by Michael O'Brian on July 30, 2011
The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) is pleased to announce the launching of the Fire Marshal (FM) Designation. Rick Mason, CFO, Chair, CPC said “when contemplating what the next professional designation should be the Commission on Professional Credentialing was quick to embrace the Fire Marshal Designation…it makes sense that those who enforce our fire codes, teach citizens fire prevention, and find the cause of destructive fires should have a professional designation. Having the designation will both show professionalism of the individual as well as the professionalism of the department.”
The designation was [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on July 22, 2011
Third-Party Inspection Reporting: The Ins and Outs
This is a special post from Jill Cotton with Inspection Reports Online.
There’s no question about it: the process of reporting the results from a fire protection system inspection is a pain in the “you-know-what.” The current system and practices around receiving, maintaining, filing and following up on paper-based Inspection Reports is time consuming, disorganized and anything but cost effective. Service Providers (SP), Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and Property Owners (PO) each have their own system of handling Inspection Reports, and making changes to these systems can introduce significant anxiety. It has become a game of who does what and how.
“As a property owner and management company, we are looking for an efficient program to assist us in tracking and filing all our reports,” said Brian Dolan, Owner of Dolan and Murphy in Aurora, Illinois. “It is important for us because we use multiple Service Providers, have multiple locations and need one ‘place’ to receive everything.”
How can [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on June 14, 2011
Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit
Vision 20/20 has provided a great resource for Inspectors, Fire Departments, and Communities. This toolkit contains the very tools you can use in proving that fire prevention not only saves lives but has a direct, economic impact upon the sustainability of a community.
Funded by a DHS Fire Prevention & Safety Grant, this free, online resource has been developed by experts from across the nation as part of Vision 20/20 Strategy 1 Fire Prevention Advocacy.
by Michael O'Brian on April 17, 2011
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), electrical contractors, electricians and retailers that the ground rods identified below bear unauthorized UL Marks for the U.S. and Canada. These products have not been evaluated by UL to the applicable Standard for Safety for the U.S. and Canada and are not authorized to bear the UL Mark.
Name of Product: Ground Rod, Model 834 4X41
Number of Units: Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
Date of Manufacture: Unknown
Distributed By: [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on April 17, 2011
System Readiness
Inspectors are becoming quickly over worked and rely on qualified contractors to complete system maintenance, inspection, and repair. The AHJ relies on reports provided by contractors (system experts) which should state the system meets the minimum code requirements.
Lets take a look at these pictures and ask the question [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on March 11, 2011
What’s “Right” and What’s “Wrong”?
A special guest post by Jon Nisja
Editor’s note: the opinions and views expressed in this article are the those of the author; they do not represent the opinions and/or views of this association or the author’s employer.
I am starting my 29th year in fire code enforcement. I started doing fire prevention inspections in late- 1982. Like many careers, after a while you begin to look back and reflect on things you have seen happen and where you perceive that things are heading.
For the record I wish to categorically state that I strongly believe in fire codes and fire code inspections. I feel it necessary to make this statement as you may be tempted to think otherwise as you read this article. I am certain that a few of my fire code enforcement counterparts will consider some of my comments to be blasphemous.
It is my sincere belief that fire codes have saved thousands and potentially hundreds of thousands of lives over the years. This is evidenced by the reduction in annual fire deaths from 12,000-plus to under 4,000 in the past three decades at the same time that the population has almost doubled in this country.
While we [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 30, 2010
2010 was a banner year here at Inspector911.com and we have many great things in store for 2o11. In reviewing our data for the previous year we found some interesting trends in clicks and what the site is used for.
These FACTS are complied and here for your viewing pleasure
Top Posts
- Does This Meet Code 12 which discusses flexible arm-over sprinkler installations and the challenges if not properly installed
- Watch the Station Night Club Fire Video till you Understand it was a guest post from our Friend Dave Statter with Statter911.com which relieved the challenges of this tragic fire.
- Does This Meet Code 13, reviewed the red goop syndrome. This is viewed by every inspector and is a challenge to make sure the product is installed in accordance with manufacture recommendations.
- The Final Inspection, a post which provided a broad overview of what is necessary to get that one piece of paper, the Certificate of Occupancy
Top [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 27, 2010
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division has just released The Residential Fire Sprinkler Challenge, its new online fire safety game. It is a fun, interactive 16-question question quiz designed to test your knowledge about home fire sprinklers. This game is a great tool for firefighters, inspectors, and home owners on home fire sprinklers.
Developed by Sprinkler Plan Reviewer Ralph Peterson and Public Educator Becki White, the games includes questions on common misconceptions, water requirements, maintenance, and other miscellaneous points. What a great innovative way to raise awareness on [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 25, 2010
So it’s Christmas Day and I wondered who conducts inspections at the North Pole (yes these are the things I think about). I
started to wonder aren’t the elves employed by the Big Jolly Red Man and if so does it create a conflict of interest? Do they tell you its the busy time of year and well come back December 27?
So use your imagination and write your code violation in the comments below. Will it be presents blocking the exit, overcrowding in the the elf inn, or [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 19, 2010
International Code Council Needs Your Input
Are you a code professional under the age of 35? Then the ICC would like to get your input.
ICC is conducting a series of in-depth telephone interviews with code department staff under the age of 35 to gain insight into perspectives toward code development. Results from the study will inform ICC’s ongoing discussion about how to maximize participation in the code development process.
Please consider participating in the study by consenting to participate in an interview and by providing contact information below. The interviews, which will take approximately 20-30 minutes, will be conducted between January 3-14, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Armstrong, ICC Senior Vice President, at marmstrong@iccsafe.org.
,
,
,
,
,
,