Newsletter February
26, 2004
Highlights
- FCIA Chicago Testimony helps at BOMA
- FCIA Meets FM & NASFM
- FCIA Advertising
- FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference Info
FCIA Chicago Testimony Opens Doors for National Discussion
- Chicago's City Council is considering a mandate for adding
sprinklers to most high rise buildings built before 1975.
FCIA's Executive Director, Bill McHugh testified before the
Chicago Committee on High Rise Building Safety about the use
of Effective Compartmentation with Firestopping as the first
part of the fire protection TRIAD (Compartmentation, Detection
and Suppression) to impliment. Since Chicago's High Rise Buildings
were built on "Compartmentation", completing the
"fireproof boxes" using firestopping makes sense.
The other two parts of the fire protection TRIAD, detection
alarms and suppression sprinklers, can be addressed as can
be afforded. The FCIA testimony to the City of Chicago was
heard by the Chicago Chapter of BOMA, the Building Owners
and Managers Association, as well as the Chicago Board of
Realtors. Chicago, the birthplace of the high rise, is known
to set trends nationally. Read the FCIA's
testimony.
FCIA Member and IFC President, Steve Tyler, Tremco, Inc.,
just reported that BOMA Nationally heard about the Chicago
testimony and "Compartmentation Strategy". As a
result of this and IFC's recent meeting, BOMA wants to form
a national platform for FCIA and IFC, (the Firestopping industry),
to educate BOMA Members about effective compartmentation through
firestopping. Watch for more info from FCIA and IFC about
how our industry will work toghether to promote the practical
economic solution to the Fire Protection TRIAD, Compartmentation,
first. There will be a session at the FCIA Education and Committee
Action Conference Friday, April 30 for our groups to formulate
strategy.
FCIA Meets FM - FCIA met with FM Approvals this week
and found a new enthusiasm for FM 4991. There are about 27-
FM 4991 Approved Contractors nationwide, and growing at the
rate of about 15 - 20% per year. And, we've heard from Firestopping
Contractors around the country that the approval is gaining
credibility with architects. FCIA Past Presidents Aedan Gleeson,
Gleeson-Powers, Inc. and Blase Reardon, A.F. Underhill, Inc.,
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director met with FM Approvals'
Jeff Gould and Tom McCarty in February. Jeff and Tom have
agreed to educate FM Global Engineering Technical Staff about
effective compartmentation and Firestopping. FM will also
promote "The Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept"
through FM 4991 "Globally" as well. Additionally,
FM's TSB Consulting Group received info about FCIA and FM
4991 to incorporate into its training programs for fire officials
and others.
FCIA Meets NASFM - FCIA Past President, Aedan Gleeson,
Gleeson Powers, Inc., and Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director
met with Jim Burns, President of the National Association
of State Fire Marshals this month. FCIA's Board offerred and
Jim graciously accepted the "Honorary FCIA Membership"
for his year of presidency of NASFM. An honor to Jim will
be given at the FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference
in Toronto. NASFM has stated that building codes may have
given up to much passive fire protection to get sprinklers
into codes. NASFM is advocating using smaller compartments,
as they appear in the UBC 97 Code, rather than those existing
in the International Building Codes which allow large open
spaces without fire resistance rated construction in many
occupancies.
FCIA Conference Dates - Mark your calendars now for
the FCIA Education and Committee Action Conference April 28
- 30, 2004 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario,
CANADA. Keynote Speakers include Dr. Gene Corley, CTL, Inc.,
"Lessons Learned from the World Trade Center", The
National Association of State Fire Marshal's, "Partnership
for Safer Buildings", UL USA and Canada, and FM Standards
updates with both US and Canadian speakers, Bill Koffel, FCIA's
Code Consulatant talks about NFPA and ICC Code Strategy, along
with Committee Meetings as well. And., don't miss Friday morning's
"Industry Strategy Forum", an industry discussion
on our joint IFC/FCIA work promoting our industry. We'll also
have a spouse program as well.
Call the Fairmont Royal York now for your hotel reservations
at 800.663.7229 February 27 or later. Our cutoff date for
the rate is March 31st. Rate is $209 Can., about $159/nite.
Be sure to mention "Firestop Contractors International
Association" to get the rate. Hotel Rates are good from
April 24 - May 3 if you want to spend extra time in Toronto.
Fly to either Buffalo's airport and rent a car, or directly
to Toronto's Lester B. Pearson (YYZ). A shuttle, Airport Express
is $14.95 Can each way, running each 1/2 hour, stopping at
all downtown hotels. The Fairmont is the 2nd stop on the shuttle
from the airport. Limos are approx. $39 Can. "FLAT RATE"
each way available anytime. No reservations required for transportation.
Budget about 1/2 hour travel time to downtown. The FCIA Golf
Tournament will take place at Royal Woodbine Golf Course,
Toronto. Watch for Faxback forms early next week.
FCIA's Firestop Industry Conference dates are November 10
- 13, 2004. Watch for the location in the next two weeks.
FCIA Membership Renewals - If you haven't paid your
dues for 2004...maybe misplaced the invoice, (it happens to
the best of us), just call the FCIA Office for a duplicate...or
just send a check!!
FCIA New Members - Welcome to new FCIA Members in
February:
- J-Kaulk Firestopping, Inc. - Jeff Kauslarich, Picayune,
MS - 601-798-0827 - Voting Contractor Member
- Brichem Sales, Ltd. - Oakville, ONT, Canada - 905-825-8818
- Associate Member - Distributor
FCIA Call for Committee Members - FCIA's Board approved
a new committee appointment policy recently. FCIA Members
who want to be part of a FCIA Committee apply for the committee.
