The Burn

By: Specified Technologies Inc
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  • Summary

  • The Burn takes a dive into the life safety and code requirements for compliance in modern construction. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to design, build or erect a super tall, or how manufacturers test their products to meet codes and standards... then you’ve come to the right place. We are going to be sitting down and picking the brains of thought leaders and subject matter experts at third-party testing agencies, building product manufacturers, architects, contractors, and of course the best of the best in the fire protection industry.
    Copyright 2023 Specified Technologies Inc
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Economics Science
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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

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