Winterization & Natural Disaster Management of Fire Sprinkler Systems

Joint meeting with NFSA Texas Chapter

Location Details: NOTE DIFFERENT LOCATION THAN OUR REGULAR MEETING FACILITY - City of San Marcos Police Auditorium, 2300 South IH 35

Special Note: Yes, we know this is election day, but we are tied to this date based on speaker availability. Please vote early!

Program: 

The three most-recent freezing weather events across Texas have exposed potential design and installation issues related to fire sprinkler systems in unconditioned spaces. The extent of the damage and repairs from those events have left many of us in the fire protection industry asking, “Can we learn from the past, and can we do better?”

With a focus on issues of interest to code officials, contractors, designers, engineers and property owners/operators, our panel of subject matter experts with specific experience in sprinkler system design and inspection, investigation and forensics, and enforcement policies will use their knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Field investigation of installations and lessons learned
• Highlights of multifamily inspection programs focused on winterizing systems
• Insurance considerations & sprinkler freeze claims
• New IFC natural disaster administrative
• Insulation White Paper, Q&A

The goal is to promote best practices and facilitate discussion of fire protection system winterization issues, to support the design, installation, and maintenance of robust systems going forward.

Presenters:

Andre Garabedian: Owner & Senior Fire Protection Engineer, Garabedian Associates. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering and a master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in fire protection and life safety fields, with 10 years of full-scale fire testing experience and 20 years serving as a fire protection system and code consultant designing, inspecting, and testing life safety systems in accordance with the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards. He is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in the State of Texas, and a member of ICC, NFPA, SFPE, and the Texas Fire Protection Association. He has surveyed numerous (30-40) sprinkler system damage claims during the 2021 and 2022 Texas cold weather events and is pleased to share some of his findings with this group.

Thomas Legler - Division Chief & Fire Marshal, City of Lewisville, TX. He joined the City of Lewisville Fire Department in April of 2022 and is currently responsible for fire and life safety code enforcement, public education, fire/arson investigations, and the CoCare Mental Health Response Unit for the Lewisville Fire Department. Prior to the Lewisville Fire Department, Chief Legler was an Assistant Chief and the Fire Marshal for the City of Victoria, and Assistant Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator for the Mansfield Fire Department. Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology in Fire Protection and Safety Technology and a Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Management Administration, both from Oklahoma State University. Tom is a Designated Fire Marshal by the Center for Public Safety Excellence Commission on Professional Credentialing and serves as a Peer Reviewer. Chief Legler is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and a Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers.

Donna Settle - leader of a national group of property risk engineers, Gallagher.  Gallagher is currently the fourth-largest global insurance broker. She offers expert advice on property risk engineering to global clients with high-challenge occupancies and a variety of exposures. As a liaison between clients and their property insurance carriers, Donna translates technical recommendations into an action plan that can help stabilize or improve the property insurance program. Donna earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She started her career as a facilities manager in the space industry and has since worked for Factory Mutual Engineering, Zurich, Wortham, and Marsh, before joining Gallagher in 2020. She has been a licensed Professional Engineer since 2009.

Jeffrey M. Shapiro, P.E., FSFPE - President of International Code Consultants.  He is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer with a degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. With almost 50 years of experience in the fire protection industry ranging from firefighter to AHJ and code consultant, Mr. Shapiro is still active in code development and has been honored as a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Honorary Member of the International Code Council, Life Member of NFPA, recipient of the NFSA Russ Fleming Technical Services Award and of the ICC Robert Gain Award.

Michael Joanis, P.E. - Chief Engineer for the National Fire Sprinkler Association. As part of the leadership team, he is responsible for delivery of technical services to our members. Mike is a University of Maryland, College Park fire protection engineering graduate and registered professional engineer in several states. He has over 28 years of experience as a partner for a sprinkler contracting firm and a department manager for an engineering consulting firm. He is a licensed sprinkler & special hazards contractor and active member of both SFPE and NFPA. Mike serves on several NFPA technical committees including 13 (discharge and hanging & bracing committees), 20, 232, 241, 909 and 914.

Schedule: 

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Check-in and Social
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Presentation, Lunch and Business Meeting

LUNCH SELECTION IS REQUIRED WHEN REGISTERING.  PLEASE SELECT FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING WHEN COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM:

• Deli Club Box (1160-1300 cal) Ham, roasted turkey, bacon, cheddar, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, multigrain wheat, chips, pickle, dessert.
• Nutty Mixed-Up Salad (620 cal) Grilled chicken, field greens, grapes, feta, cranberry-walnut mix, strawberries with balsamic vinaigrette, dessert.
• Vegetarian Box - Spinach Veggie Wrap (420 cal) Organic spinach, fresh-made guacamole and pico de gallo, mushrooms and Asiago, wheat wrap. Served with salsa, fresh fruit (60-140 cal) and dessert (300-450 cal)

GET YOUR CEUs: TFPA members who participate in this program will receive ICC Preferred Provider and TCFP CEU credits. If you're not currently a member, TFPA membership is only $20/year to receive CEUs and other benefits.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

(NO REFUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONS AFTER THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE)