Dutch Fire Claims Ten Lives - 130 Injured

A fire in a crowded club on New Year's Eve resulted in ten deaths and at least 130 injuries.  It occured in Volendam, approximately 13 miles from Amsterdam.  It does not appear that the building had a fire sprinkler system and early reports indicate that some emergency exits may have been blocked.

 Read the Story

Jan. 2, 2001 - An automatic fire sprinkler is credited with preventing a small fire from spreading to other near-by businesses at a Las Vegas, NV building on New Year's Day.  The fire was ruled accidental by fire investigators.  There were no injuries.

The large building involved contains four businesses. It was an employee in one shop that noticed smoking coming out of a flower shop and called 9-1-1.  The responding firefighters found that an automatic fire sprinkler, directly above where the fire started, extinguished a small fire, which started in the rear of the shop.  The fire burned a small portion of a wall and melted a number of items used to prepare flowers for retail.  What could have been a major fire was avoided and damage was limited to an estimated $2000.

About a week earlier, a painting crew at UCLA ignited solvent fumes resulting in an explosion and flashover.  While three of the workers were injured by the explosion, a single sprinkler head extinguished the fire and prevented further injuries or property loss.

Jan. 5, 2001, Hollywood, FL. - An 89 year old woman suffered minor smoke inhalation but was safely evacuated from her 12th floor apartment when a fire broke out in her kitchen.  The fire was extinguished by the automatic fire sprinkler system and was contained to the one unit with minimal smoke and water damage.  ``We might have had a major incident with a lot of serious injuries without a sprinkler system,'' said Hollywood Fire Rescue Captain Mark Claxon.

Jan. 9, 2001, Philadelphia, PA - One of our most treasured national buildings was saved last night by the activation of a sprinkler to extinguish a transformer fire in Old City Hall adjacent to Independence Hall.  Independence National Historical Park spokesman    Phil Sheridan credited the sprinkler system.

Jan. 10, 2001 - President-Elect Bush has named Joe Allbaugh, a close friend, advisor and head of his presidential campaign, to head FEMA.  Allbaugh is viewed as a strong leader and administrator by those who have worked with him in the past.

Jan. 10, 2001 - The Town of Paradise Valley, Arizona has a new Fire Code that contains comprehensive residential and commercial sprinkler requirements.  All new structures will be required to install automatic sprinkler protection, this includes single family residential properties.  In addition, any structure undergoing a remodel of 50% or more will also be required to retrofit the entire structure with automatic sprinklers. 

This fire code will go into full effect on March 1, 2001.  The Town of Paradise Valley is a residential community of approximately 14,000 residents that is located between the cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale. It is mostly a hillside community with one acre or larger lots.  Most homes are palatial structures with last years new average home size of over 8,900 sq.ft.

Jan. 12, 2001, Los Angeles, CA -    Fire erupted at the top of a downtown high-rise this morning, but there were no reports of injuries. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's headquarters is one of the city's newer office towers, more than 25 stories tall. The blaze erupted shortly after 10 a.m. Images from TV helicopters showed flames coming from the roof. 

NFSA West Regional Manager Sam Husoe investigated and reported that the fire was contained to the exterior of the building and there was no sprinkler activation.  The fire that caused over 1000 to leave the building was electrical in nature and no injuries reported. Nearby Union Station was not threatened.

The $300 million Gateway center is part of the city's new transportation hub for the Red Line subway, Amtrak and Metrolink trains and bus lines.

Jan. 24, 2001, Patterson, NY - The Awards Committee of the NFSA has announced that the 14th Annual Golden Sprinkler Award has been awarded to Richard D. Sullivan, the Association’s Senior Vice President, for his outstanding contributions to the fire sprinkler industry for 36 years.  It will be presented at the Annual Seminar & Exhibition being held in San Francisco, CA from April 19-21.

NFSA President John Viniello commented on the announcement saying, "No one in the fire sprinkler industry is more deserving of this award than Rich Sullivan. His contributions to the industry in the Labor Relations arena and his loyalty to the Association for more than three decades have no equal. He is one of a kind, a living legend, and I know I speak for everyone when we wish him only the best when he retires later this year."

Whether you have worked directly with Rich or merely had the opportunity to enjoy the twinkle in those Irish eyes as he coordinated the many activities at our Annual Seminars, we know that you join us in this recognition of the tremendous achievements he has made in support of the fire sprinkler industry.

NFSA President John Viniello has written to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani urging that he take action to require fire sprinkler retrofit in existing buildings.  His letter notes that following two tragic fires in 1998 a Task Force was convened but it has not lead to any positive action to protect the lives of the millions of citizens and visitors to the world's largest city.  It is unfortunate that since those tragic fires, 200 lives were lost in the New York City in unprotected structures.

 Read the Letter

NFSA Dormitory Efforts Bearing Fruit

Feb. 1, 2001, Patterson, NY - It was exactly a year ago that NFSA President John Viniello wrote to the 50 State Governors demanding that they begin initiatives to install fire sprinklers in college and university residences.  We have seen legislation adopted in New Jersey and both Federal and State legislation introduced across the country.  A local ordinance passed in Durham, NH is a great example.  Only days ago, an off campus apartment residence was saved and no one was injured when two sprinklers contained a fire started in the buildings wiring.  Durham Fire Chief Ronald O'Keefe credited the sprinkler system for saving the building and the students were back in their apartments within hours.

The Washington Post just reported that the University of Maryland is close to approving an $11 million plan to retrofit eight residence halls and four Greek houses.  They join a long list of schools that are acting voluntarily to protect the lives of their students.

President Viniello issued a statement noting, "I am pleased to see the continuing recognition of the value of fire sprinkler systems in these occupancies.  We cannot afford to lose another life in a dormitory fire and I continue to urge all NFSA members to join the Association's efforts to insure that schools take action to protect their students from death or injury in a fire by installing the best protection, automatic fire sprinklers".

