Posted by
FCAMSECTREAS
- Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 4:35 P
National Fire Academy - "Coffee Break Training"
Obstructions in water lines can create serious problems for water-based fire protection systems.
Today’s training vignette, “Flushing Underground Fire Protection Water Mains” explains the importance of clearing water pipes.
Coffee Break Training provides an overview of fire protection topics and does not include all details, requirements or exceptions to the topics that are described. Always refer to nationally recognized design and installation codes and standards, the product manufacturer, or listing details for specific information.
The Coffee Break Training quarterly self-assessment exams have been moved to NFA Online. You may find links to the previous Coffee Break exams and other Fire Prevention: Technical training at http://www.nfaonline...rev_tech.shtm#coffee .
You are subscribed to Coffee Break Training for U.S. Fire Administration. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
Any firefighter, active or retired, wishing to participate in a walk-through for Chief George W. Nash should meet at North Reading FD at 5:30PM on Wednesday, October 21st. The group will assemble at NRFD and walk to the funeral home, which is a short distance from the fire station. The walk-through will begin promptly at 6:00PM.
The funeral will be on Thursday at 10:30AM at the Middleton Congregational Church, Maple Street in Middleton. Staging will be at Angelica's Restaurant, 49 South Main Street at 9:45AM. There will be a bus available from Angelica's, and car pooling is recommended due to limited parking at the church.
Thank you
Frank Twiss
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The arrangements for the wake and funeral for Retired Chief George W. Nash are as follows:
Wake
Wednesday - October 21 - Croswell Funeral Home - Bow Street - North Reading - 16:00 till 20:00
Funeral Service
Thursday - October 22 - Middleton Congregational Church - Maple Street - Middleton - 10:30 hrs
Uniform for the day Class A
For meeting and staging times contact Middleton Fire
Collation to follow at Angelica's Restaurant - South Main Street - Middleton
There are two bills in the US House that are of interest to many in the Massachusetts Retirement System. HR 1221 and HR235 would eliminate the so-called "Windfall Elimination Provision" (WEP) in Social Security. The WEP decreases or eliminates Social Security benefits to those in public pension systems. The WEP is no longer relevant because public employees now pay as much as 11% in pension contributions, resulting in little or no government contribution. Public employees are now no different than private sector workers with a 401K plan in addition to SS benefits.
Elimination of the WEP would allow for public pension recipients to benefit from their years of hard work and contributions to the Social Security System without unreasonable penalty.
Please write your US House Representative and ask for support of these resolutions. There is also companion legislation proposed in the Senate.
Mashpee Deputy Fire Chief Hamblin offers this information:
There is a provision in the building code that prohibits this unless fire resistant construction is used on the outside.
The section of the 6th edition of 780 that you are speaking of is 503.1.3. "Buildings on the same Lot. This states that two or more buildings on the same lot shall be regulated as separate buildings or shall be considered as portions of one building if the height of each building and aggregate are of all buildings are within the limitations of Table 503.".......
That being said, I spoke with Tim R. and Dave Beaudin, about applying this to the Commons. Their replay was "Good luck if you can get it to work". Apparently it has never been tested.
Toll Brothers want to put a in a development in Methuen and they want space the single family units 9 feet apart. The State building code says 3 feet, but I have a problem with this and am trying to make them sprinker the buildings. Has anyone else encounter this issue and how did you deal with it.
PERI Symposium - Strategies for Reducing Firefighter Deaths and Injuries
The Public Entity Risk Institute is hosting a two week symposium entitled: Reducing Firefighter Deaths & Injuries: Changes in Concept, Policy, and Practice.
The symposium will feature wp industry experts on the root causes for the high rat e of firefighter deaths and injuries and strategies for improving firefighter safety. Some of those involved are: Chief Dennis Compton - Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Chief Brian Crawford - author of "To Die For", Chief Harvey Eisner - Editor-in-Chief Firehouse magazine, Dr. John Granito, EdD, Chief Bobby Halton - Editor-In-Chief Fire Engineering Magazine, chief Fire Officer Mark Jones - Chief Fire Officer - Great Britan, Commissioner/Chief Michael Lombardo - Buffalo, NY. and others.
