Technological Advances Continue to Help Spread NFPA Mission
It has been NFPA’s mission since 1896 to save lives and protect property. At the recent NFPA conference in Chicago, President Jim Shannon addressed the General Assembly regarding how technological advances help the organization…
Three Strategies to Minimize Loss from Industrial Oven and Dryer Fires
Last month, fire broke out in a production oven processing a rubber product at American National Rubber Co., located in Ceredo, West Virginia. No injuries were reported in the incident. The fire ignited inside the oven,…
Fire Hazards and Fire Code Pitfalls When Increasing Your Occupancy Load
As an architect, you want to design a building that meets the owner’s needs and allows you to be creative at the same time. The balancing act can be difficult when you are wedged between the extensive fire code requirements for…
Florida Propane Explosion Likely Caused by Equipment Failure and Human Error
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the massive propane explosion that recently injured eight people at the Blue Rhino propane plant located in Tavares. Local authorities do not suspect arson or foul…
Five Lessons Learned from Combustible Dust Flash Fire Fatality
State officials are investigating a recent combustible dust flash fire that killed one employee and injured two others at Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (AERT) in Springdale, Arkansas. Although the cause of the…
How We Prepped New Fire Protection Engineers for the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo – Industry Conferences Are a Training Opportunity
I was a junior studying fire protection engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) when, in 1976, I was taken to my first annual National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference & Expo in Boston. Bob…
Massive Fire at Boston Warehouse Causes $1 Million in Damages
Earlier this month, Boston firefighters were called to a three-story warehouse fire at the U.S. Coast Guard station located on Commercial Street. The facility is used to repair boats. Thankfully, no injuries were reported…
Do Your Building Renovation Projects Require Creative Fire Code Solutions?
A recent project triggered a number of problem areas and required we employ our creativity and deep knowledge of fire protection to succeed. The client wanted to renovate an existing facility that had been built in the early…
Is Egress Analysis Impacted during Your Incremental Build Projects?
Travel distance and means of egress have become increasingly popular concerns. As owners expand buildings, they often increase the distance to the nearest exit to the point of violating code requirements. We recently consulted…
Investigators: Fire Sprinklers Failed to Operate in Industrial Fire
Last month, a large industrial fire at Nationwide OTR Recyclers in Indiana caused more than $10 million in damages. The fire began on a Saturday and raged through the weekend, fueled by more than 85,000 square-feet of tires;…
Combustible Dust Grain Silo Explosion Kills One in Indiana
Last week, an explosion inside a grain silo killed one employee, another tragic reminder of just how deadly combustible dust can be. Fire investigators believe the fatal explosion was caused when dust ignited after a mechanical…
Chemical Explosion Rocks Upper Mount Bethel in Pennsylvania
Last week, an explosion and subsequent chemical fire rocked the township of Upper Mount Bethel in Pennsylvania. The explosion occurred at Voltaix, a manufacturer of special chemicals for the semi-conductor and solar-cell…
Explosion at Iowa Plant Injures Three and Causes Millions in Damages
Last week, an early morning explosion at the Norplex Laminates manufacturing plant in Postville, Iowa injured three employees and caused an estimated $5-7 million in damages. One of the injured employees was reportedly standing…
Alabama Plant Employees Injured in Welding Accident
Last week, an explosion at UTC Aerospace Systems injured two employees in Foley, Alabama. One of the two injured was lifeflighted to USA Burn Center. According to City Administrator Mike Thompson, an employee was welding on a…