Feb. 1, 2001 - The NFSA has obtained a copy of the joint College Dormitory Fire Safety Study issued by Valerie Lewis, Commissioner of Higher Education and Anthony L. Spada, State Fire Marshal for the State of Connecticut.

The report notes that there are 23 schools in the state with over 300 residential buildings.  Of these, 128 are fully sprinklered, 24 are partially protected and 129 have no sprinklers.

The Study calls for legislation that will require all of these schools to develop and submit a plan by October 1, 2003 for the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in all residential buildings.  The authors note that this will give the schools time to prepare as well as time to develop financial plans for the costs.

Read Report in PDF Format

Feb.1, 2001, Atchison, KS - Two explosions and a brief fire caused approximately $500,000 in damage to the grain processing plant of Midwest Grain Products Inc. last night.  The second explosion is believed to have started the fire but the fire sprinkler system quickly extinguished the flames and prevented a total loss of the building.

Atchison Fire Chief Mike McDermed said firefighters were dispatched at 9:38 p.m. When fire crews arrived the building had already been evacuated and only smoke was visible. The sprinkler activation had already taken place, Mr. McDermed said. 

Mr. McDermed added, “The sprinkler system did its job and basically had controlled the biggest part of the fire. Our crews had very little to deal with. We eventually shut down the sprinkler system and tried to figure out what type of damage took place with plant officials.”

Feb. 8, 2001, Monterey, CA - The NorCal/SoCal FPO's Officers Association bestowed the Charlie H. Gray Memorial Service Award on Steve Hart at this evening's Association Banquet in honor of his service to the Association since he joined them in 1976.  The award is in memory of Charlie Gray who was the Santa Rosa Fire Marshal and a former President of the Association. 

Steve Hart has been active in support of the fire sprinkler industry for many years and is presently working on a number of projects in California as a consultant for the NFSA.

Feb. 28, 2001 - As noted in the recent issue of Fire Protection Engineering, the NFSA maintains the only internet reporting site for incidents of suspected MIC cases.  Your input will assist our MIC Task Group and your industry continue the investigation of this issue.  You can access the report form using the Sprinkler Information navigation button or by going directly to the link below.

http://www.nfsa.org/info/mic/reportmic.html

Sprinklers Save Dorm at Colby-Sawyer College - Student Dies in Binghamton Fire

Mar. 1, 2001, New London, NH - A fire was contained to the closet area of a student room on the ground floor of a three-story brick residence hall at Colby-Sawyer College.  According to New London Fire Chief Peter Stanley, the fire was controlled by the quick activation of the fire sprinkler system.  According to Chief Stanley, "this is an outstanding example of how sprinkler systems save lives and property and why they are so important in college dormitories." State Fire Marshal Donald P. Bliss praised college officials for ensuring that Colby-Sawyer's residence halls are protected with sprinklers.

By contrast, the life of a 23 year-old Binghamton University in New York student was lost on Feb. 26th in a fire in his off-campus residence occupied by a dozen students that was not protected by sprinklers.  NFSA Regional Manager Richard Skinner was interviewed by the local Fox T.V. station about the benefits of fire sprinklers in their coverage of the tragedy.

The NFSA's acclaimed seminar for basic layout technician training will be offered for the first time utilizing a combination of "home" and classroom study.  This format reduces the lost time and cost associated with the traditional two week program. 

The seminar consists of five weeks of self-study commencing April 1st and five days of classroom learning in the Patterson, NY area from May 7 through May 11.  The self-study portion will cover different topics using written materials, CDs of past online seminars, participation in an online seminar and exercises that will be submitted to the instructors. Students will be able to communicate with the instructors through email and will receive feedback on their assignments.

 Course Description and Registration

Mar. 12, 2001, Patterson, NY - NFSA President John Viniello announced today the hiring or Raymond W. Lonabaugh as the Regional Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Ray comes to the NFSA after 22 years in various fire protection positions with PECO Energy Company in Philadelphia, one of the area's largest electric utilities.  He has also served on several NFPA committees.

In his announcement, President Viniello said, "We are extremely pleased to be able to retain an individual with Ray's qualifications to support the NFSA's activities in the region.  He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and Certified Utility Safety Administrator with solid experience in safety, fire protection and loss prevention with a strong background in codes, standards and fire protection system design and I am certain he will be a substantial resource for our members in the region."

Mar. 22, 2001 - House Bill 6547 has cleared the Public Safety Committee and is on its way for a vote in the House. This bill is the enabling statute for towns to pass their own sprinkler ordinances.

SFPE Performance-based Design Seminar On-line!

This comprehensive seminar will be offered on-line from 0900 to 1100 eastern time (GMT - 0500) on Wednesday, April 11, 2001 through SFPE’s web based training center. It will lead participants through a detailed review of the new SFPE Engineering Guide to Performance-based Fire Protection Analysis and Design of Buildings. It will feature presentations on each section of the guide, including: definition of project scope; setting project objectives; developing performance criteria; selecting design fire scenarios; developing trial designs; probabilistic and deterministic analysis methods; and creating project documentation. The role of the Guide in the fire safety design process and examples of its application will also be presented. 

The registration fee for SFPE members is $200 and $245 for non-members.
 Registration Form in PDF Format

Apr. 8, 2001 - An explosion in a Burger King fryer caused a shut down of Schiphol Airport, the home of KLM airlines and one of the busiest in Europe having served nearly 40 million passengers last year.  The explosion resulted in heavy smoke and flames burst through a ventilation shaft but there is no early indication of any fire damage to the building and no report on what role fire sprinklers may have had.  Passengers were evacuated but no injuries were reported and the airport returned to normal activity by the end of the day.
Read USA Today Coverage

The April 3rd broadcast of the CBS news program 48 Hours focused on campus safety and included a segment on fires in dormitories.  In an interview, Chief Dan Jones, Chapel Hill, NC Fire Department, a long-time advocate of fire sprinklers, noted, "They are 99.9 percent effective, there has never been a recorded multiple loss of life in a sprinklered building in America."
CBS Story on 48 Hours Program

Due to the overwhelming response we have had to this year's meeting in San Francisco on April 19-21, the NFSA block of rooms at the Fairmont is booked.  We have arranged with a number of other first class hotels in the immediate area to provide rooms at attractive discounts from their standard rates.  If you contact one of the alternate hotels, be sure to mention that you are attending the NFSA Annual Seminar & Exhibition in order to get the best rate.

