit our blog
and sign up
to become a BUILT FOR LIFE® Fire Department.

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition is your #1 resource for
accurate, noncommercial information and materials for consumers and all your
audiences.

 

Sprinkler are GREEN!

 

Just wanted to pass on some free fire safety material.

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on June 11, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , ,

Want to save a life?

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If you have always wanted to be a hero, and save a life well here your chance!

Call Your US Representatives today and tell them to SUPPORT Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011

 

Link for contacting congressperson:

http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

 

Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011 Introduced in House

 

On Thursday May 5, 2011 Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) introduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011 (HR-1792). The primary cosponsor is Representative James Langevin (D-RI). The bill has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee of which Representative Schock is a member. See below for details regarding the bill, as it has changed from the original version.

 

Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2011

(H.R. 1792)

 

Background

 

The primary challenge to retrofitting a large inventory of critical existing structures that are still not sprinklered is the Internal Revenue Tax Code.  Under current depreciation rules, building owners have a strong disincentive to invest in a sprinkler system given the 39 year depreciation schedule for commercial buildings and 27.5 year schedule for residential structures.

 

Legislation

The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act (FSIA) of 2011 is significantly different from earlier versions that simply reduced the depreciation schedule of commercial and residential structures upgrades to 5 years.  The changes made were done in consultation with key legislative staff on Capitol Hill and with the support of the fire service community.

 

This more focused version of FSIA addresses two key occupancies:

 

  1. Section 179 tax treatment- Section 179 of the tax code allows small and medium sized businesses to write off the full cost of equipment purchases like machines, equipment, vehicles, and computers in a single year.  Fire sprinkler systems are not currently a 179 property and the FSIA would make them eligible for 179 tax treatment.

 

Under current law, this change would allow small and medium size property owners to fully deduct the cost of a sprinkler system up to $125,000.  Assuming a per square foot retrofit cost of $2.50 per square foot this could cover a structure up to 50,000 square feet.  This will allow coverage of a large majority of high fire risk properties such as certain off campus housing, night clubs, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

 

  1. High-Rise Retrofits- The most vulnerable structure not covered by section 179 tax treatment are high-rise structures (those 7 stories or higher).  In the United States, there are nearly 10,000 high-rise fires annually and they are some of the most deadly fires for civilians and fire fighters.

 

 

This legislation will provide a financial incentive to high-rise building owners to install sprinkler systems by reducing the depreciation schedule from 39 and 27.5 years to 15 years.  This reduction will also put sprinkler improvements more in line with the current tax code that allows 15 year depreciation for leasehold improvements.

 

Special thanks to Dominick G Kasmauskas & Ed Comeau

 

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on May 16, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

2011 INDIANA EMERGENCY RESPONSE CONFERENCE

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I am happy to announce that Chief Bill Newgent Greencastle Fire Department and I will be teaching Labeling Buildings at the 2011 Indiana Emergency Response Conference.

 

Labeling Buildings for the Fire Service

Presentation Summary

In today’s society, everything from coffee cups to toys come with some kind of warning label to alert people of potential danger.  The question becomes: ”Why doesn’t the fire service use labeling to warn firefighters, and alter our members’ reactions when we engage in one of the world’s most dangerous situations of structural firefighting?”

This course will be thought provoking session on how we can do simple things such as labeling of buildings to prevent a firefighter LODD.  It will also exam the successful labeling ordinance from Greencastle, Indiana, as well as addresses several states’ truss labeling laws.  These ideas and examples will be reinforced by case studies and NIOSH LODD reports.

Program Overview and Pedagogical Approach

Participants will gain an understanding of inherent construction features and hazards that directly influence effective risk management and decisive strategic and tactical considerations with a focus on key construction features which will influence strategic, tactical and task level operations by fire dynamics and fire behavior.  This program examines crucial construction elements and correlates building construction performance toward combat structural fire suppression operations.

The presentation will examine the need to label buildings based on potential risk associated with different construction materials used, which influence the building’s structural stability.  It will also leave the student with knowledge of current states’ and local labeling ordinances that are designed to warn the firefighter of potential hazards.

 

Conference registration link:

http://indianaerc.com/default.aspx

 

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on May 15, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

New feature on Green Maltese

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I am excited to announce a new feature on Green Maltese.

If you you have not noticed already we have added a new page Submit a Green Firehouse.

The purpose of this page is so departments can share their information good or bad concerning their firehouse, so other departments can learn from them.

 

Jackee Coe/The Arizona Republic

The Tolleson Fire Department moved into the $6.35 million facility, which sits a few feet away from the old station near 92nd Avenue and Monroe Street, on Nov. 15, 2010

 

Link and article for this picture:

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2011/03/17/20110317tolleson-fire-station-open-house.html

 

So if your station is a green firehouse please take the time to submit your information so we can help other fire departments in the future.

 

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on May 4, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Remodeling Green

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Greetings to all,

I have been having computer troubles so haven’t posted in awhile. So this will be a short post about remodeling your home green. It will consist of two videos. Please enjoy and think about how the following building materials used will change fire behavior and your tactics. Feel free to comment and start discussion.

 

Stay Safe

Lt. John Shafer

Posted by on April 26, 2011 • Filed under: Building Construction, Fire Prevention/Public Education, News and Events • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,