Board Message Posted January 2021
Following the vote of members at the November mini-seminar, the Officers of the Board were elected.
In December, as is typical, they were sworn in. The officers for 2021 stayed the same as 2020: President
Jamie Brown, Vice-President Jay Atherton, Secretary Mary Ludemann, and Treasurer Mike Rons.
Our annual Fire and Life Safety Conference will be held in March next year and is progressing well. However,
due to rising concerns about the Corona virus, and waiting as long as we could, we chose to cancel the in-person
event to do a virtual conference.
We recognize that sitting at a computer for most of day is difficult, so we are only going to do three-hour sessions. The “conference” will be Monday – Friday. We will start at 0900 to allow you to answer phone calls and emails prior to the sessions, and end at noon so you can conduct your routine business for the remaining day. The plan will be a general session on Monday, followed by two days of Fire and Life Safety programs, and that will be followed by two days of code enforcement programs.
The topics for the conference will be What’s the Big Deal About CRR?, Motivating for Behavior Change – Why Don’t People Do What We Want Them To Do?, Effective Social Media, Vision 20/20 and IL Model, Solar Plan Review, Fire Pumps, Flammable Refrigerants, and Update to NFPA 72.
The dates of the conference will be March 22 – 26, 2021. We will have three pricings. One for the full event – best value, a three-day code or FLSE fee – each of these includes the Monday opening session, and a daily fee. The three-day fee, for example, might be best for educators who do not have the need for code enforcements topics. Mark this down now and plan to attend.
For those that had rolled their registration from 2020 into 2021, thank you. We will refund you the difference from last year to what you choose for 2021. A one-page flyer has been e-mailed out, and is available on our website with all of the particulars. Very shortly, a more detailed pre-conference program with class descriptions will be available.
The OSFM held a special meeting with the fireworks committee in December. Following testimony from approximately 12 people, the committee reversed an earlier vote and firecrackers are still on the prohibited list of fireworks.
Note some of our upcoming mini seminars. On January 22 there will be a Fire Sprinklers in Storage Occupancies class - Start time for this is 0800. There is no cost for this class. On February 26 there will be a class on Clearing the Air: How Nitrogen and Automatic Air Venting Are Used to Control Corrosion in Sprinkler Systems. Our thanks to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board for these classes.
Now that the IFIA has a way to track hours of people through our virtual training sessions, we will award certificates only to those people who were on line for 80% of the hours. For a 2.5-hour mini seminar, that means being on line for two hours. The 80% is also what the OSFM uses for attendance for their courses.
The International Code Council and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) have established a new task force on pandemics. Recognizing the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on new and existing buildings and construction, this task force will develop resources to help prepare buildings and communities for disease-related threats.
The task force will analyze all aspects of the built environment to find solutions that reduce the risks posed by pandemics. It will complete a comprehensive review of current code requirements, existing guides, executive orders, regulations, white papers, reports and standards, related to design, preparedness and health considerations for building construction, operation and pandemics. Then, the group will identify best practices and guides to address the design and layout of new and existing buildings and establish a comprehensive package of public information materials.
“The coronavirus pandemic has underscored that safe buildings are essential to maintaining public health,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “A community’s ability to defend against such disasters as pandemics depends on the safety of the homes, buildings and infrastructure that serve its citizens. We are extremely proud to collaborate with NEHA on this pandemic task force.”
“The built environment is a central feature of modern life,” said NEHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Dyjack. “Our unique partnership with ICC is one characterized by a common mission, information sharing and aligned leadership, which in aggregate will serve to reduce the risk associated with the pandemic while we collaborate on methods to safely rebuild the economy.”
The task force will consist of a broad cross-section of building, code, design, insurance, plumbing and public health environmental experts appointed by the Code Council Board of Directors. In addition to the creation of the task force, several workgroups made of task force members and other interested parties will be established.
For more information, visit www.iccsafe.org/pandemics-task-force.