 Alternate Hotel List

Apr. 11, 2001 - The President intends to nominate Jon A. Hansen to be Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.  He is currently the General Manager of Around the Clock American La France, an emergency vehicle and equipment retailer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is a 26 year veteran of the Oklahoma City Fire Department.   Additionally, Hansen is the manager of Hansen and Associates, a crisis communications and public relations firm. While serving with the Oklahoma City Fire Department, he served as Chair of the State Fire Marshall's Commission, as President of the Oklahoma State Fire Chiefs and received the Fire Official of the Year Award in 1997. 

Apr. 11, 2001 - The State System of Higher Education has unanimously decided to borrow $50 Million to install sprinklers in its 136 residence buildings over the next five years with work scheduled to commence this summer.  Meanwhile, a bill (S.789) has been introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate to require all colleges, universities, fraternities and sororities to install automatic fire sprinkler systems in dormitories.  It provides for a fund of $180 Million and loans at 1.5% interest over 10 years.  The NFSA will be supporting this bill and will keep you advised of progress.  At the other end of the spectrum, a House bill (H. 209) was reported out of Committee with provisions requiring sprinklers in dorms and greek houses dropped and replaced by a program for the issuance of bonds to finance the installation of sprinklers that does not cover fraternities or sororities.

The NFSA will be participating in a media event in Harrisburg on April 24th to support sprinkler legislation.  John Brenner, Executive Director of the PA Fire & Emergency Services Institute, Rep. Mike McGeehan and Dana Christmas the RA who was burned saving students in the Seton Hall dorm fire are expected to be among the featured speakers.

There are currently four states with bills pending that would require fire sprinkler installation in campus living facilities.  Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch, has prepared a matrix identifying the bills and contact information for the legislators sponsoring the bills.Legislation Matrix

Apr. 16, 2001 - Students in McIntosh Hall at the University of Alaska can be thankful that the school had retrofited their dorm with fire sprinklers.  Someone had masked a smoke alarm with a plastic bag but that didn't fool the fire sprinkler that doused a fire in a chair apparently started by a careless smoker.  The dorm occupants were evacuated for several hours while water was cleaned up but they were soon returned to their rooms where they could sleep with the peace of mind that sprinklers were protecting their lives.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has issued a press release regarding their ongoing investigation of Central model GB sprinklers.  To date, more than 1800 sprinklers have been sampled from over 100 locations.  UL has found that 26% of the samples tested would not open at the pressure required for a new sprinkler (5 psi) while 7 % of the sample would not open at a pressure of 40 psi.

UL notes that not all GB sprinklers are considered a problem.  Only those with o-ring seals are the subject of the investigation.  Some of the model GB sprinklers have been manufactured with o-ring seals, while others have not.  The press release contains pictures of each type for identification.

The press release states that crystallized white or dark color deposits or corrosion can be observed around the sprinkler’s water seal assembly in a large number of samples received.  Any leaking sprinkler is required to be replaced in accordance with NFPA Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Standards.

UL recommends that sprinkler systems incorporating model GB sprinklers be tested annually in order to continue the excellent record of reliability associated with fire sprinkler systems.

Read the UL Press Release

Apr. 17, 2001 - A California statute permits the State to order awarding entities to withhold payments from GC's when it finds a violation of wage laws by a GC or subcontractor on a public works project.  A violation by G&G Fire Sprinklers, Inc. was alleged on three projects and the awarding bodies were directed to withhold payments from the GC's who in turn withheld the subcontractors payments.  The trial court and Ninth Circuit both found the statute unconstitutional on the ground that G&G had no right to a hearing before the forfeiture.  The Supreme law remanded the case and the Ninth Circuit again found the law unconstitutional.  In a decision issued on Monday, the Supreme Court upheld the statute on the basis that the contractor had a sufficient right to a hearing in the statute's provision allowing the sub to sue the GC for a breach of contract and damages.

The NFSA Annual Seminar and Exposition at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco was a resounding success.  From the opening session on April 19th to the sumptuous black tie dinner on the 22nd, the nearly 700 registrants were treated to top-notch business and technical presentations and the industry’s leading trade show attended by the largest number of exhibitors ever within the ambiance of one of the finest hotels in the country.

While the storm clouds descended for nearly the entire day on Friday, the sun broke through and several hundred were able to attend the planned cookout and outing to the new PacBell stadium to watch the Giants baseball game.  We’re beginning to think John Viniello has access to the private line of the weather gods.

We are pleased to announce that William Carey, Paul L. Coffman, Robert K. Raisler and Harold S. Wass, Jr. were inducted into the NFSA Hall of Fame during the seminar in tribute to the place they etched in the history of the fire sprinkler industry.  In addition, the 2001 Golden Sprinkler Award was awarded to Richard Sullivan in recognition of his more than 35 years of service to the industry.

If you were unable to attend or merely want to rekindle your memories of this great event, check out the following links for pictures, President Viniello’s State of the Industry speech and the long-secret recipe for Marinara a la Viniello sauce.

President Viniello’s State of the Industry Speech
Marinara a la Viniello Recipe
Caesar Salad a la Chef Gregg Recipe

Pictures:
Around San Francisco Pictures
Banquet and Awards Ceremony Pictures
Exhibit Hall Pictures
General Session Pictures
Golf Tournament Pictures
MAFF Workshop Pictures

Apr. 25, 2001 - Senator Robert Torricelli (D-NJ) introduced S773 that would require schools to report whether each student housing building has a fire sprinkler system and "Information about fire safety education and training provided to students, faculty, and staff, including the percentage of students, faculty, and staff who have participated in such education and training."

