Episodes

  • Michael Crowley - Coffman Engineers

    Michael Crowley - Coffman Engineers
    Feb 15 2023

    Key Takeaways


    • Mike ’s Background



    • Over 40 years of Fire Protection Consulting Experience


    • Studied Fire Protection and Safety Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology


    • Labs were at Underwriters Laboratories


    • Received an MBA from University of Houston






    • Working at Rolf Jensen and Associates and then Jensen Hughes 



    • Over 30 years 


    • Involved in the code writing process and litigation support.


    • Saw failures of passive systems


    • Got involved with the healthcare industry and was part of committees related to life safety code.


    • Dealt with Healthcare projects, finding a balance in passive and suppression systems. 


    • Faced different life safety issues in different occupancies like assembly spaces, large theaters, and high-rise buildings








    • Healthcare 



    • Was sent to a committee meeting as an alternate and eventually became a full committee member. 


    • Wife was a nurse, so familiarity with the Healthcare space. 


    • Did work with the Military and VA Hospitals. 


    • Chaired the fundamentals committee and the entire correlating committee


    • Currently chairs the medical gas technical committee






    • Industry Challenges 



    • Large energy storage systems / thermal runaway


    • Doors! Fire Rated doors and compliance / testing 


    • How numbers were put into codes 


    • Labor shortage / hiring process






    • Advice for newcomers to the Engineering Field 



    • Find a Niche


    • Consider subcategories of engineering, such as acoustics or corrosion control


    • Build a resume with an internship






    • Coffman Engineering 



    • Full-service MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) firm


    • Works in the Fire Protection Group, which has grown rapidly to cover offices all over the country


    • Started as a structural engineering company and has expanded its services over 42 years


    • Department of Defense work


    • Oil and Gas


    • Broaden horizons by working on a variety of projects like working on the Texans Stadium






    • Speaking Engagements



    • Covered changes in code at a recent ASHE event


    • Discussed findings from fire Data. Where fires are happening in Healthcare


    • Helps determine where the focus should be in limiting...
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    28 mins
  • Rich Walke - Technical Director at Creative Technology Inc.

    Rich Walke - Technical Director at Creative Technology Inc.
    Dec 21 2022

    Key Takeaways




    • Rich ’s Background



    • Valparaiso University Grad, ,multi-Fraternity member 


    • Always wanted to go into engineering


    • Passion started in Junior High School when he modified a bike


    • Originally wanted to be in mechanical engineering, pivoted to civil engineering. 






    • Working at UL



    • Had a friend who introduced him to the company. 


    • Lab work/office work combo was appealing.


    • Did not think of it at Life Safety or Fire Protection.


    • Started in tunnel testing


    • Moved over to fire-resistance group


    • 43 years at UL






    • Project Engineer Work 



    • Interior finish materials, insulation materials 


    • Steiner Tunnel Test


    • Involved in the MGM Fire investigation. 


    • Several major historical fires had impact on testing methods and codes. 






    • Impacting Change



    • Joined Fire Resistance Group at UL in 1987


    • Niche group that was into Fire Stopping


    • Wanted to move the industry forward. 


    • Involved in evolutionary changes to standards. 


    • Air Leakage Tests didn’t exist at the time. 


    • Many standards didn’t exist, drain systems, perimeter fire containment, etc. 






    • Senior Regulatory Engineer



    • Regulatory Services Group at UL


    • Interfaces with code enforcement committee


    • Involved in code development


    • Opportunity to do training with code officials 






    • Consulting Work



    • Recommissioned his side business of racing cars to become his consulting business. 


    • Engineering judgements


    • Trying to avoid conflicts with the fire industry 







    About Rich




    I am leveraging my 43 years of experience at UL by providing fire protection related consulting services. Areas of expertise include building materials, fire-resistance-rated construction, and the protection of breaches within fire-resistance-rated construction.




    Services provided by Creative Technology include teaching, assistance in identifying and interpreting UL Fire-Resistance Designs, engineering judgments, code development, standards development, writing technical articles and technical manuals, and assistance with product certifications.



    RichWalke61@gmail.com
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    32 mins
  • Chris Brown - Jensen Hughes

    Chris Brown - Jensen Hughes
    Aug 17 2022

    Today’s guest is Chris Brown, Chief Commercial Officer at Jensen Hughes. 

