HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COMMITTEE
Novato, Ca.
April 26, 2002

Attendance:

Kent Miller - Stockton Fire Department

Greg Grandos - Aero Jet Com

Stephanie Christenberry -Santa Clara Fire Department

Jeff Tarter - IES

Joe Afong - Palo Alto Fire Department

Paul Inouve - Milpitas Fire Department

Gil Bendix - SFPE

Steve Rusconi - AIDI / Therma

Ron Keefer - Menlo Park Fire District

Lew Schalit - SFPE / Courte Madera

Reinhard Hanselka - SBP

  1. Committee members discussed the future code development assigned to the Nor Cal Fire Prevention Officers. Nor Cal FPO’s have been assigned to track the International Codes (the ICC Model Codes). So Cal FPO’s will be tracking NFPA Codes. Since Haz Mat Co-Chair Ron Keefer is a member of several Haz Mat Technical Committees in NFPA he will continue attending these meetings and report findings to both Nor Cal and So Cal FPO Organizations.

    The next ICC Code Hearing is in Fort Worth TX, September 29 – October 4. Committee members will be reviewing changes to both Building and Fire Code changes regarding Haz Mat.

  2. Since there were so many different opinions on which direction the Code process should follow, Kent Miller suggested that the Hazardous Materials Committee should draft a letter letting the Nor Cal Executive Board know how committee members feel about the quality of each Code and our preference. However, even this idea was met with diversified reactions. If a letter is drafted, committee members will need to review the letter and approve it.
  3. Committee members will be reviewing SB 489 regarding extremely dangerous hazardous wastes and AB 2481on Underground Storage Tanks for next month’s meeting.
  4. A fuel system standard for Marinas is nearing completion. Underwriters Laboratories wrote it, with fire service input from Kent Miller. The entire UL Committee is currently reviewing the draft document.
  5. A new MRI Unit is being installed in Menlo Park. The magnet is energized by cryogenic nitrogen and is so powerful it can take ANY iron or steel and pull it across the room into the magnet, including nozzles, axes, boots, and anything else a fire fighter might enter the room with. The magnet DOES NOT de-energize when power is cut to the room. A separate switch is being required by FD to dump the cryogenic fluid to make it safe for a fire fighter to enter. Check the MRI units in your areas.
  6. Lew Schalit noted that even being in the hospital for treatment of cancer did not stop him from noting items that would improve fire fighter safety. Hospital rooms are in need of a better method of labeling for storage and use of hazardous materials. He suggested the use of the NFPA 704 more frequently at entrances to storage and use areas.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Keefer, Co-Chair
Kent Miller, Co-Chair
Hazardous Materials Committee