 Read the Bill

Senators Edwards and Dodd have introduced S.399 in the U.S. Senate which provides for grants of $100M per year from 2002 through 2006 for the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in college, university, fraternity and sorority student housing.  The bill would require the applicant for a grant to fund one-half of the installation cost.

The bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
 Read the Bill
 Contact Committee Members 

Student Dies in Texas Dorm Fire

May 1, 2001, Austin, TX - One student was killed and another critically injured this morning when a fire broke out at a private high-rise dormitory near the University of Texas that was not equipped with a sprinkler system. The fire, which broke out about 6:20 a.m. and was under control in about 30 minutes, occurred in a dorm room on the second floor of a 10-story tower that housed about 200 residents. The building is part of a two-tower complex called University Towers apartments that houses about 600 residents. The building, located several blocks west of the UT campus, was built before 1968, well before a 1981 ordinance that required all new high-rises to have sprinkler systems. 

Gary Wilks, an Austin Fire Department spokesman, said"Sprinklers are very important. They would extinguish a fire within seconds." 

 Read the Story

May 4, 2001 - Just days after a student lost his life in a high-rise fire at the University of Texas, a bill has been introduced into the legislature requiring fire sprinklers in off-campus high-rise buildings.  Not only is this too late to save the life of the student who was tragically killed last week, the legislators have once again missed the boat by delaying coverage of existing structures from the requirements in the proposed bill. 

 Read the Bill

May 9, 2001 - We have just learned that Ron Woodcock, principal of RoDan Fire Sprinkler Co. passed away yesterday after a courageous battle with cancer for an extended period.  Ron was a member of the Board of the Florida Fire Sprinkler Association and has been a long-time member of the NFSA and was a staunch supported of both the industry and the Association.

Ron is survived by his wife and two young children.  The family has requested donations to his favorite charity, The Spring, Box 4772, Tampa, FL 33677 in lieu of flowers.

The NJ State Assemby is considering a bill that will require a certification process for all fire sprinkler contractors and inspectors.

 Read the Bill in pdf Format

May 16, 2001, Bridgeport, PA – A multi-building fire started yesterday around 1 p.m. has destroyed at least 55 businesses housed in the Continental Business Center that was the foundation for the economy of this 250 year old town north of Philadelphia.  The fire started in an unsprinklered, undivided building and jumped  a 10 foot driveway to a second building where the sprinklers had been painted over and then on to a third building where the sprinkler system was not functional.

The blaze was fought by 300 firefighters from more than 30 companies and was finally declared under control around 4 a.m. today although there were still some areas burning and demolition of the structures was underway.

The county has no codes requiring sprinklers and the statewide code that will only require them in new construction and major renovations will not take effect until next year.

View Photo's here

At the NFSA Annual Seminar & Exhibition, we distributed surveys to develop as much information as possible on our membership's view of the sprinkler industry economy.  To supplement the data received, we would appreciate it if you would help us by completing the appropriate form in the following links or forwarding it to the appropriate principal in your company.  The greater the level of response, the more information we can analyze and report for the benefit of our members.

The forms are in pdf format requiring Adobe Acrobat to open them. Please return completed forms  to Dave Vandeyar, NFSA, Box 1000, Patterson, NY 12563.

 Sprinkler Contractor Survey
 Sprinkler Manufacturer / Supplier Survey

May 20, 2001, Patterson, NY – Knowing that the landscape in the corridor between Pennsylvania and the nation’s capitol in Washington, DC is dotted with the presence of many of the largest and best known colleges and universities in the country, the NFSA announced it selected this area to launch a major public relations effort on behalf of the fire sprinkler industry. 

The program is designed to increase public awareness of the need for fire sprinkler systems in student housing to protect the lives of the individuals residing at these schools.  Major components of the campaign kick-off  include exterior placards on 88 busses in the Philadelphia area, interior bus posters in Harrisburg, York and Wilkes-Barre and simultaneous distribution of recorded public service announcements to virtually every radio station in Pennsylvania

We are grateful for the work of NFSA Vice Chairman Aus Marburger of Fire Protection Industries in leading this concept to completion and expect it will establish the foundation for similar efforts in other appropriate areas.

May 21, 2001 - Two separate incidents were reported over the weekend in which a student died in an off-campus unsprinklered residence.  The fires claimed the lives of students at John Carroll University and Ohio University.

The final numbers have been tallied and we are proud to announce that more than 3474 students participated in the NFSA's pioneering on-line seminars in 2000.  It is clear that distance learning is the wave of the future and your association is leading the way with timely topics and the most capable instructors in the industry.

If you haven't already experienced the value of this premier program, we invite you to view a demo in the Seminar area and to look through the schedule for the remainder of the year.  More topics will be added so check back regularly. 

RelMark, the program manager for the NFSA sponsored insurance program with The Hartford, has developed a section specifically for fire sprinkler contractors on its website containing informative and timely loss control bulletins.  The topics covered include auto, fire sprinkler systems, safety, general liability, property and workers' compensation.  A visit to the site will give you additional input on the value that this program has for NFSA members and will provide you with information on how to contact RelMark.

 Loss Control Bulletin

May 29, 2001 - The cruise ship Norway, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line under Bahamian flag, was detained for another day in the port of Miami by the U.S. Coast Guard after a surprise inspection of its fire sprinkler system.  The Coast Guard was tipped to the problem by another officer who had visited the ship on an unrelated matter and observed rubber patches clamped over holes in the main pipes that supply water to the fire sprinkler system.  The ship was scheduled to leave with more than 2000 passengers and 900 crew on May 27.