The following are the latest recalls from the Consumer Products Safety Commission:
Neptune Benson Recalls Delta Ultra-Violet Generators For Pools and Spas Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Neptune-Benson-Recalls-Delta-Ultra-Violet-Generators-For-Pools-and-Spas-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Spirit Halloween Recalls Children’s Flashlights Due to Fire and Burn Hazards: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Spirit-Halloween-Recalls-Childrens-Flashlights-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards
Fiskars Brands Recalls 16 Foot Pole Saw/Pruners Due to Laceration Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Fiskars-Brands-Recalls-16-Foot-Pole-Saw-Pruners-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard
Burley Recalls Child Bicycle Seats Due to Crash Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Burley-Recalls-Child-Bicycle-Seats-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
L G Sourcing Recalls to Repair Electric Fireplaces Due to Fire Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Lowe’s Stores: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/L-G-Sourcing-Recalls-to-Repair-Electric-Fireplaces-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Lowes-Stores
Black & Decker Recalls CRAFTSMAN 10-Inch Corded Chain Saws Due to Laceration Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Black-and-Decker-Recalls-CRAFTSMAN-10-Inch-Corded-Chain-Saws-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard
Washington Shoe Company Recalls Western Chief Toddler Boots Due to Choking Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Washington-Shoe-Company-Recalls-Western-Chief-Toddler-Boots-Due-to-Choking-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Target
GrillBlazer Recalls Propane Torch Guns Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/GrillBlazer-Recalls-Propane-Torch-Guns-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Goal Zero Recalls Power Supplies Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Goal-Zero-Recalls-Power-Supplies-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Cycling Sports Group Recalls Cannondale Canvas NEO Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Cycling-Sports-Group-Recalls-Cannondale-Canvas-NEO-Bicycles-Due-to-Fall-Hazard
Graco Recalls Inclined Sleeper Accessory Included with Four Models of Playards to Prevent Risk of Suffocation: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Graco-Recalls-Inclined-Sleeper-Accessory-Included-with-Four-Models-of-Playards-to-Prevent-Risk-of-Suffocation
Camp Chef Recalls Portable Gas Stoves Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Camp-Chef-Recalls-Portable-Gas-Stoves-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
BRP Recalls Can-Am Screw Jacks Due to Crush Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/BRP-Recalls-Can-Am-Screw-Jacks-Due-to-Crush-Hazard
LG Energy Solution Michigan Recalls Home Energy Storage Batteries Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/LG-Energy-Solution-Michigan-Recalls-Home-Energy-Storage-Batteries-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Otis Elevator Company Recalls to Inspect Private Residence Elevators Due to Entrapment Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death to Young Children: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Otis-Elevator-Company-Recalls-to-Inspect-Private-Residence-Elevators-Due-to-Entrapment-Hazard-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-to-Young-Children
GSK Consumer Health Recalls Five Excedrin Brands Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement; Risk of Poisoning: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/GSK-Consumer-Health-Recalls-Five-Excedrin-Brands-Due-to-Failure-to-Meet-Child-Resistant-Packaging-Requirement-Risk-of-Poisoning
King of Fans Recalls Hampton Bay Mara Ceiling Fans Due to Injury Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Home Depot: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/King-of-Fans-Recalls-Hampton-Bay-Mara-Ceiling-Fans-Due-to-Injury-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Home-Depot
Urban Outfitters Recalls Taper Candle Holders Due to Fire Hazard: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Urban-Outfitters-Recalls-Taper-Candle-Holders-Due-to-Fire-Hazard
Check the website for the following upcoming events:
January 22 Fire Sprinklers in Storage Occupancies - Start time for this is 0800
February 26 Clearing the Air: How Nitrogen and Automatic Air Venting Are Used to Control Corrosion in Sprinkler Systems
March 22 - 26 Annual Fire and Life Safety Conference
May 3-5, 10 & 11– Fire and Life Safety Educator class – Downers Grove