Program At-A-Glance:

Seminar Highlights:

NFPA 13 – 2016. A REVIEW OF THE CHANGES TO THE STANDARD FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Larry Keeping, P.Eng.
Senior Technical Specialist
PLC Fire Safety Solutions

Larry Keeping is a Senior Technical Specialist at PLC Fire Safety Solutions and has been active in the field of automatic sprinkler systems and other water-based fire protection systems in design, installation, inspection, testing and maintenance since 1973. He currently represents PLC as a special expert on the NFPA 13 Technical Committee on Sprinkler Systems Installation Criteria, the NFPA 13 Technical Committee on Sprinkler Systems Discharge Criteria and the NFPA 24 Technical Committee for the Installation of Private Service Mains. Larry also serves on the NFPA 25 Technical Committee on Inspection Testing and Maintenance of Water Based Systems.

The presentation will focus on the most significant changes that were introduced into the newly released 2016 edition of NFPA 13, the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, along with the background and explanation for the changes to the standard. Topics will include subjects such as: commodity classifications when there is a mix of expanded and unexpanded plastics, reinstalling sprinklers, the use of extension fittings, air venting, sprinklers in bathrooms, cloud ceilings, pipe stands, alternative protection, column protection, and protection of exposed expanded Group A Plastics.

ARSON – CRASH AND BURN

Robert J. Shirer, B.A.Sc., P.Eng, C.Eng.
President
R.J. Shirer & Associates Inc. Consulting Forensic Engineers

Since graduation in 1983 he initially worked as a Research Associate, a Field Engineer in the waste recovery field and a Sales/Service Engineer in the Pulp & Paper Industry. For the last 26 years he has worked as a Forensic Engineer and Manager conducting Fire Investigations, Accident Reconstructions, Failure Analysis and other forensic investigations. Mr. Shirer has conducted seminars for The Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the Canadian Associaition of Fire Investigators (CAFI), the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), University of Toronto Continuing Education, EPIC Training, The Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS), The Insurance Institutes of Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland, as well as in-house seminars to the Insurance and Legal Industries. He has been admitted as an expert witness and has offered opinion evidence of the origin and cause of fires, accidents and other technical matters in Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Manitoba Courts on 26 occasions.

Arson is a felony crime usually committed to harm, or destroy life, or property. Most individuals who commit arson either have a long record of criminal activity, or a mental capacity to do harm. The process of investigating arson is no different than the investigation of any fire investigation in that you have to first establish the origin and cause of the fire. After this it differs and turns into a felony crime investigation in which you have to establish first that a crime has been committed, collect evidence to prove your case, interview suspects and build a case that may send them to jail or result in the denial of insurance payments. There are several reasons why people commit arson, including spite, revenge, profit, thrill, or murder.

TRAGEDY AT ISLE VERTE – FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVES

Michael L. Hennegan, P.Eng., MBA, MSFPE
President
MLH Fire Protection Ltd.

Michael Hennegan is a registered engineer in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec and a Standards Technical Panel Member for UL 448 and 1247. He is the President of MLH Fire Protection Ltd., a provider of special hazards fire protection systems and also the founder and President of Holifsa Inc. a manufacturer of integrated residential life safety systems and industrial fire suppression systems. A former president of the St Lawrence Chapter of the SFPE, Mr. Hennegan continues to be an active member of the local chapter board.

On January 23, 2014, a devastating fire in a Quebec nursing home took the lives of 32 people and injured 15 others. This presentation provides a synopsis of the tragic events. It will look beyond the purely technical aspects of the fire to examine reactions, roles, and responsibilities of fire protection engineers and allied professionals in the face of this event. Close attention will also be given to the interdependent roles of the SFPE and local chapters in order to better understand and craft strategies which will benefit all FP professionals and uphold the mandate of the SFPE.

NFPA 33 – STANDARD FOR SPRAY APPLICATION USING FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS

Shayne Mintz
Canadian Regional Director
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Shayne Mintz has over 37 years experience in fire and emergency services and has worked in all aspects of fire and life safety. Shayne has held fire service executive management positions with the cities of Toronto, Markham, and the Ontario Fire Marshal and completed his fire service career as Fire Chief for the City of Burlington, Ontario. Shayne has an extensive background in Fire, Disaster and Emergency Management and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Public Administration Degree from the University of Western Ontario. He has also earned Master’s Certificates in Operational Risk Management and Public Administration from York University in Toronto. Among several diplomas in the fire and life safety sector Mr. Mintz also holds the designation of Chief Fire Official from Dalhousie University and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs as well as Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) in the province of Ontario.

Mr. Mintz will be providing an overview of NFPA 33 - Standard for Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials. This standard applies to the spray application of flammable or combustible materials, either continuously or intermittently using Compressed air atomization; Airless or hydraulic atomization; Electrostatic; and Fluidized bed application methods. This standard also applies to spray application of water-borne, water-based, and water-reducible materials that contain flammable or combustible liquids or that may produce combustible deposits or residues.

Expert Panelists:

Al Suleman, P.Eng.
Director, Prevention and Risk Management
Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management

Al Suleman is the Director of Prevention and Risk Management with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management. Al has an educational background in civil, mechanical and fire protection engineering and has held a variety of positions in the private and public sectors. Al has been with the Office of the Fire Marshal since 1988 and has previously held the roles of Fire Protection Engineer, Manager - Fire Safety Standards and Assistant Deputy Fire Marshal - Technical Services where he provided leadership to technical staff on a number of high priority files. As Director of Prevention and Risk Management, in addition to overseeing the Technical Services section responsible for the development and administration of Ontario’s Fire Code, Al’s responsibilities encompass emergency management planning, exercising and program development. Al is a member of the OFMEM’s senior management team and reports directly to Ontario’s Fire Marshal and Chief, Emergency Management.