Read the Story

NFSA Effort Leads CA Jury to Find in Favor of Fire Sprinklers

June 1, 2001 - An Orange County, CA grand jury has concluded that new homes should be equipped with automatic fire sprinkler systems.  The case involved charges supported by the BIA that fire sprinkler ordinances discriminate against low income families by increasing the cost of construction and making home ownership unavailable to this group.  There were also allegations in the case that fire service officials had conspired with the sprinkler industry to support such ordinances.

The NFSA was instrumental in this case in providing evidence to the grand jury on the economic impact of the installation of residential fire sprinklers.  Buddy Dewar, Director of Regional Operations, prepared a paper (available on his page in the Departments section) and Sam Husoe, Regional Manager, and Steve Hart provided support to the educational effort.

The jury found that fire sprinklers could reduce property damage in fires by 60% and their report also included a recommendation that cities without sprinkler ordinances should be encouraged to adopt them for new residential construction and major remodels.

Read the Grand Jury's Report (PDF Format)

June 8, 2001, Hartford CT - A Bill to require fire sprinklers in all new schools after July 1, 2002 was passed and sent to Gov. Rowland for signature.  The sponsor of the Bill, Rep. Mark Boughton, noted that sprinklers in new construction can save 10% of the building cost.  Citing data developed by the NFSA, he said that building codes for sprinklered schools would allow construction at $89.46 per square foot whereas compliance with fire resistant materials can cost from $91.98 to $122.22 per foot.

June 9, 2001 - Ray Lonabaugh, NFSA Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager was called to a fire today at the White Cap Pine Oil plant in Lester Pennsylvania.  Upon arrival, he observed two engines on the scene and smoke billowing from the rear of the building.  Damage was confined to maintenance painting materials by the automatic sprinkler system, which extinguished the fire.  The room where the fire had taken place housed tanks of product.  A door and one window were taken out by the fire department to reach the fire area.  The cost of the repairs to the door and window were greater than the cost of the fire damage.  One can only imagine the tragedy that the fire sprinkler system avoided given the type of business involved.

June 11, 2001, Patterson, NY - NFSA President John Viniello today announced the appointment of Wayne Waggoner as Regional Manager for the Southeastern States and Dominick Kass as Regional Manager for the Great Plains States to replace Phil Saunders.  President Viniello also announced realignment of the Southeast Region with the State of Kentucky being placed in the North Central Region under Bob Trieber.

In his announcement, President Viniello said, "The addition of these two highly qualified individuals brings our Regional coverage to full strength and greatly enhances our ability to respond to the local needs of the membership.  Many in the Southeast are familiar with Wayne Waggoner from his service as Fire Chief of Rural Metro in Knoxville, TN.  Dominick Kass will be relocating shortly to the Kansas City area from Pennsylvania where he was been in front line and management positions in the fire service for more than 27 years; he is also currently a Director of the NFPA's Fire Service Section Executive Board."

John Corso, who previously had dual responsibilities including the Southeast Region, will now devote his full time efforts as National Training Manager.

June 12, 2001 - The San Francisco Chronicle reported today that local politicians are holding meetings to develop support for legislation to require the installation of fire sprinklers in the city's residential hotels.  These buildings primarily house poor, elderly and disabled persons and have been hit by a rash of fires over several years that resulted in three deaths and the loss of over 800 rooms.  The proposed ordinance would require the sprinklers by June, 2002 in more than 300 hotels.

NFSA President John Viniello was interviewed by the newspaper and he noted the fact that there has never been a fire with multiple deaths in a fully sprinklered building.  Viniello said people who live in San Francisco's dilapidated hotels deserve the protection. "I know the conditions those people live in. If that same situation existed on Nob Hill, they'd be putting sprinklers in those buildings," he said. 
Read the Story

June 19, 2001, Patterson, NY - NFSA President John Viniello today wrote all of the major newspapers criticizing New York City's Mayor and City Council for failing to complete the activity of a Task Force appointed more than two years ago when three firefighters lost their lives in a Brooklyn, NY fire.  The group was formed to study the issue of fire safety and automatic fire sprinkler systems in the City's buildings but it has failed to issue any findings.  In January of  this year, President Viniello wrote to NY Mayor Guiliani reminding him of the Task Force's responsibilities and urging him to translate political rhetoric into reality.

In a separate email to the members of the City Council, President Viniello reminded them that six firefighters and 250 citizens had lost their lives in unsprinklered buildings during the period that the City had failed to act.  He called upon the City Council to enact legislation that would provide financing to install fire sprinklers before other tragedies occur. 
Read the Letter
Read City Council Email

June 19, 2001 - In the aftermath of the tragic fire that took the lives of three firefighters on Father's Day, New York City Fire Chief Thomas VonEssen stated that fire sprinklers could have saved these heroes.  In his statement, VonEssen called for a law to require fire sprinklers in all buildings where flammable materials are stored.  Eleven others were hospitalized with injuries sustained in the fire and blast that is now believed to have been started accidentally by two children and as many as 50 others were injured.

June 16, 2001 - A fire in the engine room of the Royal Caribbean's Nordic Princess was contained by the fire sprinkler system until the ship's crew was able to extinguish the blaze.  The vessel was carrying 2216 passengers and had just left Bermuda.  No injuries were reported and the ship was back under power in less than 8 hours.

June 29, 2001 - The Staff and Members of the NFSA extend their deepest condolences to Casey Grant, Asst. V.P. of the NFPA, and his family on the death his son Brendan.  Brendan was involved in a collision with another player while playing baseball and died before arriving at a hospital.  The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made to The Brendan Grant Scholarship Fund, Treasurer's Office, Belmont Town Hall, P.O. Box 56, Belmont, MA 02478.

San Francisco County Enacts Sprinkler Legislation

July 3, 2001 - On Monday, July 2, 2001, the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance that requires the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in all existing hotels containing 20 or more guest rooms or are three or more stories in height.  Property owners have until the end of June 2002 to comply with the new ordinance.  It is expected that the new ordinance will gain the support of Mayor Willie Brown.

