I am very excited and honored to be accepted to be a part of FDIC 2012
I just wanted to share with you all and thank you for support!!
From email
Dear Classroom Instructor John Shafer,
Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that your proposal has been
selected as a Classroom Session (Single Speaker Only/1.45 Hour) presentation
at FDIC 2012 Conference & Exposition, to be held April 16-21, 2012 in
Indianapolis, IN.
The session you have been invited to present is:
Title: Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare Alternate working Title: Hazards of
Modern Roofs
Track : Truck Company
Speaker(s) : John Shafer
More detailed info:
Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare:
Presentation Summary
The presentation will include an intense and concentrated examination of trends and methods in modern building construction with an emphasis on roofs, their direct relationship on vertical ventilation, structural firefighting operations, and firefighter survivability.
Inherent roof construction features and hazards that directly influence truck company work will be the main focus of this program.
Program Overview and Pedagogical Approach
The program will address timely issues related to modern roofs and upcoming push to make sustainable buildings.
This presentation will examine various green roofs, methods and exotic materials that are used to achieve green standards, and the potential hazards that they present to fire service personnel. Many of these materials such as recycled rubber shingles, solar panels and green (garden) roofs are not common knowledge to most fire service personnel due to past and current teaching practices that only address traditional building construction for the fire service.
This ground breaking and informative program will utilize extensive multimedia materials to reinforce course content and subject areas.
If the fire service can significantly increase proficiencies in green building knowledge and equate that to other fundamental operational aspects in structural fire operations, there would be a direct enhancement to firefighter safety through injury and LODD reductions in the future.
If you are a firefighter today you should be well aware that fires fought today are not the same as the fires your father fought in yesterdays. There many great programs, tests, case studies and classes out there that brings this to light. If you care about your family then get out of the recliner and learn about the changes in the modern fire environment that we operate in today. However most of the emphasis has been on modern fuel loading and building construction changes. These are extremely important and should be a major focus of your training. I feel that a part of the modern building construction changes that is often overlooked or not considered is energy efficiency.
Traditional OSB
Our first installment on energy efficiency changes is about OSB.
What is OSB?
Oriented strand board, also known as OSB, is an engineered wood product formed by layering strands (flakes) of wood in specific orientations. In appearance, it may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips (around 2.5 by 15 cm (approx. 1 in by 6 in) each) lying unevenly across each other.
Energy Efficient OSB with radiant barrier
Some OSB products today have been married to a radiant barrier.
Why?
Studies have shown that radiant barriers can reduce cooling energy consumption by up to 17%, depending on the design of the building, insulation levels and other factors. OSB radiant barrier sheathing can lower peak attic temperatures up to 30°F by reducing summer radiant heat gain in the attic. Since less heat is transferred into living areas through the ceiling, indoor temperatures stay cooler and more comfortable while helping your cooling system operate more efficiently.
Ideal for use in hot climates
Reflects up to 97% of radiant heat
May lower cooling energy consumption by up to 17%*
ENERGY STAR® qualified
Why it works so well:
Backed with specially designed aluminum foil/craft paper laminate, this OSB sheathing is installed foil side down facing into the attic space. Since aluminum foil is highly reflective, up to 97% of the radiant heat is reflected from entering the attic space.
Available evidence strongly suggests that these products can in fact provide significant reductions in home energy consumption (U.S. Department of Energy, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, et al.). Unfortunately, the use of these products also provides some insidious and unintended side effects. The physical and electrical properties of these materials are such that they introduce new and very serious dangers of ignition and fire.
PHYSICAL AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIANT BARRIER MATERIAL
This is where the real problem shows up. The physical and electrical properties of the radiant barrier foil are such that the material is not only an excellent electrical conductor (Wikipedia); it is also a very viable ignition source. When electrical current flows through it the material not only readily generates heat necessary for ignition, italso becomes the first ignited material!
The primary physical property of the paper we are interested in is the ignition temperature. This value can vary significantly for different types of paper; however, it is virtually always less than 500 degrees F. Measurements in our study showed that the paper ignited when the foil temperature was between 420 and 450 degrees F.
