NEWSLETTER | Illinois Fire Inspectors Association

Board Message Posted August 2024

Thank you to our Gold Level sponsors!

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Camp I Am Me

Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board.

Thank you to our New Silver Level sponsors!

Valley Fire Protection Systems

As we approach the unofficial end of summer with the Labor Day weekend, the IFIA has had a very busy summer. A small group attended the NFPA annual conference obtaining knowledge and speakers for our annual conference in East Peoria. Others attended CRR conferences and classes at the National Fire Academy, gaining knowledge and speakers for our conference. Several members of the IFIA were able to staff the Fire Safety tent at the State Fair last month. Even though the fire museum was under construction, the weather was great and we interacted with many people. Hopefully, some of you will be able to attend this annual event next year.

On the subject of our annual conference on March 26 – 28, 2025, there is a great line-up of speakers. The save the date has been sent out, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there. A flyer with the conference overview will be out shortly.

We are able to say that the opening speaker will the Clark County Fire Chief at the time of the Las Vegas 2017 country music festival. This case history will provide some good information that can benefit your organization, your EMA people, and emergency room directors/supervisors.

In partnership with IBEW Local 134, we hosted an all-day seminar on emerging electrical technologies, including solar and EV technologies. This was attended by Fire and Building departments from across the state.

Local 134 offers assistance to any agency, looking to update their electrical, Fire and Building codes to keep up with the ever-changing technology. We know a few of our member agencies have already accepted their assistance and as they’re in the process of updating their codes.

The IFIA is always looking to increase membership and expand our reach throughout the State. We have recently added the Will County fire inspectors as a chapter, and are in discussions with a group from central Illinois interested in becoming a chapter.

Last month, Scott McBride resigned from the Board of Directors unexpectedly. The Board is discussing filling that open position. We wish Scott well with his future endeavors.

Thank you for your continued support in our mission.

Our October 25th mini-seminar will be held in Palatine and will be on:

Electronic Plan (ePlan) Reviews

For existing Bluebeam users, this presentation will introduce users to Bluebeam solutions, focusing on the initial phase of the ePlan review workflow, and how Bluebeam's collaborative environment, Studio, can facilitate the review process.

If you are not a Bluebeam user, this presentation will give you an overview of electronic plan reviews, and how they can help you in your plan reviews.

See the IFIA website for more information and to register.

Our friends at the IBEW will be offering a FREE class on September 19th at the I.B.E.W.- N.E.C.A. Technical Institute, 6201 West 115th Street, Alsip. The class will begin at 6:00 P.M. The topic will be Fire Alarm Systems and Code Updates. Topics to be covered will be: Overview of updates for 2018 International Building Code and State of Illinois; Carbon Monoxide Detectors; Information on high rise occupancy; ADA; NFPA 72 Documentation; UL 2196, and smoke control. It is requested you bring a notebook, pen or pencil and your code book to follow along.

While the class is free, they would still like to know who will attend. You can do that by emailing stolspart@gmail.com.

This Fall we will be offering a PFLSE class. This is OSFM approved. Please note that scholarships are available! We would like to award those, but you have to fill out a short application available on our website in order to receive that money. Do that now so you don’t miss out on some free money!

Save the Date: November 1st for the annual CRR conference in Champaign

Expect more information as it develops, but put this event on your calendar to attend.

Mark your calendars. Our annual Holiday Party will be on December 5th at 6 pm. All are welcome, and more information will be coming out soon.

With many departments having open houses, many use a burn door prop to show the benefits of a closed door. If you have one of these props, consider adding some graphics to it – there are many good talking points on them. A company in Roselle, GZ Sign Designs, has made two full length graphics. Their phone number is (630) 307-7446. Ask about the fire door stickers. The cost is minimal, and instead of the Fire Services name they can easily change it to your organization. These graphics have been added to the door prop used at the State Fair, as seen in these pictures. The graphics will allow you many more “visual” talking points.

While the graphics are “designed” for a 36” door, however they are easily trimmed down to fit a 34” door.

If you are a business that would like to support education of fire inspectors and fire and life safety educators, there is a way to do that. The IFIA Board has developed bronze, silver, and gold level sponsorships. These are good for a calendar year. Specific details are available on our website.

Upcoming events:

Oct 25 – Electronic Plan Reviews at Palatine
Nov 15 - Virtual Did You Know?
Public Fire Life Safety Educator - Nov 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, New Lenox
Dec 5 – Holiday party

Some of the above events are still having the details finalized, but make sure you Save The Date. Once everything is locked in, details will be on our website, so check that as the dates get closer.

To see the latest in the State for CRR, visit their website at www.illinoiscrr.com.

ILLINOIS FIRE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION

Board Message Posted August 2024

ILLINOIS FIRE INSPECTORS
ASSOCIATION