·        The Minnesota Chapter is continues working with the State Fire Marshal Division and state fire service to identify communities exceeding state building code requirements pertaining to fire sprinkler design and installation.  Both groups are also reviewing contractor’s performance of those criteria so systems can be assured of reliability. 

·        The Chapter is also represented with several members on the MN Residential Fire Sprinkler Coalition to move for the inclusion of the residential fire sprinkler language passed in the 2009 International Residential Code.  The focus of the group is to get all of the stakeholders to better understand the concept of residential fire sprinklers.  Targeted groups that the coalitions programming has develop are the general public, fire service personnel who need up-to-date residential sprinkler information, those involved with the residential construction trade and code development and authorities having jurisdiction that would review & insect residential systems.   The goal is to prepare the statewide community to accept the concept of residential fire sprinklers protection.          

·         An advisory group to the MN State Fire Marshal was able to get a rule passed to require a level of competency to perform fire protection system plan review and or inspections of such systems.                         

·         The 14^th Annual Burn Aid Golf Classic has been scheduled for September 13, 2010 at the TPC Twin Cities Golf Club, the site of a PGA Senior Tour event.  It was designed by Arnold Palmer and promises to be a challenge to the best golfers and fun for the rest.  The steering committee is working hard to make the day memorable, challenging and fun.  A slow economy threatens to challenge the events sponsorship & participation this year.  Not unlike other events, the outing needs the continued support of all to help ensure the great good continues.   The event has raised more than $625,000 in its first thirteen years benefitting Regions Hospitals Burn Unit.                                               

·            The Minnesota Chapter of the NFSA has  their Sprinkler kids trademarked.  The logo showing children type sprinklers is used on bookmarks and rulers with some products covering the country.  The trademark must be displayed indicating the MN ownership.  Thousands of the bookmarks are given away annually by the Chapter at the MN State Fair, and fire service related conventions and “Safety Days.”  The third annual MN Fire protection Forum is being scheduled for Spring 2010.

WISCONSIN - www.nfsawi.org

·        The Wisconsin Chapter of the NFSA will again be conducting  side-by side burn demonstrations throughout the state again this year.  The power of residential fire sprinklers and to see the destruction of “flashover” greatly influences attendees as to the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler protection.    These programs are a valuable exposure to the effectiveness of residential fire sprinklers and the traumatic destruction of fire.  More and more fire departments are looking at this educational demonstration as a means to inform their citizens of the value of residential sprinklers.

·         The International Building Code-2006 and NFPA 1 2006 as the State Building and Fire Codes became effective March 1, 2008.   A very high profile article of the IBC was the inclusion of the multi-family fire sprinkler threshold.  A step program reducing the number of units from 21 to 9 as of March 1, 2008 then to all units three or more effective 1/01/11.  The state of Wisconsin

• The Department of Commerce recently issued several proposed rule package changes, including one relating to the plumbing code and multipurpose piping systems.  At first glance, it appears to be of concern, but in reality is a technical change based on last year’s multifamily sprinkler rule package.  As part of Commerce’s concessions on the sprinkler rule, they allowed for multipurpose piping systems in all town homes. The current definition of multipurpose piping is limited to one- and two-family homes. The DOC needed to remove the language relating to one- and two-family homes to coincide with that change so that two areas of the code were not contradicting.  This change appears to allow multipurpose piping systems in all construction; however, DOC officials pointed out that this section only defines the term, multipurpose piping systems, not where these piping systems can be used. In other words, another section of the code identifies that multipurpose piping systems can be used in all town homes, but not in multifamily, commercial buildings. This rule does NOT expand the use of multipurpose piping systems to all multifamily; only town homes as we knew about from the sprinkler rule.
   
• The state Assembly included language concerning the Building Contractor Registration in legislation approved May 28, 2010:  "Construction Contractors.  Require effective January 1, 2010, the following: (a) 1% withholding of payments to independent contractors and single-member limited liability companies (LLCs) providing construction services when a 1099 tax form is filed;  (b) establish a fine of $25,000 under state laws governing unemployment insurance, worker's compensation, equal rights, state income, sales, excise, and inheritance, and public safety for willful misclassification of workers;  (c) require construction contractors to register with the Department of Commerce and provide Commerce with authority to levy an administrative forfeiture for failure to register;  (d) exempt homeowners, tenants, and state and local government units from these provisions; and (e) require Commerce to promulgate administrative rules to administer regulation under (c)." 
  
  The Building Contractor Registration went into effect July 1, 2009, under an emergency rule.

• The Wisconsin Department of Commerce presented the COMM 14 Fire Code Committee a proposal to establish a data-base of all commercial automatic fire sprinkler system in the state.  The intent is too record every system and to insure that they are being complied with the state mandated NFPA 25 Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems (ITM) statute.   DOC validated the concept by comparing previous such information collection by mentioning the success of the boiler registration program.  It appeared that boiler maintenance was an issue some years back when the DOC decided to the registration program to insure a safety compliance schedule for the boilers.  In a short period of several years, the maintenance schedule compliance for boilers rose from near 50% to 98%.  The DOC had targeted a 95% goal.
   
• The Wisconsin Fire and EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition announced that it established the residential fire sprinkler committee to address the need for increased education about the design, installation and life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers installation according to NFPA 13D in one- and two-family homes.  Members of the fire service representing the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, Wisconsin State Fire Inspectors Association, Wisconsin State Firefighters Association, Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and professionals from the fire sprinkler industry will serve on the committee and report to the Fire and EMS Coalition.  The committee will target its messages similarly to that of the MN Coalition established previously and working well.

For more information about the subcommittee and/or their activities, please call Chairperson Lt. Tom Clark, Pleasant Prairie Fire Department at 262-694-8027.

·         The 21^th Annual Burn Center Golf Invitational  happened  August 31, 2009 again  at the beautiful and challenging Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.  Sponsored by the Midwest Sprinkler Industries and the Milwaukee Fire Department and presented by the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety, the  outing yielded $80,000 bringing the twenty year total to over $1,804,000.   Proceeds will go to the new Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Unit, some educational programming, the WAFS Summer Camp, the 2012 World Burn Congress to be held in Milwaukee and to a new educational tool for pre-school education for fire and burn safety.  Planning is underway for the 2010 event scheduled for August 30 at the same location.

COMMON ISSUES           

For updates on Minnesota and Wisconsin International Residential Code and NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing & Maintenance of Water Based Sprinkler Systems check the NFSA Web site, www.nfsa.org, and find the topics on the home page.

The Newspapers in Education Fire Safety was again a great opportunity to reach fire safety and fire sprinkler information.   Partnered with the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety and others, The October Fire Prevention Week Wisconsin programming reached more than 300,000 students and half million potential daily readers Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle endorses program with Secretary of the Department of Public Instruction, State Fire Chiefs, State Fire Fighters and State teachers unions.   Regional Manager Gengler expects to get a Minnesota program underway soon as strong interest is being shown by the fire service.

TRAINING