Clearly then, if the radiant barrier foil material is overheated as a result of electrical current flow, the temperature of the material will easily exceed the ignition temperature of the paper backing.
SUMMARY of IMPORTANT PHYSICAL and ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
1. CONSTRUCTION: Aluminum Foil bonded to Paper.
2. MELTING TEMPERATURE of the ALUMINUM: >900 degrees F.
3. IGNITION TEMPERATURE of the PAPER: <500 degrees F.
4. SHEET RESISTANCE of the ALUMINUM: 4.50 ohms per square.
5. CURRENT DENSITY for FAST IGNITION: Approx 300 Amps per sq. mm.
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THE ELECTRICITY:
This study has shown it is possible to have a fire originate in the radiant barrier if it becomes energized by virtually ANY commonly available electrical source. However, it should also be clear that if there is danger of a fire from “single digit” voltage levels and “tens” of amps, the danger from lightning at
15,000,000 volts and 100,000 amps will be MANY times greater. This is why we feel strongly that the presence of radiant barrier material, as presently manufactured and installed in a structure, greatly increases the risk of a fire in the event that the structure experiences a lightning strike.
SUMMARY of FINDINGS
1. Standard installation methods for roof sheathing with integrated radiant barrier are such that the end result is an overall environment where all of the radiant barrier material and virtually everything metal on and around the roof are electrically connected.
2. In most cases, something in that environment is connected to earth ground. If anything in the roof environment becomes electrically energized (by lightning or any other common source) there is a high probability the current will pass through the barrier material at some point on the way to earth ground.
3. The physical and electrical properties of reflective radiant barrier materials which we tested are such that the material in a structure provides two new and unique hazards relative to fire causation.
(a) When energized by an electrical current the material readily generates temperatures sufficient to ignite MANY materials.
(b) The barrier material itself readily serves as the first ignited material.
Another point to ponder is that if the OSB with radiant barrier keeps out the heat it will also keep in the heat from a fire and cause thermal radiation feedback much faster causing Flashover to happen quicker.
A special thanks to MCDOWELL OWENS ENGINEERING, INC. for all the testing they have done to bring this issue to light for the fire service.
I hope that you have learned of yet another hazard we face in the fire service and that you will share this information to all you know.
Green Maltese is extremely excited about being a part of the Go Forward inaugural event, October 21-23 at the Ameristar Hotel Resort, Spa & Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.
Education Opportunities from Green Maltese @ Gateway Conference:
And John Shafer
Lieutenant and Training Officer, Greencastle (IN) Fire Department
Today’s buildings and occupancies continue to present unique challenges to command and operating companies during combat structural fire engagement. Building and occupancy profiling, identifying occupancy risk versus occupancy type, emerging construction methods, features, systems and components coupled with the increasing commonality of extreme fire behavior and the increased fire load package require new skill sets in reading the building and implementing predictive occupancy profiling for firefighters, company and command officers. Integral to the presentation will be detailed discussions on building and structural system placarding methods and labeling programs.
This course offers a concentrated examination of current and future trends and methods in green building construction. Discussion will emphasize green construction building materials, green rating systems, modern building construction methods, risk assessment, engineered structural and construction systems, and their direct relationship on structural firefighting operations, firefighter survivability and the command decision-making process. We will also consider:
Inherent green construction features and hazards that directly influence effective command risk management
Decisive strategic and tactical considerations with a focus on key green construction features and inherent occupancy profiles
The effect of fire dynamics, fire behavior and tactical operations on modern building construction systems
When: Sunday, October 22 – 1:30p – 3:00p
There will be many other excellant classes offered this weekend and you don’t want to miss this!
Solar power is only in California and southwestern states. This statement is the most common one I hear from people in the Midwest. However that is far from the truth. As a matter of fact I have visited two local solar installers in central Indiana.
