Free Codes and Standards

State codes, standards, and regulations should be free and accessible to all.  Carl Malamud, creator law.resource.org ,has taken action on this belief, and provides .pdf files of all state building and fire codes free of charge.

Here are a few general codes and standards that they have available:

• International Building Code (IBC) 2012
• International Fire Code (IFC) 2009
• NFPA 1, 2006 ed.
• NFPA 101, 2006 ed.

Visit the site for more codes and standards and state adopted editions.

My ICC Experience

This past week I attended the ICC code action committee hearings in Dallas.  My purpose was to testify against some damaging code change proposals on  behalf of the Patient Fire Safety Coalition.

It was my first time being involved with the ICC codes.  Being part of the fire service in Florida, I have become intimately familiar with the NFPA codes.  Getting a grip on the International Fire Code, how it works and how to use it, provided a challenge.  It is a good experience, although not a code that I will use often in my daily job as a Fire Inspector, it is a tool that is definitely good to have a working knowledge of, especially since most of the nation seems to base their codes on the IFC.

Testifying at the code action committee hearings, was a stressful undertaking for me.  I was in a room full (about 200 people) of individuals that had more experience than me, were smarter than I was, more familiar with the material than me, and had more "skin in the game" than I did.  I have taught many classes, and given countless presentations, but I have never been more nervous than when I stepped up to the mic to give my arguments at the code action committee hearings.  It is kind of embarrassing, I am a grown man, yet in the presence of these knowledgeable people, and the task at hand, I felt like a little girl at her first talent show.
I have found that the greatest growth comes when, and only when, we are required to act outside of our comfort zones. 

For the record, two of the code change proposals that we opposed went in our favor and two did not.  We will oppose these at the ICC Committee Conference in October (Atlantic City, NJ).  I would encourage all those in the business of fire prevention and fire codes to attend these events at least once.  It is a valuable experience that provides a new depth of understanding to the code development process.

I will also say, that seeing the ICC in action has given me a new appreciation for the thoroughness of the NFPA.  Some of the arguments brought forth at the ICC were to take care of, or put into the code, issues that the NFPA has long required.  The IFC is more broadly adopted and therefore more easily applied to communities across the country, however, the NFPA seems to be more clearly written, with more precision, and guidance, and more enforceable. 

I do want to encourage those in the fire service to become involved in the code development process at some level (even for just one round), ICC or NFPA, to gain a greater perspective on the importance of fire prevention and life safety in everything that we do.

"...stepping out of your comfort zone sometimes is the most courageous thing of all." - Steve Peifer

8 Must Read Posts

These are the 8 posts that people considered "must read" for April 2013:

1. Understanding Pre-Action Sprinkler Systems
2. 13 Changes to NFPA 13
3. Wind Turbine Response
4. Don't Be Afraid - Life Saving Education for Children
5. Building a Car Wash
6. Building a Kiosk
7. How To Be a Weak Leader
8. Electrical Safety

Fire Service Instructor Certification Class [TRAINING]

Need the class for Fire Instructor certification?   I will be teaching Fire Service Course Delivery in May.  This is the required course for certification in the State of Florida as a Fire Service Instructor 1 and Pro Board Instructor 1.

Class Dates:
May 12, 16,19,21

Class Time:
8am-7pm

Location: 
2680 SE Willoughby Blvd., Stuart, FL 34994

Required Textbook:
Fire Service Instructor, Jeff Lindsey (ISBN 0131245570)

Cost:
$175

To register, or for more information visit, Essential Medical Training, or e-mail, treasurecoastcpr@gmail.com.

View the course flyer: http://essentialmedicaltraining.com/uploads/5-2013_Course_Delivery_2.pdf

Watch the ICC Live!

View the hearings on your desktop computer or your Blackberry, iPhone, iPad or Android pad via webcast from the ICC.

 

 

Move America's Healthcare Fire Safety Forward

Speak out for Healthcare Fire Safety!

Are you attending the ICC Committee Action hearings in Dallas?

Download important information about proposed changes to the International Fire Code that seek to reduce safety in hospitals.

  The International Firestop Council has published a brochure, Move America's Healthcare Fire Safety Forward, to bring attention to the potentially harmful code change proposals to be presented by the healthcare industry. At the International Code Council Fire Code Action Hearings, the hospital industry, through the ICC AHC, will introduce code change proposals to the IFC designed to simplify and streamline the constraints under which healthcare facilities operate. We believe that most of them are very good and will assist code enforcement in healthcare facilities. Unfortunately, among those other worthwhile proposals, there are a few that would be quite contrary to the goals of a fire safe hospital environment. Download, MOVE AMERICA'S HEALTHCARE FIRE SAFETY FORWARD, brochure now. The International Firestop Council is confident that the various stakeholders can better work together to provide optimized solutions that balance healthcare operational considerations with patient and worker fire safety. Code change proposals F212-13, F218-13, and F239-13 are flawed ideas which concerned individuals need to speak out against at the Committee Action hearing. The International Firestop Council, along with the Patient Fire Safety Coalition, is calling all code officials dedicated to public safety to step up to the mic and let your voice be heard in Dallas, on April 23-25.  

 

 

           

How To Be a Weak Leader

Throughout my fire service career, I have worked for a lot of managers, a lot of educated people, a lot of people that have worked their way up through the ranks, but I have worked for very few true leaders.  In this podcast, Michael Hyatt, outlines the five characteristics of a weak leader.

Hyatt takes these 5 characteristics from the poor Civil War leadership of General McClellan, first general-in-chief of the Union Army.  Eventually, these flaws cost him in a big way (fired from his post, lost confidence of the people, negative future effects on his career).

As you listen to the podcast think of how these flaws are evident in your workplace. What negative effects do they have?  As you listen, identify which flaws you may have, and purpose to correct those flaws in your own leadership.

• Flaw #1: Weak leaders hesitate to take definitive action.
• Flaw #2: Weak leaders complain about a lack of resources.
• Flaw #3: Weak leaders refuse to take responsibility.
• Flaw #4: Weak leaders abuse the privileges of leadership.
• Flaw #5: Weak leaders engage in acts of insubordination.

Listen here:

For more information and show notes visit, #048: The 5 Characteristics of Weak Leaders [Podcast].

More Posts on Leadership:

• Eating Your Own Cooking
• G5 Leadership
• Global Leadership Summit
• Fire Service Sun Tzu [Part 1] 
• Leadership Attributes
• Leadership Failure