John Shafer's Blog (35)

Passive & Net Zero Buildings do you know what they are?

If not I would like to personally invite you to join me at my 2015 FDIC workshop "Modern Buildings: the Recipe for Firefighter Deaths or Injuries" where we will discuss these types of buildings and much more.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 8:00 am

Hope to see…

This webinar will cover the results of a study commissioned by the Fire Protection Research Foundation to develop a baseline of information on the intersection of “green building” design and fire safety. The study identified gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design.

Instructor: Brian J. Meacham…

Spray Foam has struck again!

Back in September I wrote a post to raise awareness of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) for the fire service. In this article I referenced that there had been several fires that happen during the application of  SPF. By the initial reports it is appearing that a recent mansion fire in Middlebury Connecticut was an attic fire that happened during the…

While there has been much discussion about interior stream vs. exterior or transitional vs. interior fire attack. This short post isn’t about rather you should or shouldn’t. To me there is a time and place for both. However if you decide to make the push interior, door control is essential until you have a charged line with adequate flow.

First arriving officer should assess the position of the front entry door. The officer should be looking for the following:

Front Door: open…

Door control has always been a major talking point in any good fire prevention program. Although some how there hasn’t been an emphasis placed on it in the last 10 years or so. Which is why I have become so passionate about it in the last five years or so to bring an emphasis of it in our current fire prevention programs today.  Take a look at some outstanding Close The Door messages throughout the years.

Close the Door  awareness 1960s:…

On the evening on January 19, 2011 Fire Fighter Mark Falkenhan lost his life while working inside a building fire.

While we should try to honor all LODD, this one holds a special place in my heart because at the time of his death I was on my quest to learn more about fire behavior and was reviewing the latest reports from UL and NIST.  These reports along with talking to actual smart firefighters I soon  realize that I really needed to know more about fire behavior, than just how to…

I would like to personally invite you to join me at my upcoming workshop Modern Buildings: Recipe for Firefighter Deaths and Injuries at FDIC 2014

Hope to see you there! Monday, April 7, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Looking forward to seeing you in class!

Stay Safe Captain John Shafer

Please share this valuable life saving presentation! This module was created for you to share with your communities, and create more awareness of the importance of CLOSING THE DOOR!  (Click on photo to access FREE online module)

Also for more information on Closing The Door fire prevention click on the links…

Do you know what Photovoltaic (PV) is?               

What are the safety hazards with PV?

What  tactics should be used at fires with PV present?

How do I secure utilities on a PV system?

If you are not able to answer these questions, then hopefully this post can give you…

Green Maltese presents a small behind the scene look at recent fire service testing done at Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

Note: This isn’t a official video of UL. The purpose of this video is to allow you a look at testing conducted this week at UL and provide you a little preview of  more great things to come from UL and our committee research.…

The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl Siding:

OVERVIEW

Glass in may on occasion slightly warp or deflect due to a difference in barometric pressure between the interior of the glass panes and the outside air pressure. This can create a concavity in the glass. Such a concavity is a normal response to pressure differences, does not affect the performance of the window, and…

The Super Bowl of Firefighting is  just about a month away! If you have never been then you need to make plans to attend NOW!

I am very happy and honored to be presenting again this year and would like to invite you to attend my class on 4/25/2013 Video Trailer:

Class Information:

Hazards of Modern Roofs…

Combines insulative and water-resistant barrier benefits with structural properties to offer an affordable method of bridging the thermal short-circuiting of a building’s frame. 

Exterior walls must provide multiple functions including  weather and air resistance, , and structure. Most commonly,  these functions are met with a combination of materials that are typically …

From our very beginning in New Amsterdam, the role of the fire service was to be proactive and save lives through . In 1647 Fire wardens would inspect houses and chimneys, fining the owners for potential hazards, to prevent fires from happening.  If the early firefighters were not actively inspecting, then they were patrolling the streets looking for fire. A team of firefighters would walk the streets with wooden rattles and would sound the alarm upon discovery of fire. The intent of this…

I would first like to give a special thanks to the staff at Firefighters CloseCalls for sending this information to me. So I could share  it with you all on Green Maltese.

Also a special thanks goes out to Lt Steve Dykema City of Wyoming Mi. Fire Department for being very heads up training officer and bringing this issue to light.

I-STAIRS:

Attached is info on a new type of stair…

What information do you need when making the decision to GO or NO GO if the fire is possibly below?

How do you assess a floor constructed of modern materials?Check out the latest video from Fire Training Toolbox

What information do you need when making the decision to GO or NO GO if the fire is possibly below?

How do you assess a floor constructed of modern materials?

Check out the latest video from Fire Training Toolbox

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Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings

Author: Brian Meacham, Brandon Poole, Juan Echeverria and Raymond Cheng, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  Re-posted by permission  of Brian Meacham NFPA

Introduction Many new commercial facilities are being designed and constructed with an objective of achieving a “green building” certification. There are many sustainable building features and products that singly or together may have an impact on fire safety unless…

The Fire Training Program at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), in partnership with the Washington County Fire Training Association (WCFTA), recently hosted a one-day class on Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) Safety for Fire Fighters at SolarWorld in Hillsboro, Oregon.  Emergency incidents involving Solar Photo Voltaic (PV) equipment are becoming more and more common in both urban and rural areas.

Videos:…