Gerry Bourne, P.Eng.
Business Development Manager
Troy Life & Fire Safety Ltd.

Gerry Bourne is currently a Member at Large of SFPE SOC and has served on the SFPE Executive Committee since May 2015. Gerry Bourne is a graduate of McMaster University, receiving his Bachelor Engineering and Management in 2004. He worked as a Design Engineer in the Automotive industry for 4 years and then moved into fire protection in 2008. In August 2010 Gerry became licensed as a Professional Engineer with the PEO. For the past 8 years Gerry has worked in the Fire Protection industry at Troy Life and Fire Safety Ltd. covering off the business development for their 30 offices coast to coast.

Harvey Eng, P.Eng.
Assistant Vice President, Group Manager Field Engineering
FM Global

Harvey Eng currently leads a team of field consultants engaging clients in customized property loss prevention to gain resilience. Over his 28 year tenure with FM Global, Harvey held a number of positions including Training Specialist where he managed and delivered training to engineers across Canada, and Loss Prevention Specialist where he specialized in Woodworking, Pulp and Paper, and Semiconductors. He is a graduate of University of Toronto with a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical engineering and serves on NFPA 664 Technical Committee on Wood and Cellulosic Materials Processing.

Joe Hosey
General Manager
Underwriters Laboratories of Canada Inc.

Joe Hosey has been in the testing and certification business for the past 10 years. Joe is the General Manager/Country Manager for UL in Canada and UL Standards in Canada. Since taking over the position in early 2014, UL has increased capital expenditures for lab and testing capabilities and grown the overall market shares within targeted industries, within Canada. Close to 7 years as the Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales. At CSA he led the strategic planning of global pricing and business development worldwide for CSA. Prior to CSA, Joe was VP/GM for Invacare Corporation. Invacare is the world’s largest manufacturer of durable medical equipment. Joe worked in both the N.A. market and The People’s Republic of China on behalf of Invacare.

Michael J. Madden, P.E., FSFPE
2015 President
Society of Fire Protection Engineers

Michael J. Madden, PE, is the President of SFPE for 2015. Mr. Madden is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer in the San Diego, California, Office of Amec Foster Wheeler, Environment & Infrastructure. Amec Foster Wheeler is an engineering, project management, and construction services firm with global operations across several market sectors, including petrochemical, energy, and the built environment. Mr. Madden has been providing Fire Protection Engineering Consulting Services for the last 25 years, and prior to that he was a Fire Protection Engineer for a large municipal Fire Department, where he was responsible for Fire Department Plan Check functions, was the liaison between the Building Department and the Fire Department, and provided technical support to the Fire Prevention Division. Mr. Madden received his B.S. degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1982. Mr. Madden holds Fire Protection Engineering registrations in California, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, and South Dakota. Mr. Madden has been actively involved in SFPE at both the Chapter level, and at the International level since early in his career. He has been a Chapter Officer in two separate chapters; was a Member and Chair of the SFPE Qualifications Board, and served as the Task Group Chair of SFPE’s Risk Task Group. He has been a member of the SFPE Board of Directors since 2005, and was the Society’s Secretary Treasurer from 2009 thru 2014.

Randal Brown, P.Eng., P.E., BDS, BCIN, FSFPE
Consulting Engineer, President Emeritus (Retired)
RBA Engineering, a Jensen Hughes Company

Randal Brown formed Randal Brown & Associates in 1984 and merged with Jensen Hughes in 2015. With over 37 years of experience working on projects around the world, Mr. Brown is a recognized expert in the disciplines of building code and fire protection consulting engineering. He was bestowed the honour of Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers by his peers in 2010 and received the SFPE Harold E. “Bud” Nelson Service Award in 2012 for service to the ideals and goals of the Society. With a dedicated interest in the growth and evolution of the fire protection industry, Mr. Brown has been involved for many years in the development of Codes and Standards at the National, Provincial, and International levels. He has also participated extensively as an active member in numerous industry related organizations and committees and currently chairs the NBC Standing Committee on Fire Protection. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering. With his extensive and thorough knowledge of the fire industry, he is frequently invited to speak at Provincial and National conferences and at professional association meetings.

Registration:

Please visit our Special Event Registration page to register for the morning, afternoon or full day attendance. Separate tickets can be purchased to join us at our Networking Mix & Mingle following the afternoon session.

Morning Session: Includes breakfast and three technical seminars.

Afternoon Session: Includes lunch, a technical seminar and the Expert Panel.

Evening Session: Complimentary access is available for full day registrants and to Corporate Sponsors. Morning and afternoon attendees, or individuals that cannot attend the earlier sessions are welcome to purchase tickets to join us at the networking event. Please join us to enjoy the live music and an opportunity to celebrate our Chapter milestone together.

Full Day: Includes breakfast, lunch, all technical seminars, the Expert Panel and the Networking Mix & Mingle event. Attend all three sessions and save $100!

Sponsorship:

We appreciate our Event Sponsors that continue to support our Chapter and community. The 50th Anniversary Event welcomes Corporate Sponsors, and includes an option for up to three full day registrants.

Please see our Special Event Registration page for more information and contact 50years@sfpesoc.com with your inquiries.