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Presentation Topic: Performance Based Fire Protection using Large Scale Fire Testing
While most fire sprinkler systems are designed using the prescribed requirements found in NFPA 13, the standard allows for alternative arrangements as long as the level of safety is not lowered. Performance-Based is an option that can provide superior performance with a more desirable design. This course provides an overview of utilizing large-scale fire testing consistent with the NFPA standards for Performance-Based fire sprinkler design. Participants will review factors that should be considered and evaluated prior to starting a fire test program. The impact of selected criteria on fire testing will be covered along with the benefits of Performance-Based options. The presentation will also discuss the AHJ approval process and important considerations when using Performance-Based design.
Learning objectives include: understanding the applicability of Performance-Based fire sprinkler design, discussing the factor to consider in a full-scale fire test program, understanding the approval process for utilizing Performance-Based design, and design considerations when using Performance-Based design criteria.
Presenter Bio: Ralph E. Bless, Jr., P.E. (MD, ME, , NC, OK, VT, WI), CFPS, SET. Ralph has more than 40 years’ experience in fire protection including a broad range of water based and special hazard system design, code consulting and fire protection engineering services. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in six states, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, Level IV NICET senior fire sprinkler layout technician, Level III NICET inspections & Testing of Water Based Systems, and holds three additional NICET certifications, as well as over 20 state and local licenses.
Ralph serves on six NFPA committees. This includes Chair of Installation NFPA 13, Chair of Record Storage NFPA 232, Chair of Remote Inspections NFPA 915, as well as serving on NFPA 1 and NFPA 13 Correlating, and NFPA 15.
Presentation Topic: Rethinking Risk - Oxygen Enrichment Systems and Carbon Monoxide
Oxygen Enrichment System add oxygen into the indoor environment to offset the effects of altitude at high elevations. Their use has increased significantly in Colorado. However, their safe installation and use in non-medical applications is currently not addressed by building and fire codes, creating ambiguity between AHJ requirements in different municipalities across Colorado. Case studies of their installation and use will be presented with recommendations for code modifications to ensure their safe installation and use.
Residential carbon monoxide detectors are intended to notify occupants of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide indoors. The current alarm thresholds required by UL 2034 Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms are based on a 10% carboxyhemoglobin level, as recommended by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Since that time, building construction and building codes have made buildings tighter by minimizing air infiltration. R.E.M. recently completed an update on carbon monoxide toxicity for the Fire Protection Research Foundation, which showed that, while the current 10% carboxyhemoglobin benchmark may be protective of healthy individuals, they may not be protective of the general public at large and that new carbon monoxide alarm thresholds should be considered.
Presenter Bio: Michael Larrañaga is Managing Principal of R.E.M. Risk Consultants, a fire protection, process safety, and risk management consulting firm. He previously served as an appointed member of the Scientific / Technical Advisory Committee of the World Trade Center Health Program of the CDC, National Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Department of Homeland Security Opioid Working Group for field detection of fentanyl and related compounds. He is co-founder of the “HSx – Advanced Thinking in Homeland Security” program at the United States Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security. He is former Simplex Professor, Dale F. Janes Professor, and Department Head of the School of Fire Protection and Safety at Oklahoma State University. He has over 25 years of experience in academia, consulting, government, and industry.
Presentation Topic: SFPE Foundation Updates
Presenter Bio: Leslie Marshall, Ph.D. is the Interim Executive Director of the SFPE Foundation, a global non-profit organization that supports research and education to improve the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the social, natural, and built environments. Dr. Marshall oversees all Foundation programs: facilitating professional awards, student scholarships, and research grants; leading cross-sectoral research collaborations; conducting research workshops and meetings; developing initiatives to support the next generation of fire protection engineers; and disseminating knowledge to advance the field of fire engineering and fire safety science. An affiliate of the Economic and Social Rights Research Group of the University of Connecticut’s Human Rights Institute, Dr. Marshall has published multiple policy reports and academic journal articles and frequently speaks on emerging fire safety challenges, resilience and sustainability, economic development, and energy infrastructure and workforce transition. She has consulted for the United Nations Development Programme, Innovations for Poverty Action, the Centre for Women in Governance, and the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, among others.
Presentation Topic: Fire Protection Considerations for Liquid-Cooled Data Centers
Data centers employing liquid cooled servers require modifications to the fire protection design approach. This session highlights the growing adoption of liquid cooling technologies and what changes are occurring in fire protection as a result of the application. Key topics include the impact of cooling systems on smoke detection, the integration of backup power systems such as UPS and energy storage solutions (ESS), and the implications of different battery chemistries like lithium-ion and VRLA. The presentation emphasizes hazard analysis and design effects, stressing the importance of aligning fire protection measures with evolving data center architectures and energy strategies.
Additionally, the presentation addresses practical concerns such as managing stacked generators and fuel tanks outside buildings and adapting fire suppression systems to accommodate liquid cooling infrastructure. It underscores the need for advanced detection technologies, risk assessments, and compliance with NFPA standards to mitigate fire risks in these complex environments. The session provides a comprehensive view of current trends, challenges, and best practices for ensuring safety and reliability in next-generation data centers
Presenter Bio: Rory Manley is Vice President of Business Development for data centers at ORR Protection with more than 20 years of experience in Fire and Life Safety. He spent 13 years with Xtralis/Honeywell specializing in advanced detection technologies for mission-critical environments, including hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centers across North America. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, and an active member of SFPE and NFPA.
