Program At-A-Glance:

Time	Topic and Speaker(s)
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.	WELCOMING REMARKS Introduction by Christian Bellini, David Laks & Jim Chisholm
9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.	FIRE-FIGHTING ISSUES IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS Introduction by Jim Chisholm. Presented by William Baker
9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.	WATER SUPPLY ISSUES FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS (STANDPIPE, HOSES, PRESSURE, PUMPS, HIGH WATER FIRE TANK) Presented by William Baker
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.	COMBUSTIBLE EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLIES: RISKS, REQUIREMENTS, AND METHODS OF EVALUATION Presented by Daniel Martin
11:15 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.	HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES RATE FIRE RISK OF HEAVY TIMBER CONSTRUCTION AND EIFS (EXTERIOR INSULATION FINISHING SYSTEMS) IN TALL BUILDINGS Presented by David Laks
11:50 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.	Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.	ADVICE ON USE OF THE SFPE GUIDE TO FIRE PROTECTION IN VERY TALL BUILDINGS AND PRINCIPLES BEHIND ITS DEVELOPMENT Introduction by Derek Gruchy. Presented by Jim Quiter
1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.	DEMYSTIFYING TALL WOOD BUILDINGS – CASE STUDIES Introduction by Jim Chisholm. Presented by Jack Keays
2:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.	Break
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.	1. FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING FOR MASS TIMBER ELEMENTS IN TALL WOOD STRUCTURES 2. FIRE-RESISTANCE DESIGN OF EXPOSED TIMBER STRUCTURES Presented by Marc Alam
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	AHJ INSPECTION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS – WHAT ARE CRITICAL ITEMS? Introduction by Jim Chisholm. Presented by Captain Chris McLellan
3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.	CLOSING REMARKS Introduction by David Laks & PEO Chapter representative

Seminar Highlights:

FIRE-FIGHTING ISSUES IN HIGH RISE BUILDINGS; &

WATER SUPPLY ISSUES FOR HIGH RISE BUILDINGS (STANDPIPE, HOSES, PRESSURE, PUMPS, HIGH WATER FIRE TANK)

William Baker
Division Chief
Toronto Fire Service

William Baker has over thirty one years of experience with Toronto Fire Services (TFS); twenty-seven and a half in Operations and the last three and a half years in Training. He has progressed from Firefighter to Captain in the Operations Division and then to Division Chief in the Training Division. He was behind the biggest change in high-rise firefighting that TFS has ever seen. The 38mm high-rise pack (fog nozzle) was replaced with 65mm Hose Packs and Standpipe Kits (smooth bore nozzle). He was also instrumental in the improvement of TFS firefighting equipment, such as:

• Design and procurement of two Highrise Response Vehicles
• Upgraded existing combination nozzles to improve flow and extinguishment capabilities
• Procured new 700 lpm smooth bore nozzles as an additional attack tool
• Extensive testing of 45mm and 65mm jacketed hose with culmination of a new hose spec for TFS resulting in the procurement of industry best jacketed hose
• Procurement of specialty nozzles for residential balloon frame construction as well as, high-rise buildings
• Trialing of new tools including the New York Hook and the Roof Operations Safety Platform (ROSP)
• Redesign of hose beds for TFS apparatus and fire hose deployment options for both pre-connect and static dead loads
• Redesign of Pump inlets also known as suction ports for increased water supply capabilities

Presentation Abstract:

How Toronto Fire Services (TFS) deals with catastrophic failures of the standpipe system from the Fire Department Connection (FDC) all the way to the standpipe header and valve connection known primarily as the Fire Hose Cabinet (FHC). Deal with firefighting issues as a result of loss of water to any standpipe equipped building due to mechanical failure or malicious conduct. TFS is working on twelve tactics to overcome these failures.

Post 93 NFPA 14 - Changes and how they effected the Fire Service. Meridian Plaza fire of 1991 alerted fire services in North America to design limitations of both Standpipes and Firefighters primary attack packages for standpipe equipped buildings.

COMBUSTIBLE EXTERIOR WALL ASSEMBLIES: RISKS, REQUIREMENTS, AND METHODS OF EVALUATION

Daniel A. Martin, PE, CFEI, CVFI
Fire Protection Consultant
Jensen Hughes

Daniel Martin is a Fire Protection Engineer with over 6 years of experience at Jensen Hughes related to building code consulting, fire testing, passive fire protection engineering, code development, and fire investigation. Mr. Martin specializes in fire performance and flame spread analysis of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible materials for compliance with NFPA 285 by performing engineering evaluations and as a fire test consultant during qualification testing. Mr. Martin is also a member of the NFPA Fire Test Committee, NFPA Building Construction Committee, and participates in the ICC code development process.

Presentation Abstract:

This presentation will discuss exterior wall assemblies containing combustible components. Topics include learning the basics of the fire test standards (ULC S134 and NFPA 285), relevant building code requirements (IBC), what to look for while reviewing exterior wall designs, and design considerations learned from years of testing.