To enroll in the September 22 to October 3 Symposium go to www.riskinstitute.org/symposium and fill out ht eshort enrollment form. Registration is not required; however, only registered participants will receive Symposium emails each morning of the two-week-long program. Participants will be able to contribute to an online discussion by posting comments, posing questions, and sharing strategies for improving firefighter safety.
PERI Virtual Symposiums are free and open to anyone with Internet access. Each morning participants who enroll in the Symposium in advance will be emailed a link to the papers being presented that day.
We live in a world with higher gas prices and levels of commuting-based inefficiency never before seen in our municipal budgets.
Zipride.com, a business based in Massachuetts, offers free coordinated ride-share services to the members of FCAM as a service to the membership as well as to fire service across the Commonwealth.
The concept is simple:
1.) Visit http://www.zipride.com
2.) register on the site, using honest information
3.) upload an avatar (image) of yourself
4.) request or offer a ride to a fire-service related event
5.) share your own ride or ride with another member to an event
6.) save gas, build community, build professional report
7.) inform other members of the wider community about this opportunity.
This service is being provided to FCAM by Montague WebWorks, developers of Zipride.com and it’s ownership.
We hope you will find the service invaluable.
Click on the link in the above right-hand corner to start sharing your ride!
Retirement Party for Chief George Andrews - Raynham
The Proffessional Firefighters of Raynham cordially invite you to attend a retirement party for Fire Chief George C. Andrews - Friday - October 3, 2008 from 6PM to 12 PM at the Holiday Inn - 700 Myles Standish Boulevard - Taunton - RSVP to 408-824-2763 by September 15th.
ANSI 207 Standard for High Visibility Public Safety Vests
The following information is provided to give an overview of the ANSI 207 Standard as a follow up to the discussions which took place at the 20 August Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts meeting in Norton. The following are not the official standard but a synopsis of the standard highlighting important aspects of the standard. This standard is to take affect on 24 November 2008 and there has been much discussion and a proposed emergency amendment to deal with firefighters conducting firefighting operations on the right of ways of roadways covered by the law. The ANSI - The American National Standards Institute publishes standards and they can be purchased through the ANSI website store. The Fire Chiefs Association of Mass will continue to work with the Department of Fire Services and other agencies to update you on this situtation.
ANSI/ISEA 207-2006: American National Standard
for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests
What is the New ANSI 207 Standard
This public safety vest standard was created in response to public safety user group demand in 2005 for a high visibility safety vest garment differentiated from ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant apparel. The primary concern was a need for flexibility of designs that would provide tactical capability not achievable with ANSI 107 garments. Additionally, user groups expressed a desire to have a high visibility garment standard intended for law enforcement and emergency responders that would be distinct from ANSI 107, therefore avoiding interchangeability with “construction vests”.
After receiving guidance from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, the ANSI Reflective Products Committee began drafting the new standard in November 2005. The standard was approved by committee and ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) in November 2006. The new standard was published in December 2006.
Significant Differences with the ANSI 107 standard
The primary distinction of the ANSI 207 standard is that the required fluorescent background material (450 in2) falls between ANSI 107 Class 1 (217 in2) and ANSI 107 Class 2 (775 in2). See chart below. This difference allows for design accommodation of equipment belts. The new standard also allows for design flexibility to incorporate colored panels to enhance easy, on-scene identification of wearers, as well as other options such a shoulder break-aways.
Please note:
In ANSI 207, the minimum area of required retroreflective material is 201 in2,
same as the ANSI 107 requirement.
ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Summary Points
ANSI 207 is a new standard with a specific name, “Public Safety Vests” (PSV)
Area requirements for fluorescent background material falls between ANSI 107 Class 1
and Class 2
A lesser background area requirement allows for short designs giving tactical access to equipment belts.
Retroreflective area requirements are the same as those for ANSI 107, Class 2
ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 Summary Points
Retroreflective performance requirements are almost the same as ANSI 107, except only the Level 2 (330 RA table) is included.
