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Chicago — March 25, 2015 — Designers who will develop the next generation of code-compliant fire alarm, suppression, or electrical systems, as well as contractors who install them, facility managers who oversee their operation, and code enforcers will find the latest equipment, devices, and technologies this summer, all in one place.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the authority on fire, electrical, and life safety, hosts its annual conference and exposition June 22-25, 2015 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
More than 300 exhibitors from the United States and around the world will display crucial products for a wide variety of professionals. In addition, 134 conference sessions will inform and enhance the attendees’ understanding of NFPA codes and standards.
As examples, those attending “The Drones are Coming: Incorporating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the Fire Service of the Future” will learn that a few North American fire departments are testing drones, with possible future uses of giving commanders an aerial view of fires or close-up inspection of confined spaces or collapsed buildings, to guide decision-making.
In homes, range-top fires are still too plentiful, despite a 26 percent drop since 2011. Frying is the most common type of cooking that leads to fire. But ranges can be designed to shut off automatically when sensors indicate a pan is too hot or starts to produce smoke. In “What’s Cooking with Range Top Fire Safety?” attendees will hear about a new technique allowing manufacturers to develop ranges that protect consumers when they get distracted while cooking.
In the conference’s featured presentation, “The Lac-Mégantic Railway Disaster – A Town Destroyed and 47 Killed; Lessons Learned,” two Canadian fire chiefs discuss the derailment of a 72-car train in rural Quebec and resulting fatalities, and how the tragic incident provided valuable lessons for first responders and local officials.
In the keynote address, three speakers present the hypothetical situations of a tornado devastating a town. Plans can be drawn, but who will do the work? Or, suppose emergency shelters are needed, but tents are not sufficient. What should be done? These scenarios spark questions about emergency preparedness – questions that safety officials everywhere should consider.
In addition to emergency preparedness, other conference tracks are codes and standards, detection and notification, fire suppression, public education, electrical, fire protection engineering, fire and emergency services, building & life safety, loss control/prevention, and health care.
The conference and expo also includes many forward-thinking products on display, include Fogmaker, a system using water mist instead of droplets to smother fires aboard vehicles, such as mass transit, school buses, and other enclosed hazards – all of which can be retrofitted with the system.
Exxfire of the Netherlands will display its “smart” fire suppression system, which the company calls maintenance free, using a clean agent that does not leave a residue or deplete the ozone level and can produce nitrous oxide gas at room temperature to detect smoke.
Visitors to the Amped I booth will find nozzle rotors produced on a 3D printer, which cuts the time needed to develop certain nozzles and allows more flexibility in customizing a water-suppression system. Also on display will be the Oval extinguisher, which architects find aesthetically pleasing, and which meets Americans with Disabilities Act compliance rules.
To help stem the tide of children dying in house fires, fire departments can bring a new “bounce house” from Inflatable Images to schools to teach children how to evacuate a building. The house allows kids to learn safety in a fun, non-frightening way.
Other exhibitors will share their expertise on the next generation of extended coverage in-rack sprinklers, of interest to warehouse managers as storage building heights continue to rise; materials or techniques to reduce corrosion in fire suppression systems; and much more.
About ROC Exhibitions: The firm is a premier event management company headquartered in Lisle, Ill. It owns and manages numerous industry-leading events, including: The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Conference & Expo, Fire Mexico, and DRI International. More at http://rocexhibitions.com/.
About the National Fire Protection Association: The NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization, founded in 1896, is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards affecting the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