Visit this link for committee updates, and a committee application
form. You will benefit greatly by being part of a committee.
The committes that need members include:
- Technical - Mike Dominguez, Chair - The MOP is
undergoing it's 5 year review...we'll need writers and editors.
- Codes - Due to Kathy's illness, FCIA needs a new
Code Committee chair. FCIA's Code Consultant, Bill Koffel,
works with our Code Chair and other organizations.
- Standards - Don Sabrsula, Chair, Needs help with
the ASTM Meetings for the Standard for Joints Inspection.
- Education - Bob Patton, Chair - A fresh set of
eyes helps our writers stay focused! We could use one or
two new members.
- Marketing - Don Murphy and Richard Keeney have
trade shows and speaking engagements we need to fill.
Contact Ray Usher, FCIA 2004 President if you are interested,
at 763.571.7464, or email at ray@superl.net .
FCIA New Voting Contractor Member Promotion Still ON!
- FCIA has grown impressively in the last few years to about
120 members in the US, Canada and Ireland. To gain further
credibilty as a group, FCIA needs to grow to 150 members,
as fast as we can get it done! To further this growth, the
FCIA Board announces a "new deal". When an FCIA
Contractor Member sponsors a new FCIA Voting Contractor Member,
a credit of $250 towards 2005 dues is applied. All you need
to do is call the FCIA Office with the reference, so it's
noted that you sponsored the firm's membership in FCIA. See
www.fcia.org .
FCIA Goals - Prospective Member Speech - Now that
you have someone on the phone, what do you say about FCIA?
Here's our FCIA "Elevator Pitch", the 15 second
speech to tell someone about FCIA, in between floors on an
elevator ride...
“FCIA is a group of Specialty Firestopping Contractor
Professionals concerned with fire / life and property protection
in the construction industry. We promote fire and life safety
though the use of the Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept
in the industry”. For more on FCIA's goals, visit FCIA
Website.
FCIA Website Advertising - www.fcia.org is constantly
being visited by general contractors, architects, code officials,
current and prospective FCIA Firestop Contractor Members.
FCIA's Google Page rank is a "5/10". CSI, the Construction
Specifications Institute, an 18000 member group's site, is
a 6/10. FCIA's site is well traveled, and impressive. Consider
advertising on the site:
- Home Page - 1" x 2" Ad - $500/ 3 Months,
$800/ 6 months $1000/ 12 months, 2 ads available. Approx.
21000 visits ea. 3 months, from 8400 distinct addresses
visit the home page.
- FCIA Member List Page - 1" x 1" Ad -
$300/ 3 months, $500 / 6 months, $800/ 12 months 2 ads available.
Approx. 8400 visits from 3600 distinct addresses to these
pages.
- Other Pages -FCIA FM 4991 Approval Page Ad, FCIA
Articles, FCIA Events Page, FCIA Specification, other pages.
$200/ 3 months, $400 6 months, $600 / 12 months, 2 ads available.
Approx. 900 visits / from 750 distinct Internet addresses
to these pages.
FCIA E-News Sponsorships Available - Want exposure
for your company frequently delivered to the desk of FCIA
Members and Friends? FCIA's ENews can be sponsored by any
interested party.
- Sponsor "At the Top" - $500/ 3 Months,
$800 for 6 months $1000/ 12 months, 1 ad available
- Sponsor "In the middle" or "On the bottom"-
$300 for 3 Months, $500/ 6 months $700/ 12 months, 2 ads
available.
FCIA Members on the Move - At the CSI Show, April
2...in Chicago, Ray Usher & Jim Shriver, Thermafiber,
LLC, present on Perimeter Fire Protection. Bill McHugh, Don
Murphy, Rich Walke and others present on Firestop Industry
Issues. At the Facility Management Show in Chicago, Bill McHugh
& Karen Layng speak as well. At The CSI Housatonic Chapter,
an FCIA Presentation is scheduled in April. At The CSI Charleston,
SC Chapter in January, Mike Wellons delivered the program
on FCIA's website. Watch for FCIA in lots of places, promoting
effective compartmentation and the specialty firestop contractor
concept to our industry.
FCIA Promoted at BuildCertified.com,
CSI's "Leader Magazine" - FCIA had some real good
press lately. See your new "Construction Director"
arriving shortly, on Page 434 you'll see FCIA's
Promotion of the Specialty Firestop Contractor Concept.
FCIA Trade Show Booth - Don't forget, FCIA owns a
"trade show booth", that's pretty impressive. Are
you participating in a trade show and want a backdrop? The
FCIA Booth is very generic, and can make your firm look like
a million bucks. Call the FCIA Office to reserve it. You pay
the freight to get the booth...then store it until the next
FCIA Member needs it...and they pay the freight out to their
function.
Bill McHugh, FCIA Executive Director
`Live your life so that whenever you lose, you are ahead.'
.......Will Rogers
(c) Copyright FCIA 02/26/04 Permission is hereby granted
to forward, print, circulate, quote with credit to FCIA.
FCIA is a non profit, volunteer organization of Firestop
Contractors, Contractor Branch Offices, Manufacturers and
Associate Members interested in furthering life safety through
the Professional Specialty Firestop Contractor concept, (knowledge,
value, expertise).
For more information, contact the
FCIA Office
Bill McHugh, Executive Director
1257 Golf Circle
Wheaton, IL 60187
630.690.0682 Phone
630.690.2871 FAX.
Email: info@fcia.org
Website: www.fcia.org
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