My second trip was to One Planet Solarin Terre Haute Indiana. This is where I have a great meeting with Phillip Roberts and Dustin Allen. There were very interested in supporting local solar issues as well as the safety of Wabash Valley firefighters. In our meeting we discussed the fire departments needing to be able and access the roof’s ridge line for ventilation. Phillip stated that he would attempt to help us out on this and many issues. Phillip and the crew at One Planet Solar are very supportive and here is just one example.
Putnam County families can now apply to have a solar panel system installed at no charge through Putnam RISE efforts to lower home energy bills.
The 1.120 kw solar array using a new Enphase Energy micro-inverter system from www.oneplanetsolar.com (One Planet Solar and Wind, Inc.) is the most recent of donated products and services to the Putnam RISE “Green Home Makeover,” along with Shuee & Sons Great Buys Energy Star appliances, Energy Conservation Solutions (Roachdale) services and Parke County REMC weatherization materials.
The Green Home Makeover is one of 21 Putnam County homes to be selected for home energy and weatherization investments made possible by donated products and services as well as Putnam County Community Foundation and Vectren Foundation grants. In total, the 21 homes will receive an approximate value of $60,000 in grant investments and donated goods and services.
Households must have annual incomes of $45,000 or less to be eligible for the Green Home Makeover and weatherization projects. Applications and referrals are encouraged by calling 720-7610, going online at www.putnamrise.org/homes/weatherization, or by visiting Bainbridge Town Hall, Greencastle City Hall or the Putnam County Senior Center.
This post is not about a normal subjects I write about here on Green Maltese and hope you don’t mind? I am off the Green Building subject just a little, but I am also working on helping Capt. Jim Silvernail with a potential search chapter for his Suburban Fire Tactics book and I just taught a search class last week so I have search on the brain. LOL
Grocery Store Search
Have you ever thought about how you would search your local grocery store? Or better yet have you ever trained on how you would search it?
Almost every small town or suburb has at least one or two grocery stores simply because we all must EAT! Out of the first two questions just asked , I would say most have thought about it but very few have trained on it because it not a everyday occasion that we have a grocery store fire.
Grocery Store Layout:
If you are ever are faced with searching a grocery store you need to divide the store into two areas and that is based on where is the probability of the most life? The two highest life hazard areas would be the front cash register area and the back
stockroom areas. Since the front of the store is usually further than 150 feet from the back stockroom most likely you are going to have another crew be assigned to search that area based on air management point of no return.
Now that we have divided this search operations into two areas let’s focus on the first search crews responsibly. The 1st search crew is going to enter the front of the store at the front door. Search should began immediately since that was the entrance 90 percent of the occupants entered and that will be the one they will go for in the event of a fire. In most of small town America the staffing available will not likely allow you another team to begin fire attack simultaneously so your search could possibly be done with a hoseline that will greatly slow you down, and should be trained on as well.
After the first crew has search the front door lobby area they need to proceed to the cash resister aisles and have the searcher search in between the registers and have the officer or nozzleperson depending on staffing. Be in front of the registers and be oriented to conditions of the fire and their location and the safety and of the searches. Once this area is cleared the search team has two options.
Standard Search (right/left hand wall search)
Aisle Search
Most people would pick number one option because it is all they have ever done and never trained on aisle search. However we as firefighters need to cover as much area as fast as we can, because we only have about a 20 min work time due to SCBA. Option 1 would not allow us to cover more area in the short amount of work time.
My pick would be aisle search because my crew is the only chance someone has of living therefore I want to cover the most area I can.
Aisle Search:
This is accomplished by starting at the end of the aisle by having one searcher start at the beginning of the aisle on the right side searching (sweeping) as they maintain contact to the right side and search till the end of the aisle then move across the aisle to the left side and follow it up searching till they reach the front where the officer or nozzleperson will be. While searcher 1 is on one aisle you can have searcher 2 do the same thing on the aisle next to it. This way your small crew is searching two aisles for the time it would take for one aisle under option #1, and the officer is at the front of aisle oriented to conditions and safety.
If the first crew is able to have enough air to search the aisle area of the store then they should exist after they have notified command of all clear or primary search of store area complete. Because they will not have enough air to began searching the
rear stockroom areas.