ANSI 207 is not intended to replace, or be interchangeable with ANSI 207 Class 2 apparel. Law enforcement officers performing traffic control duties are still encouraged to follow ANSI 107 Class 2 or Class 3 guidelines whenever possible.
The new standard suggests use of many design options, such as breakaways, colored identifiers, loops, pockets, badge holders, and ID panels.
The design options are intended to encourage innovative ways to meet end-user needs for design functionality, while still offering an effective high visibility safety garment.
ANSI 107-2004 Standards for High-Visibility Safety Apparel
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed a standard for high-visibility safety apparel that uses classes to determine the approriate reflectivity level of a garment for the environment the worker is in. The classes are as follows:
Class 1 Garments are intended to be used in activities in which the worker has full and undivided attention to approaching traffic. There should be a separation of the worker from the traffic and the traffic should not be traveling over 25 miles per hour.
Class 2 Garments are intended to be used where greater visibility is required during poor weather conditions or in work environments with risks that exceed class 1 environments. Class 2 garments should also be used when the workers attention may be diverted from traffic or they are in close proximity to vehicles traveling 25 miles per hour or higher.
Class 3 Garments have the highest level of visibility. They are used in situations where workers face serious hazards and often have high task loads that require attention away from their work. Class 3 garments should provide enhanced body visibility, especially in the arms and legs.
ANSI 207-2006: American National Standard
for High-Visibility Public Safety Vests
This public safety vest standard was created in response to public safety user group demand in 2005 for a high visibility safety vest garment differentiated from ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant apparel. The primary concern was a need for flexibility of designs that would provide tactical capability not achievable with ANSI 107 garments. Additionally, user groups expressed a desire to have a high visibility garment standard intended for law enforcement and emergency responders that would be distinct from ANSI 107, therefore avoiding interchangeability with “construction vests”.
After receiving guidance from the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, the ANSI Reflective Products Committee began drafting the new standard in November 2005. The standard was approved by committee and ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) in November 2006.
Significant Differences with the ANSI 107 standard
The primary distinction of the ANSI 207 standard is that the required fluorescent background material (450 in2) falls between ANSI 107 Class 1 (217 in2) and ANSI 107 Class 2 (775 in2). This difference allows for design accommodation of equipment belts. The new standard also allows for design flexibility to incorporate colored panels to enhance easy, on-scene identification of wearers, as well as other options such a shoulder break-aways.
Please note: In ANSI 207, the minimum area of required retroreflective area is 201 in2, same as the ANSI 107 requirement.
ANSI 207 is a new standard with a specific name, “Public Safety Vests” (PSV).
Area requirements for fluorescent background material falls between ANSI 107 Class 1 and Class 2.
A lesser background area requirement allows for short designs giving tactical access to equipment belts.
Retroreflective area requirements are the same as those for ANSI 107.
ANSI 207 is not intended to replace, or be interchangeable with ANSI 107 Class 2 apparel. Law enforcement officers performing traffic control duties are still encouraged to follow ANSI 107 Class 2 or Class 3 guidelines whenever possible.
The new standard suggests use of many design options, such as breakaways, colored identifiers, loops, pockets, badge holders, and ID panels.
The design options are intended to encourage innovative ways to meet end-user needs for design functionality, while still offering an effective high visibility safety garment.
IAFC Model Procedures for Emergency Response During Hurricanes
Model Procedures for Response During Hurricanes
and Tropical Storms
Model Procedures for Response During Hurricanes
and Tropical Storms
Fairfax, Va., Sept. 3, 2008... With the hurricane season in full force, IAFC members can use IAFC model procedures for responding to hurricanes and tropical storms. The guidelines can help chief officers establish a policy for response that minimizes the risk to fire/EMS personnel and protects the department human, physical and cyber-infrastructure critical to safeguard a community before, during and after a storm. The IAFC model procedures provide a common framework on which departments may build a local protocol tailored to a specific community. Go to Model Procedures for Response of Emergency Vehicles During Hurricanes and Tropical Storms on the IAFC website at Resources > Download Documents.
- Mon, Aug 2, 2010, 3:21 P
