Presentation: What's new with Antifreeze?
In 2010 NFPA issued a safety alert and TIA regarding the use of antifreeze solutions in fire sprinkler systems after a fatality occurred as a result of sprinkler discharge on to a grease fire with very high concentration of antifreeze. The TIA and subsequent NFPA standard updates limited the concentration of new antifreeze and required listed antifreeze in new installations with a sunset date of September 30, 2022 to replace all existing antifreeze solutions with listed antifreeze. Twelve years after the initial TIA, the industry has made progress with several new UL approved antifreeze products being approved but there are many challenges that remain. With the sunset date fast approaching this presentation will take a look at how we got to this point and what options and best practices are available, specific to Colorado, for new antifreeze systems and replacement antifreeze in existing systems.
Guest Presenter: Robert Merlino, PE
Robert is a division manager with Western States Fire Protection’s Denver and Glenwood Springs branches and a current board member of the Colorado Fire Protection Association. Robert has been with WSFP for 17 years, primarily is design, project management, and construction management roles for fire sprinkler and fire alarm projects and is a licensed fire protection engineer in Colorado. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Iowa State University and currently lives in Denver with his wife, Danielle, and two wild little boys.