Petaluma

September 29, 2006

Attendees:

Ed Tubbs - co-chair

Jim Bollinger - co-chair

Tim Annis - Davis Fire Department

Steve Hart- NAS-IP

David Secoda - Bay Alarm

Tom Bednar -LPM Fire Protection

Randy Dysart-Beacon Fire & Safety

Ron Brannigan - Woodland FD

George Apple -Elk Grove CSDFD

Amber Anderson -Elk Grove CSDFD

Darrel Harguth -Brooks Equipment Company

Elliot Gittleman -ESH Consultants

Greg Granados -Aerojet Fire Service

Mike Payton -Modesto Fire Department

Tim Ippolito -Roseville Fire Department

Todd Summers -Bay Alarm

Stuart Blakesley -San Rafael Fire Department

Dick Tsudama -Napa Fire Department

Andy Chen DSA

Old Business:

None

Dysart – was concerned about the lack of any public safety announcements of what to do in the event of a fire with a laptop computer lithium battery. Discussion ensued and Granados of Aerojet stated that the issue is that this is a high capacity pyrophoric metal and that the lithium becomes exposed to air when the container breaks. There is less protective mass for the battery to reduce mass and weight of the laptop. He will provide info to the committee to share with the members

Sony makes the batteries for all of the major laptop computer manufacturers

Dysart – there are counterfeit Globe sprinkler heads made in China and are on the international market. None have been found in the North American market.

Gittleman – also from overseas is another issue the steel piping being made for fire sprinklers that are not to the required specifications (thickness). Which is then not fitting their victaulic couplings as the pipe is too small. Connections pop under pressure.

Brannigan – a recent single family residence fire had Reliable heads that did not activate during the fire. CPSC did photograph the heads. Reliable reported that it is a local water issue. He is awaiting the insurance lab report before proceeding further.

Hart – IBC/IFC. There are numerous amendments to both codes. Departments need to review the IBC AND IFC when making local amendments to make sure that it is properly referenced.

Dysart – painters are spraying sprinkler heads and then going back afterwards either repainting the head to look correct or are taking a metal brush to remove the paint which does not get all of the paint out of the head and acts like a glue to prevent activation.

Secoda – Fire alarm systems. What is a fire alarm system? When does a sprinkler system monitor become a fire alarm system? Hart stated that there are amendments in the new code that will interpret what is a fire alarm system.

The committee invites anyone with an item of interest for the group to please attend our next committee group discussion on October 27th hosted by the Sacramento Metro FD.

Respectfully submitted,

Ed Tubbs, Co-chair