Committees
The objectives of the AFSCC are accomplished through the following committees:
Code Action Committee – meets to review proposed code changes submitted to various model code groups and notify AFSCC members of important trends which would diminish the requirements for balanced fire protection or reduce passive fire protection features. Individual members of AFSCC are encouraged to monitor the activity of the code groups in behalf of their own interests. However, when general code issues affect a broad based of AFSCC members, the Code Action Committee may recommend a coordinated action on the part of AFSCC. Additionally, AFSCC may elect to propose code changes, to support, or to oppose code changes which affect the AFSCC mission statement.
The Code Action Committee has the responsibility for:
- oversight of lobbyists and public relations consultants retained to further the aims of the AFSCC before code groups and building officials.
- setting the direction and establishing the priorities for the lobbying and public relations campaigns;
- approving the position statements and other code related documents;
- appointing one person from among the committee members to provide-day-to-day management and contact with outside consultants;
- Any code change proposal or related action which would be initiated by the Alliance must be voted upon by the AFSCC membership and meet the following criteria:
- Significant fire/life safety issue involving passive fire protection;
- Is not submitted for the purpose of attempting to bolter support for an industry or individual company position;
- Impact or content of code change must be consistent with the AFSCC mission statement; reduce or eliminate an unsubstantiated sprinkler trade-off’; increase or restore a substantiated fire rating; control/limit smoke and/or fire spread.
- Is not detrimental to any AFSCC organization voting member.
Media/ Education Committee – serves as a clearinghouse for the articles, test reports, research documents and other information regarding the need for balanced fire protection design. The Committee recommends materials for publication on the AFSCC website; identifies and works with writers of magazine articles; maintains a databank of such materials; coordinates with Code Review Committee to dovetail media blitzes with code work; and coordinates the AFSCC presence at educational forums, hospitality events and trade shows.
- Study demonstrates benefits of balanced fire protection design for dorm safety (March 31, 2010)
- Is sprinkler-washed tempered glass as safe as fire-rated glass? (December 2008)
- Clarifying the issue of fire pritection balance - Fire Engineering Magazine Nov 2003 (November 2003)
- Refurb may be factor in tower fire tragedy: Building experts question why fatal blaze was able to spread so quickly (July 10, 2009)
- NFPA: U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment (January 2009)
- NFPA: Sprinkler Errata (January 2009)
- NFPA: Printable fact sheet on sprinklers (January 2009)
- Safer Buildings Are Goal of New Code Changes Based on Recommendations from NIST World Trade Center Investigation (October 1, 2008)
- Sprinkler Trade-Offs by Occupancy Type from the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) (October 2008)
- Sprinkler trade-offs: An Editorial from Fire Safety & Technology Bulletin (October 2008)
- Woman dies of smoke inhalation on 3rd floor due to 5th floor fire (October 3, 2008)
- Effort to Ease Skyscraper Codes Fails (September 20, 2008)
- Senator Clinton Blasts Government Agency's Opposition to Post-9/11 Safety Standards for New Skyscrapers (September 10, 2008)
- NY Times: GSA and BOMA working to repeal stronger safety requirements for skyscrapers (September 7, 2008)
- On Smoke Control by Pressurization in Stairwells and Elevator Shafts (August 8, 2008)
- Homeland Security: New Metal Theft Threatens ESS
- Lack of regular inspection, testing, and maintenance can compromise the performance of fire-protection devices and have deadly results (June 2008)
- Low water pressure and overwhelmed sprinkler system contribute to large loss at Universal Studios Hollywood (6/2/2008)
- Latest NFPA statistics show 90% performance reliability for automatic sprinklers (March / April 2008)
- Fire Sprinklers in New Construction (3/13/2008)
- Have we gone too far for cost vs. safety? (12/12/2007)
- Do sprinklered fires eliminate the need for smoke control?
- AFSCC Appoints New Executive Director (9/2/2007)
- It Is About Time-- Direct Impact of World Trade Center Report Affects All Firefighters (6/14/2007)
- January 2007 Fire Engineering Magazine Article - Code Developments: Whose Battlefield Is This?
- "Defective sprinklers spur fire officials to push for backups" - "Defective sprinklers still in use." (2/12/2006)
- Building Operating Management Article "Squelching Fire Safety Risks"
- Statement by Jon S. Traw before the ICC Code Technology Committee (July 20, 2005)