Industry Affairs for Fire Protection - more important now than ever
“Industry affairs” is all about relationships.
It's all about building relationships, strengthening relationships, and maintaining relationships. Most importantly, as in any relationship, it's letting people know who you are, what you represent, and that you want to have a relationship with them. The industry affairs team is responsible for connecting you and your solution with all of the necessary stakeholders. This is primarily accomplished through the vehicle of communication.
Communication with stakeholders must be clear, concise, and adaptable. This communication must be effective in creating and working through compromise, competing interests, and conflict. The industry affairs leader must serve the role of “futurist”, having the ability to look ahead and respond accordingly.This communication component plays three important roles in industry affairs - awareness, education, implementation.
Awareness - this is your introduction to the relationship. It identifies the problem and your unique solution.
Education - the relationship is becoming more intimate. This encompasses training and conversations that go in-depth on the solution so that stakeholders have a strong grasp on the concept.
Implementation - these are those deep relational bonds, a marriage even, or complete immersion. All the stakeholders are on board, both parties in the relationship are operating from the same position, and are all headed in the same direction.
There is no field in which this is more critical, than in fire protection codes and standards. Building and fire code change cycles occur every three to five years, and are a consensus based process. As such, this means that the technology, your innovative fire protection solution, will outpace the codes and standards that will regulate it. Having an industry affairs leader on your team ensures that you are equipped with the most current and correct information, enabling you to create and implement plans and directions for your fire protection solution or technology. Me and my team specialize in working with clients who present innovative solutions to fire protection challenges.
What my team can do for you and your organization?
Identify issues, develop positions, and gather industry intelligence
Quickly and accurately show the benefits or consequence of regulatory proposals
Provide consistent, coherent, and proactive communication in support of your solutions and technology
Understand how to address and respond to regulatory issues
How can we accomplish this?
Monitor codes, standards, and industry developments
Represent your interests at meetings and committees (NFPA, ICC, other as necessary)
Draft and submit code change proposals
Coordinate with other internal divisions and external interests
Ensure a rapid and accurate response to all inquiries
Provide regular updates on all industry activities
Examples of our work
Emerging technology. Work to bring stakeholders together, analyze risks and code compliance gaps, and draft and develop fire protection requirements for these industries (eVTOL, Hyperloop, and robotic systems).
Aviation industry. Work to educate on alternative means and methods for hangar fire protection, develop codes and standards to support these methods, and work collaboratively to gain compliance through a performance-based design process.
Passive fire protection industry. Work to raise awareness of what they do, and what the current code requirements are. Educate code officials, architects, and engineers, on code compliance and proper use of the particular solution. Draft and implement new code change proposals.
Fire suppression industry. Work to educate users, installers, and code officials on products, services, and code compliant installations and maintenance. Represent companies and services on committees and to external stakeholders.