The Board of Supervisors hailed the new ordinance as a way to save lives and taxpayer dollars.  The recent history of fires in nearly a dozen residential hotels resulted in three deaths, the loss of 11 hotels and the displacement of about 1,000 people.  The construction and design characteristics of each hotel will influence the cost of compliance.  The most commonly quoted cost for this type of occupancy is in the $1,500 range per unit.

Sam Husoe, NFSA Regional Manager,  will contact the San Francisco Fire Department and acquire a copy of the ordinance when it becomes available.
Read the Story

Download data sheet 2-2 Here for FREE!

July 6, 2001 - A fire this morning caused $2 million in damage and destroyed 10 years of research at the National Severe Storms Laboratory located in Norman, OK.  Lab director James Kimpel admitted that three years ago a link in the sprinkler system was removed to allow more space for storage of equipment. Fire investigator Darryl Troupe commented that fire sprinklers might have contained the blaze and saved much of the damage. Lab researcher Lou Wicker characterized the loss as a "national catastrophe".
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July 13, 2001, Patterson, NY - NFSA President John Viniello today announced the current activities of the Fire Sprinkler Manufacturers Joint Research and Development Consortium.  Central Sprinkler Co., Firematic Sprinkler Corp., Gem Sprinkler Co., Globe Fire Sprinkler Corp., Kidde Fire Fighting USA, The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Star Sprinkler Corp., Victaulic Fire Safety Co., and The Viking Corp. are participating.  The Consortium is funding an independent outside audit of quality assurance practices and testing in the fire sprinkler industry.

Viniello said, "No fundamental problems are believed to exist that would prevent fire sprinklers from continuing to be considered the best single tool for the protection of lives and property from fire. This is analogous to a healthy person going in for a physical examination.  Everything seems to be working well, but a check-up is always in order.  The goal is essentially to make an already well designed and reliable product even better.   The fire sprinkler manufacturers are to be commended for undertaking this effort to make sure that their products can continue to be counted on to perform when needed during a fire, and to maintain the excellent record of sprinklers in saving lives and property." 

Battelle Columbus Laboratories has been contracted to undertake the work, with a summary report of findings and recommendations due later this year. Battelle will review present industry practices and standards applicable to the manufacture and use of automatic sprinklers, available performance data, and recommend field sampling and laboratory tests as needed to support development of mechanisms for enhancing long-term field performance.  Battelle will also review the basis and assumptions of present performance standards and tests and assess their modern relevancy.
Full Text of Announcement

July 27, 2001 - As we reported to you this past February, Underwriters Laboratories has been studying certain sprinkler types and it has now revised their Standard for Safety for Automatic Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service, UL199, regarding the use of O-ring water seals in fire sprinklers. After January 2003, O-ring water seal constructions in sprinklers will no longer be permitted by the standard. This action follows a UL-funded two-year investigation of the field performance of O-ring sprinklers that included the examination, testing and analysis of samples from more than 200 locations across the country.

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July 29, 2001 - As reported in the Washington Post, while the replacement program announced by Central Sprinkler Company has stirred some debate, the majority of fire and building officials remain committed to automatic fire sprinkler systems.  In addition to the sources quoted by the news article, the International Association of Fire Chiefs issued a statement this week backing the record of fire sprinklers in saving lives and property.

Washington Post Story

Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Releases Video 

Aug. 3, 2001 - The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition which is jointly sponsored by the NFSA, NFPA and AFSA has developed a video that dramatically illustrates the timeline of a residential fire.  Whether you are a consumer interested in home fire sprinklers or a contractor looking for a tool to show potential customers the value of a residential fire sprinkler system, this is a "must have".  The file requires that your internet browser have the shockwave viewer add-in installed.  If you don't have it, it can be downloaded at http://www.macromedia.com/software/contents.html.

Fire Video

Aug. 9, 2001- SFPE is holding it's second annual Professional Development Week, September 10-14, 2001 in Baltimore, MD.  The week will feature a technical symposium on computer applications in fire protection engineering and nine seminars ranging from the latest technology in performance-based design to fire protection systems design. This intensive five-day/four track week provides the opportunity to sharpen skills and interact with others in the industry.  Continuing education units/professional development hours will be granted for all events. For further information, contact Julie Maska at 301-718-2910 or click on the SFPE link on this page.

Aug. 17, 2001 - Thanks to NFSA Director Dennis Coleman, we learned of this fire sprinkler save in the St. Louis suburb of  Fairview.  When the manager of the local paint store opened one day last week, he discovered that there had been a fire that a sprinkler extinguished.  Damage was limited to the trash can where the fire started and a computer under the sprinkler; there wasn't even smoke damage.  They were selling paint while cleaning up some water from the floor which is far from what would have resulted without the fire sprinkler system.  Just compare that with the tragedy that took place in the New York hardware store fire that killed 3 firefighters.

18 Aug 2001 - An early morning blaze in the six story Manor Hotel located in the Manila suburb of Quezon City claimed at least 75 lives.  There were no fire sprinklers or alarms in the structure. 

  Fire officials believe an electrical short circuit started the fire.  Many of the fatalities are thought to be a result of people being trapped by iron security bars on the windows and blocked fire exits.  A number of the victims were found dead in their bathrooms from smoke inhalation. The city had warned the hotel about safety violations and the Fire Marshal was removed in the wake of this disaster.

NFSA President John Viniello, issued a statement today noting that, "This fire is an unspeakable tragedy that underscores the need to promote the installation of fire sprinkler devices in all types of buildings.  There has never been a multiple loss of life in a fire where there was an operating fire sprinkler system."

There were 236 registered guests including 172 U.S. visitors taking part in a Christian Ministry conference.  All of the dead are believed to be Filipino.

NFPA Issues Fire Department Standards that Encourage Sprinkler Protection

The NFPA Standards Council has agreed to issue NFPA 1710 and NFPA 1720, two new standards that address the deployment of fire department resources.  NFPA 1710 is intended to apply to mostly career fire departments, while NFPA 1720 is intended to apply to mostly volunteer departments.  Both standards address acceptable response times for fire fighters to arrive on the scene and the numbers of fire fighters that should be available to perform certain tasks.

