On June 9th, the New York Fire Sprinkler Council sponsored a sold out one-day seminar on fire pumps at the Chubb Loss Control Training Center located in Warren, New Jersey. Attendees spent the day obtaining a working knowledge of automatic fire pumps.

The seminar included lecture instruction, demonstrations, technical exercises, group discussions and hands-on activities, including identifying fire pump accessories and critical components, activation of electric and diesel fire pumps, performing an annual fire pump test as specified by NFPA 25, verification of fire pump performance using a digital voltmeter and ammeter and evaluating and graphing fire pump test results. Review of the seminar were overwhelmingly positive. The Council will look to hold additional seminars at the Chubb facility in the near future.

The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office has released its’ summer and fall 2016 Certificate of Fitness test dates. The test dates are August 23, September 20, October 18, November 22 and December 20. Applicants can register for either the Certificate of Fitness Type 1 Test (for Installing Contractors) or Type 2 (for employees performing inspection, testing and maintenance).

There is limited seating for each test date. Applicants must pre-register to take any of the above tests. To register, send an email to: NCFMTesting@nassaucountyny.gov You must include your name, the date of the test you wish to take and the COF TYPE of test. You will receive confirmation by return email.

Click here for more information on the Sprinkler COF Test Dates 2016.

As per a New York City Department of Buildings Service Notice dated May 2017, the After Hours Variance form (PW5) has been revised with a new statement and signature section. Effective, June 1, 2017 only the updated AHV (PW5) application form will be accepted at Borough Offices for manually filed Fee Exempt jobs.

Published in NFPA

Following deadly year, New York continues to underscore its home fire problem. Is your state doing the same?
By Fred Durso January 19, 2018

We recently published commentary from Jerry DeLuca, a New York safety advocate, about two home fires in two days that killed eight people in his state. Other advocates have been equally vocal about similar tragedies occurring there this month.

A Bronx residential fire killing 13 people in December was deemed the deadliest fire in New York City within the past 27 years. “There has never been a multiple loss of life in any structure protected with a properly installed and maintained fire sprinkler system,” stated John A. Viniello, former president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, in a recent letter to the editor. “This omission [of fire sprinklers in residences] continues to result in lives lost. The city’s fire department…was on the Bronx fire scene within three minutes, yet people died.

“How much higher does the body count have to get before proactive fire sprinkler legislation is enacted? These deadly fires will continue unless wisdom prevails and the codes are updated.”

Fire fatalities last year in New York City rose 35 percent when compared to fire deaths in 2016, reports the New York Fire Sprinkler Council, an advocacy group that’s a division of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York. While the city has consistently expanded sprinkler requirements, “it is clear the city still has a long way to go in protecting all residents with fire sprinklers,” says Anthony Saporito, executive vice president of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York. Per the council, New York City hasn’t passed a law improving fire sprinkler safety in residential buildings since 1999.

Are you and the sprinkler advocates in your state just as vocal about your home fire problem? Help raise awareness–constantly–about these tragedies by writing your own letter to the editor or commentary to your local media outlets. Just a couple paragraphs will suffice. Use NFPA’s data or statewide data (if available) to back your reasoning for home fire sprinkler requirements.

https://community.nfpa.org/community/home-fire-sprinkler-initiative/blog/2018/01/19/new-york-continues-to-underscore-its-home-fire-problem-is-your-state-doing-the-same

On October 30th, the City & State New York website published an opinion piece by Local 638 President Pat Dolan Jr.

The piece urges the City to install sprinklers as part of the Mayor de Blasio’s “NextGeneration NYCHA“, a ten-year plan aimed at preserving and improving public housing.

To read the entire piece, click here.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell fire in West London, many New Yorkers wonder, could a similar fire happen in New York City?  MCA President Timothy Bowe discusses the importance of fire sprinkler systems with reporters from WPIX channel 11 and NBC News 4.

NBC 4 NY: After-Devastating-London-Fire-Are-NYC-High-Rises-Safe?

https://vimeo.com/223208999

WPIX: At least 6 Dead in West London residential tower inferno.

https://vimeo.com/223208984

As per a DOB Service Notice published April 2017, effective June 5, 2017, all applicants for initial and renewal New York City Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor, Master Plumber and Oil Burning Equipment Installer license types will be required to provide proof of fitness to the New York City Department of Buildings to perform the work authorized by the relevant license. Original applicants will be required to submit DOB form LIC61 completed by a physician upon submission of background investigation documents and a completed LIC61 application will be required for every subsequent renewal.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of New York along with several other industry trade associations has requested a meeting with the Department and is asking for the Department to repeal this requirement. We will advise you of the outcome of our efforts.

Did you know that 1 in 8 people have experienced a home fire? This past February The Hartford conducted an online survey of 1153 adults living in the United States.  Their findings may surprise you!  Ranked by the Hartford Home Fire Index, New York City comes in 14th of the top 100 U.S. cities with the highest home fire risk. Leaving items such as a cell phone charging overnight can put you at risk. The biggest culprit is electrical fires followed by unattended cooking/stovetops and candles.

Download The Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal Infographic PDF

On March 9th, the Commercial Observer published an opinion piece by MCA Executive Vice President Tony Saporito about remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the Happy Land Social Club fire. As Tony writes in this piece:

“As we remember the innocent lives lost, it is crucial that we also remember the lessons learned that have likely helped prevent future tragedies. The Triangle and Happy Land fires forever changed our city’s building codes, as well as its health and safety laws, helping to make our homes, workplaces, and public establishments significantly safer.”

“Landmark labor, building and workplace safety laws were implemented in the decades following the Triangle fire. Among the codes and regulations enacted after that tragedy was the requirement of exit stairwells, fire alarms, extinguishers, hoses and in tall buildings, automatic fire sprinklers.”

Read the The Important Legacy of the Triangle and Happy Land Fires