    Key Takeaways




    • Chris ’s Background



    • Cornell University 


    • Board member of the Bucks County Children’s Museum BucksKids.Org


    • Started in Software and Information Technology


    • Career evolved through sales, product management and marketing. 


    • Exposed to Fire Protection Industry at Tyco. 


    • Wanted to be an architect, was fascinated by the built environment. 






    • Chief Commercial Officer



    • Focus is on the growth side of the business. Sales, marketing & strategy. 


    • Promote thought leadership, new opportunities with clients, consulting. 


    • By growing the business, the fulfill their mission to make the world more secure safe and resilient. 






    • Jensen Hughes Digital Group



    • Software products to identify areas of risk and hazard.


    • Deliver software to clients. 


    • Emergence of smart buildings. 


    • Leverage technology. 






    • Generating Insights for Clients



    • What’s going on with design decisions?


    • What implications do building materials have on code compliance? 


    • Bring perspective to help think forward about designing facilities to make the safest decisions to survive several decades. 






    • Jensen Hughes 



    • Over 1500 engineers.


    • Experts that understand building materials and the work they do in the lab


    • Teamwork atmosphere


    • Scientists and engineers teaching others.







    About Chris


    Specialties: General Management / P&L management, sales & marketing leadership, business strategy and transformation, business development, mergers & acquisitions, acquisition integration, product management, start-ups, turnarounds, lean / Six Sigma




    Chris on LinkedIn




    About Jensen Hughes


    THE GLOBAL LEADER IN ENGINEERING, CONSULTING AND TECHNOLOGY MAKING OUR WORLD SAFE, SECURE + RESILIENT


    Since 1939, we have dedicated ourselves to fire protection engineering, initially in the United States and now worldwide. Today, our expertise, commitment and passion extend across additional domains —including accessibility consulting, risk and hazard analysis, process 


    safety, forensic investigations, security risk and emergency management as well as digital innovation across many of our services.
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    18 mins
  • Luke Connery - Conquest Firespray

    Luke Connery - Conquest Firespray
    Jul 13 2022


    Key Takeaways



    • Luke’s Background



    • Attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute 


    • Time on the football team helped develop skills needed in the professional world. 


    • Studied mechanical engineering


    • System design engineer at Kidde-Fenwal, assessing explosion risk


    • Went to Tyco and worked on the suppression side of the business


    • Introduced to the lab and fire testing






    • Patents 



    • Developed and patented a mist fire protection system 


    • Use less water than sprinkler 


    • Joined business development role at Tyco as the first engineer brought it. 


    • Combining education with the know-how to help people. 






    • Conquest Firespray



    • On the passive side of the Fire Protection Industry 


    • Fire Rated Ventilation Systems 


    • Flamebar






    • Flamebar



    • Engineering product first, duct work product second 


    • 2 levels of protection, fire outside & fire inside 


    • Always meets code requirements for whole range of tested sizes


    • Always going to be the most cost effective  





    Luke on LinkedIn




    About Conquest Firespray


    Conquest Firespray markets Flamebar fire rated architectural and engineered solutions to contractors, engineers and architects. Conquest Firespray is affiliated with Conquest Manufacturing, a company that has been serving HVAC mechanical and sheet metal contractors since 1998. Conquest fabricates rectangular and spiral duct, and applies coatings in its large U/L certified facility. The company manufactures in two locations totaling 125,000 square feet. Conquest headquarters is located in Warren, Michigan.


    Our experienced staff is project oriented and brings a field perspective to project support services. We bring extensive technical experience in fire safety, general and mechanical contracting, from pre-construction conceptual and guidance planning through field construction to completion. Our project support platforms are fully integrated, offering direct data exchange from estimating through detailing, to manufacturing and delivery. Superior control processes assure timely, accurate material supply services. Our experience ranges from new automotive plants to mega malls to laboratories, hospitals and university projects.


    https://www.conquest-firespray.com






    About STI Firestop


    Since 1990 Specified Technologies, Inc. (STI) is a global leader in the firestopping industry. The company manufactures a wide array of products and technologies to provide passive fire protection. Headquartered in Somerville, NJ, STI has sales offices all over the
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    28 mins
  • Tom Hardiman - Modular Construction

    Tom Hardiman - Modular Construction
    Mar 30 2022

    Today’s guest is Tom Hardiman, the official spokesperson for the modular construction industry. 