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Thanks to the efforts of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition which is sponsored by the NFSA, viewers watching ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) had the opportunity to see how an automatic residential fire sprinkler activates and controls a fire live, Tuesday, September 4th. The demonstration took place in a living room of a home. Ron Hazelton, ABC’s Home Improvement Editor discussed the life and property-saving benefits of fire sprinklers, showing where the sprinkler was located in the living room, then worked with the local fire department to start the fire and view the successful activation.

Prior to the demonstration, Hazelton showed footage of a house fire without sprinkler protection. During the fire, Hazelton  pointed out how quickly it spread, how flashover occured and how thick, deadly smoke spread throughout the house.

Sept. 12, 2001 - NFSA President John Viniello issued a statement today expressing our sympathies and prayers for all affected by the tragedies the country experienced yesterday.  Many of the top ranking officers of the NYC FD killed in the Trade Center collapse were friends and acquaintences of the NFSA Staff. 

Viniello noted, "We have experienced one of the most horrible acts of treachery in the history of humankind and, thankfully, I have verified that all of our employees are safe.

In a related communication, President Viniello praised the AFSA's decision to postpone their annual conference and exhibition and assured their President, Steve Muncy, that the NFSA would assist them in future publicity related to any rescheduling of the event.

Sept. 15, 2001 - At a DoD press conference today on the Pentagon damage and renovation program, the project manager, Lee Evey, credited the building's fire sprinklers with limiting the damage caused by the terrorist attack.  He said, "Fire sprinklers. Interestingly, you know, there was a fire that raged through wedge two, the unrenovated area. If you look at wedge one, except in those areas where it was clearly fueled by jet fuel, the fire, when it tried to spread into other wedge one areas, was knocked down immediately by the fire sprinklers. There was virtually no spread whatsoever, so we saw a tremendous beneficial effect from that. 
Transcript of Press Conference

As we all struggle with the emotions of the events of last week and continue our prayers and thoughts for those affected, we want to mention and thank the members of the NFSA staff for their contributions.  Engineering Department secretary Angie McGoorty joined fellow members of the Patterson FD to assist in the work at the WTC and was interviewed by both the CBS and NBC local TV stations.  Regional Manager Rich Skinner has worked with the Red Cross driving an emergency vehicle.  Many on the staff have donated blood and Kevin Kelly, Mgr. of Installation Standards, is an Army Reserve Captain awaiting a decision on the status of his unit.

Sept. 17, 2001 -  As noted in a letter to his employees, Gregg Huennekens, NFSA Board member, offered them an opportunity to make donations to a fund for the families of the NYC firefighters who died in the terrorist attack on the WTC while working to save the lives of others.  He wrote, "It is my hope that through this fund we may be able to show our support with more than just our prayers."

A similar suggestion to create a Fund was made by Board member Ed Elek last week and it will be discussed at the meeting of the NFSA Board of Directors in November.  We will post any details as soon as they become available.
Text of Huennekens Letter

Sept. 25, 2001 - We extend our sincere condolences to Pat Marlatt, Assistant Director of the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute, and his family on the deaths of his two daughters in the tornado that struck the Institute yesterday. Located on the University of Maryland campus, the Institute's 7000 sq. ft. administration building and two trailers were totally destroyed and seven faculty and staff members were hospitalized.  Many on the NFSA staff have worked with Pat over the years and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Central Clarifies Replacement Program 

Central Sprinkler has announced a replacement program for GB and certain other models of sprinklers containing o-rings and manufactured since 1988.   The replacement program is a voluntary program negotiated between the company and the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

As announced, the replacement program will include the replacement sprinklers and the labor to perform the replacement.  Central will arrange for the installation by using either its own Central Field Services crews or by contracting with designated sprinkler installers for replacement.

Due to the number of sprinklers that need to be replaced, CPSC and Central anticipate that this program will take place over a period of years, depending on the level of participation and the availability of installation personnel. In general, sprinklers will be replaced with priority based on the age of the sprinklers, the population affected (e.g., hospitals and nursing homes submitting claims will be given priority), and whether the sprinklers show signs of corrosion or leaking.

A consumer hotline has been established by Central at 866-505-8553 and a website, which can be accessed at www.sprinklerreplacement.com

As reported in the January/February 2000 and November/December 2000 issues of NFSA’s Sprinkler Technotes, these sprinklers have been under investigation by Underwriters Laboratories and other organizations on the basis that some samples taken from the field have required high operating pressures to clear the waterway when activated by heat.  The problem is reportedly associated with leakage past an o-ring seal that results in corrosion.  Originally, Central was of the view that potential problems could be avoided by examining sprinklers for signs of corrosion or leakage during normal system inspection and maintenance.  However, the company has recently discovered that some sprinklers without visible signs of corrosion or leakage also required unacceptable operating pressures.

John Viniello, President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), has pointed out that press reports are in error that suggest the CPSC “ordered a recall” of the sprinklers.  According to Viniello, “This is not the same as the CPSC action on the Omega sprinkler, which resulted from an Administrative Complaint on the part of the agency.  This is a voluntary replacement program undertaken by the company.”

Russ Fleming, Vice President of Engineering for the NFSA, noted that only sprinklers that employ o-rings are the subject of the replacement program.  They can be differentiated from newer models by their flat-shaped cap.  Most GB sprinklers manufactured since 1999 employ a disc (Belleville) spring seal and have a conically-shaped cap. Some specific models of Central sprinklers that were not designated GB, as well as certain models of Star and Gem sprinklers, are included in the replacement program.  According to Mr. Fleming, “The use of the o-ring seal has produced difficulties for certain models of sprinklers.  Underwriters Laboratories recently moved forward with a program to ban the use of such seals since there is no known way to predict long term performance.  Even before the ban was in place, however, the sprinkler manufacturers have voluntarily moved away from their use.  The sprinkler manufacturers are now cooperating in a joint research effort that will attempt to avoid similar issues in the future.  The replacement program that is being announced should be viewed as evidence of the fire sprinkler manufacturers’ commitment to stand behind their products and to ensure that sprinkler systems will maintain their reputation as the single most reliable defense against unfriendly fire.” 