2nd due or 2nd search crew
Now depending on staffing and if other fireground objectives are getting attended to then the 2nd search crew will began their search from the rear of the structure. The stockroom of most grocery stores are very cut up and usually have stuff stacked
up everywhere which can be very demanding and dangerous to firefighters therefore this should be done with hoseline for protect and to maintain orientation to the outside. These searches will be more time consuming.
Hopefully now that we have addressed an occupancy, that is in almost every town in America. You will train on how you would handle searching a grocery. Next time your crew goes to buy food for tonight dinner take your whole crew and at least discuss
how you would search it as you are walking through it. The key to any successful search is knowing what occupancy you are searching and using key features such as layout to your advantage to cover as much area as fast as you can safety.
Green Maltese LLC is proud to annouce a new class offering.
Modern Roofs the Truckie Nightmare
Presentation Summary
The presentation will include an intense and concentrated examination of trends and methods in modern building construction with an emphasis on roofs, their direct relationship on vertical ventilation, structural firefighting operations, and firefighter survivability.
Inherent roof construction features and hazards that directly influence truck company work will be the main focus of this program.
Program Overview and Pedagogical Approach
The program will address timely issues related to modern roofs and upcoming push to make sustainable buildings.
This presentation will examine various green roofs, methods and exotic materials that are used to achieve green standards, and the potential hazards that they present to fire service personnel. Many of these materials such as recycled rubber shingles, solar panels and green (garden) roofs are not common knowledge to most fire service personnel due to past and current teaching practices that only address traditional building construction for the fire service.
This ground breaking and informative program will utilize extensive multimedia materials to reinforce course content and subject areas.
If the fire service can significantly increase proficiencies in green building knowledge and equate that to other fundamental operational aspects in structural fire operations, there would be a direct enhancement to firefighter safety through injury and LODD reductions in the future.
• Enable the student to identify the unique characteristics with the various modern roof construction types and recognize features that have significant impacts on firefighter safety.
• Enable the student to recognize specific green building construction features and their inherent risk factors.
• Enable the student to be aware of the green(garden) roofs and how they affect buildings in their jurisdiction.
• Inform the student of new roofing materials, such as recycled rubber tires shingles to achieve sustainability that could affect the way buildings react in a fire situation
• Make the student aware of current and future changes in building construction methods that will affect the tactics used in structural firefighting
Pictures of a few modern roof hazards:
Photo couresty of Molly Meyer LLC
Photo couresty of Molly Meyer LLC
Recycled Rubber Tire Shingles
Contact to discuss specific program needs and content. Content, focus, duration and presentation format can all be customized to meet with venue needs.
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:
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.
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
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.
The power of the sun will be harnessed later this month to produce solar electricity on a size and scale never before seen in Indiana.
Starting April 29, an array of 6,152 solar panels, installed last winter on the roof of a federal office building, will create more than 2 megawatts of electricity an hour, enough to power about 1,000 homes.
» In 2010, the U.S. solar market grew 67 percent in value, reaching $6 billion, up from $3.6 billion in 2009.
» Solar electric installations last year totaled 956 megawatts to reach a cumulative installed capacity of 2.6 gigawatts.
» 29,500 solar pool heating systems and 35,500 solar water heating systems were installed last year, providing heat to more than 65,000 homes, businesses and pools.
» California is the leading installer of solar water heating systems.
» The U.S. ranks fourth in the world for new solar electric installations.
» More than 60,000 people are employed in the U.S. solar industry.
Sources: U.S. General Services Administration; U.S. Department of Energy; Solar Energy Industries Association
Ground Broken for New Green Technology and Fire Safety Facilities
On March 25, 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Gaithersburg, Md., campus for three new facilities funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility, the expanded National Fire Research Laboratory, and the installation of more than 2,500 new solar energy modules to supply electricity to the NIST campus will all help to advance the state of the art in green and fire-safe building practices.
Training video’s by Capt. Matt Paiss, of the San Jose, Calif., Fire Department, offering further understanding of the how solar electric systems work and tips on how to stay safe. Matt can be reached at mpaiss@earthlink.net.