    Key Takeaways





    • Tom ’s Background



    • MBA from Marshall University 


    • Had a passion for entrepreneurs and small business owners. 


    • Director of the Associated Builders & Contractors 






    • Modular Construction 



    • Modular Construction is a process of constructing a building or home in an off-site factory in modules, transporting to the site and then assemble. 


    • Shortened schedule with offsite construction. Allows you to have 2 sites going simultaneously. 


    • Much less material waste in modular construction. Whatever doesn’t get used is saved for later projects, not going to waste. 


    • Worker safety is improved by transporting the construction site into an indoor factory setting. 






    • Life Safety standards 



    • IBC


    • Construction has to meet the local building codes wherever the site is, regardless of modular construction. 


    • 36 states have their own modular programs. 


    • Half of the total construction process occurs in the factory, the rest is site build. That is the jurisdiction of the local officials. 






    • Modular Building Institute



    • Have great relationships with local agencies. Can help with dealing with state programs and local officials regarding the modular process. 


    • Biggest barrier has been lack of understanding amongst code officials who are not familiar with modular. 


    • Perception of modular has changed. 






    • Modular Homebuilders Association



    • Single family modular industry


    • Been director for 10 years. 






    • Hardiman and Williams 



    • Residential and other forms of offsite construction work. 


    • Able to put the offsite construction umbrella under the same management team. Cost sharing, etc. 


    • Offsite Construction Expos. Coming up in Sacramento, DC & Denver. 


    • World of Modular Expo coming up in San Antonio. 







    About Tom


    As the official spokesperson for the modular construction industry, Tom has been involved in leadership roles in modular construction since 2004 when he was named the Executive Director for the Modular Building Institute, the international non-profit trade association for the commercial modular industry. In 2012, he took on the additional role as Executive Director for the Modular Home Builders Association, the national non-profit trade association serving the modular home...
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    25 mins
  • Eric Lacroix - STI

    Eric Lacroix - STI
    Mar 9 2022

    Today’s guest is STI’s Director of Strategic Accounts, Eric Lacroix





    Key Takeaways



    • Eric’s Background



    • Born in Massachusetts, grew up in the Carolina’s, went to college at Umass Dartmouth and then moved back south to work for STI in the Carolinas. 


    • Studied History at Umass Dartmouth, interested in going into Education


    • Worked at a construction supply company while in College. 


    • Background is in plumbing, but crossed over into FireStop and Fire Protection. 






    • Path to STI



    • Worked closely with STI as a distributer. Met VP of Sales, and eventually met others within the company. 


    • Hired as a territory manager for the Carolinas


    • Built relationships with contractors etc, became a regional manager. 


    • Southeastern regional manager


    • Curtain Wall became an area of expertise. 






    • Testing for Perimeter Fire Containment Systems 



    • Identify opportunities and build relationships with partners. 


    • Engineers overview the scope of the test specimen.


    • Goals are to test real world designs.


    • Complicated process that could take 9-12 months. 


    • Testing at UL and Intertek. Run tests in different labs. All are subjected to requirements. 






    • The STI Advantage 



    • Works closely with partners of all levels from all over the world


    • Developed many of industry firsts over the years 


    • Always working on something new and innovative. 


    • Industry best All Weather Spray. Developed new Water Based Spray. New Hybrid Window Wall system. 






    • Book of Solutions



    • Provides a roadmap to the latest and greatest designs. 


    • Broken down by Wall type, Insolation type etc. 