Access the replacement website and press release

Sprinklers Save 130 in Nursing Home

Oct. 7, 2001 - Officials are still investigating the cause of a fire in a Feasterville, PA nursing home.  While, unfortuneately, the resident of the room where the fire started perished and several others were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, fire sprinklers contained the fire and the residents have been able to return to the facility.
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October 11, 2001, Washington, DC – The CPSC instituted a suit against two corporations that have connections to Star dry pendant sprinklers while admitting that the CPSC has no evidence of a single death or injury resulting from a malfunction and evidence of only one incident where three heads failed to operate.

NFSA reported as early as 1990 that the sprinkler model in question was manufactured from 1975 through 1981 and that it might not operate properly under fire conditions.  We also reported in July, 1999 that Mealane Corporation, in an agreement with CPSC, recalled some Star dry sprinklers, including the model that is the subject of this new suit.  The manufacturer set up a program with funds for replacements, including labor as a continuation of their voluntary 1990 replacement program.

Despite this settlement, today’s announced suit is being brought against Sunbeam Corp., already in bankruptcy, because it bought the assets of Chemetron Corp. in 1990 after Chemetron had ceased making the questioned sprinklers and also Grucon Corp. because it owned Star’s assets for some time before selling them in 1996.

Oct. 23, 2001 - The Crest Homes modular home plant in Milton, PA was saved last night by the activation of a single sprinkler head.  The fire started around 6:00 p.m. from sparks from a power tool and the one sprinkler head contained the fire until the FD arrived.  Damage was estimated to be no more than $25,000 and the factory was open for business this morning.  One can only imagine what would have occurred in this building filled with wood if there were no fire sprinklers installed.

Oct. 30, 2001 - Despite their proximity to Chapel Hill where 5 students lost their lives in a tragic dorm fire several years ago and the national publicity given to the fire deaths at Seton Hall University, the administration at Catawba College didn't get the message that fire sprinklers save lives.  Early Sunday morning, a student died from smoke inhalation in a dorm fire at that school.
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NFSA Urges Membership to Join NFPA and Participate in Major Votes

Nov. 16, 2001, Patterson, NY - The NFSA issued a reminder to its members today that the deadline for joining the NFPA and voting at the May, 2002 meeting is November 21st. The NFPA will consider a number of issues of great significance to the sprinkler industry at that meeting.  Membership can be obtained by calling the NFPA in Quincy, Massachusetts at 1-800-344-3555.                               .

NFSA Vice President Russ Fleming congratulated NFSA representatives to the NFPA Building Code project on gains they and other fire sprinkler advocates made during the November 3-9, 2001 meetings dealing with public comments.  According to Fleming, “At their meetings earlier this month, the NFPA 5000 Occupancy Committees tentatively approved several significant NFSA comments favoring the fire sprinkler concept, including lowering the threshold for fire sprinkler requirements in hotels and motels in the NFPA 5000 document”. 

Fleming also reported that the NFSA had successfully defended several new initiatives in the forthcoming 2002 edition of NFPA 25 on Inspection, Testing and Maintenance, which was given floor approval on November 14th at the NFPA Fall Meeting in Dallas, Texas. He commented that “The floor debates at Dallas indicate that the May 2002 meeting in Minneapolis will have a major impact on the future of the fire sprinkler industry.  With the sprinkler installation standards and the NFPA 5000 Building Code on the same cycle, it will be a significant meeting for all advocates of sprinkler protection.”

Nov. 28, 2001 - Regional Manager Sam Husoe reported that the CA Building Standards Commission approved an amendment to the Building Code that should be effective by October, 2002.  Sprinklers will be required in all new construction for apartment houses three or more stories or 5 or more units, congregate residences three or more stories or 11 or more occupants and every hotel with three or more stories or six or more guest rooms.

NFSA SWAT Team Scores School Sprinkler Bill Victory in CA

NFSA'S SWAT Team, headed by Jim Dalton, Director of Public Fire Protection, scored a major victory in CA with the passage of SB-575 signed recently by Gov. Gray Davis.  This landmark legislation requires all new school construction to be sprinklered, effective July 1, 2002.

The bill was bounced from the legislature to the Governor to committees several times and it was through the hard work of Director of Regional Operations, Buddy Dewar, Regional Manager Sam Husoe, Steve Hart and labor representatives Stan Smith in San Francisco and Bill Small in Los Angeles that we were finally able to convince the Governor to sign the bill.

In his statement, NFSA President John Viniello expressed his thanks to all the members of the team on behalf of the industry and noted he was "particularly appreciative of the assistance of Mr. Smith and Mr. Small."  He said, "The full cooperation of all aspects of the industry is required to accomplish the passage of this type of legislation to ensure the safety of our children and protect the properties they occupy while at school".

The NFSA has been successful in supporting the passage of fire sprinkler retrofit legislation for commercial properties in both Baltimore County, MD and Honolulu, HI.  For detail on these laws or other pending legislation affecting the sprinkler industry, contact your Regional Manager; each has a web page that can be reached by navigating from the Departments section of this site.

The NFSA has retained Ted Garrison, renowned speaker and author on management techniques in the construction industry to present a series of four online seminars on topics designed to provide management with the skills to maintain their businesses in today's competitive environment.  It will be an interactive, live presentation over the internet that gives you the opportunity to learn new management techniques without the expense of travel and lost time away from work. 

Ted is not only a recognized expert in management, he has all of the practical experience.  Most recently, he was the project manager supervising the construction and renovation of the superb Philadelphia Convention Center.  For more details and registration, visit the online seminar section of our site.