    Eric on LinkedIn






    About STI Firestop


    Since 1990 Specified Technologies, Inc. (STI) is a global leader in the firestopping industry. The company manufactures a wide array of products and technologies to provide passive fire protection. Headquartered in Somerville, NJ, STI has sales offices all over the globe. STI Marine is a Division of STI that specializes in marine fire protection in the cruise line, offshore oil and gas, and general maritime industry. STI Marine’s product line consists of a full range of products used for penetration seals and cable transits in fire-rated bulkheads and decks, including water-tight firestop sealants, firestop collars for plastic piping, and an innovative cable transit device. All products comply with the IMO FTP Code and are subject to...
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    26 mins
  • Ruben Garcia - The Life Safety Guy

    Ruben Garcia - The Life Safety Guy
    Jan 26 2022

    Key Takeaways




    • Ruben’s Background



    • Born and raised in Houston, Texas. Gained “Street Smarts” during his upbringing. 


    • Stumbled into Life Safety after getting a job with Johnson Control in the Fire Alarm industry. 


    • Learned code and developed his own Fire Alarm business. 


    • Came in as a maintenance technician at Texas Children’s Hospital. 


    • Developed a passion for Life Safety after expanded his knowledge base. 






    • Director of Facilities Management at Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center



    • Manage day to day operations, capital projects, fire alarm testing, systems upgrades, etc. 


    • Barrier Management Programs


    • Above Ceiling Permit Program 


    • Required to list UL System 


    • Host trainings with contractors






    • Life Safety Podcast



    • 3rd season coming soon


    • Great marketing tool


    • Sharing education by bringing in other industry professionals






    • Staying up to date



    • Went after all certifications pertaining to his field 


    • Currently working on formal education 


    • Constantly looking at the newest codes and standards 


    • Currently on the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code









    Ruben on LinkedIn








    About STI Firestop


    Since 1990 Specified Technologies, Inc. (STI) is a global leader in the firestopping industry. The company manufactures a wide array of products and technologies to provide passive fire protection. Headquartered in Somerville, NJ, STI has sales offices all over the globe. STI Marine is a Division of STI that specializes in marine fire protection in the cruise line, offshore oil and gas, and general maritime industry. STI Marine’s product line consists of a full range of products used for penetration seals and cable transits in fire-rated bulkheads and decks, including water-tight firestop sealants, firestop collars for plastic piping, and an innovative cable transit device. All products comply with the IMO FTP Code and are subject to various Type Approvals include MED, DNV GL, Lloyds Register, ABS, USCG, BV, RINA and more…




    https://www.stifirestop.com
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    21 mins
  • Sharron Halpert - Halpert Life Safety Consulting

    Sharron Halpert - Halpert Life Safety Consulting
    Jan 19 2022

    Today’s guest is Sharron Halpert, owner of Halpert Life Safety Consulting. Sharron has been involved in multiple aspects of the Passive Fire Protection industry for over 15 years. She is truly a pioneer in a traditionally male dominated industry. 



    Key Takeaways





    • Sharron’s Background



    • A rich history of volunteer work. 


    • Santa’s Helper at Ranfurley Home for Children in Nassau, Bahamas as well has the HOPSHA Christmas Party. 


    • Humane Society. 


    • Habitat for Humanity 






    • Passion for Teaching



    • Started when she was 12 helping exchange students learn English. 


    • Taught Kindergarten in Japan


    • Passion for teaching has helped her in teaching building code by adapting her style. 


    • Helping people build better. 






    • $19 Billion worth of Projects in the last 14 years



    • Worked on Baha Mar in the Bahamas on site. 


    • One Ocean Condominiums in the Bahamas 


    • City Center Las Vegas 






    • Other Services 



    • Identifying issues in current buildings. 


    • Following attacks on 9/11, helped development testing and evaluation to comply with Department of Homeland Security standards. 






    • Woman Owned Business in New Jersey



    • Certified by Port Authority of New York/New Jersey


    • Started in Firestop over 20 years ago and fell in love with the impact it had on building safety. 


    • No intention of being an entrepreneur, but has been in business for over a decade. 






    • Work with Clients



    • Anyone who wants to do things the right way and build better. IE Contractors, building owners etc. 


    • Series of videos to teach new skillsets. 


    • Help understand requirements, codes and standards. 


    • 3rd party special inspection and Fire Stop







    About Sharron 


    Passionate. That’s the first word that comes to mind when you meet and work with Sharron Halpert and her firestop team. She understands how critically important firestop is to the level of life safety of a building. Sharron has the utmost concern for the safety of the building’s occupants, the first responders, as well as the building and its contents. Sharron has been
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    18 mins