HOW INSURANCE COMPANIES RATE FIRE RISK OF HEAVY TIMBER CONSTRUCTION AND EIFS (EXTERIOR INSULATION FINISHING SYSTEMS) IN TALL BUILDINGS

David Laks, P.Eng., CFPS, ARM, RRC
VP Risk Services
HUB International

David Laks is VP/Risk Control Services Manager Eastern Canada on the HUB International Risk Services team. He brings 30 years of experience in risk control consulting. He develops and implements solutions in the areas of property loss control, building envelop analysis, risk mitigation, construction management, training, business continuity, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining HUB, Mr. Laks was the Loss Control Manager with a Fortune 100 food manufacturing company responsible for all aspects of property risk management. Currently, Mr. Laks is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) – Ontario Chapter, and the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI).

David is current serving on the Executive Committee of the SFPE Southern Ontario Chapter, as Program Chair/VP. Certifications/Licenses: P. Eng. (Professional Engineer); Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS); Registered Roof Consultant (RRC), Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Josef Pruellage
Manager of Technical Services
Aviva Canada

Josef Pruellage is a Risk consultant at Aviva with over 15 years in risk control consulting as well as another 9 years in Industry in various management and engineering roles. He develops and implements solutions in the areas of property loss control, business continuity, product liability, general liability, equipment/machine maintenance, auto/fleet management, training and regulatory compliance.  Prior to joining Aviva, Joe was a Risk Control Consultant at several leading insurers and brokers (including Aviva, Allianz, FM Global, CNA and HUB International) responsible for property, auto/fleet, general liability, product liability and business interruption reviews/surveys.

Presentation Abstract:

The insurance industry has their own method for evaluating the fire risk for a particular construction, which can differ from local/federal building and fire codes. Joe and David will discuss these differences, which can be critical for designers/AHJ to understand so their clients do not get any surprises when the insurance premiums are provided for these occupancies.

ADVICE ON USE OF THE SFPE GUIDE TO FIRE PROTECTION IN VERY TALL BUILDINGS AND PRINCIPLES BEHIND ITS DEVELOPMENT

Jim Quiter
Principal (ret.)
Arup

Jim Quiter recently retired as a Principal of Arup (a global engineering firm) having last served as the Group Leader of their Los Angeles office. He chaired the task group that developed the 2^nd edition of the Guide for Very Tall Buildings. He is a former President of SFPE. He is also a member of the NFPA Standards Council, Chair of the NFPA High-rise Building Safety Advisory Committee, author the High-rise chapter in the NFPA handbook, and past chair of the NFPA Safety to Life Correlating Committee.

Presentation Abstract:

This presentation will provide information and advice on the use of the SFPE Guide to Fire Protection in very tall buildings, and some of the principles behind its development. It will review the thought process that is necessary to design a very tall building, and provide several examples of the key decisions that must be made, and how they inter-relate with one another. The presentation will also devote time to the changes made and additions to the second edition, particularly those related to the building envelope.

DEMYSTIFYING TALL WOOD BUILDINGS – CASE STUDIES

Jack Keays, P.Eng.
Vortex Fire

Jack is an accomplished fire safety engineer, building code expert and mass timber innovator with extensive project experience in Canada, Singapore, Middle East, and North Africa. Jack has advanced analytical skills with the ability to recognize and address fire safety challenges while developing practical engineering solutions. With each project, Jack engages both internal and external stakeholders in constructive and collaborative relationships. Jack brings value to each project by taking a holistic approach to fire and life safety and by working closely with a cross section of disciplines to deliver optimal solutions.

Presentation Abstract:

Wood is a low-cost, efficient, and renewable structural material. Today, light wood frame is commonplace in construction up to six storeys tall, but code restrictions have not allowed taller wood buildings—until recently. In Canada’s 2020 National Building Code, a new construction type called Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) is being introduced, permitting mass timber to be used for buildings up to 12 storeys. This presentation will discuss the key schematic design considerations and code implications of designing tall wood buildings through examination of several case studies.

1. FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING FOR MASS TIMBER ELEMENTS IN TALL WOOD STRUCTURES & 2. FIRE-RESISTANCE DESIGN OF EXPOSED TIMBER STRUCTURES

Marc Alam
Manager of Codes and Standards – Fire
Canadian Wood Council

Marc Alam is a member of the Canadian Wood Council. As Manager, Codes and Standards in the fire division, Marc assists through participation in CWC’s building code and standards fire and acoustic related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code-related fire and acoustic research projects.

Presentation Abstract:

This seminar will discuss various sources of information and tools that may be used to develop solutions to meet the building code’s fire-resistance rating requirements for buildings using mass timber construction. This includes the new acceptable solution in the 2020 NBC called Annex B from CSA O86 Engineering Design in Wood, entitled “Fire resistance of large cross-section wood elements,” for solid-sawn timber, glued-laminated timber (glulam) and structural composite lumber (SCL), and cross-laminated timber (CLT).

AHJ INSPECTION OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS – WHAT ARE CRITICAL ITEMS?

Chris McLellan
Captain
Toronto Fire Services

Chris McLellan has worked for Toronto Fire Services for 14 years and is currently a training Captain in the Professional Standards section. Eleven of those years were spent as a Fire Prevention Inspector. Chris teaches existing staff and new recruits on the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, Fire Code, Building Code, legal concepts, fire protection systems and NFPA 1031 certification.

Chris is a graduate of Seneca College's School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology and enrolled in the University of Cincinnati's Bachelor of Fire Science program.

Presentation Abstract:

This presentation will focus on high rise residential buildings as they relate to the fire code. Specifically, we will discuss retrofit requirements and common maintenance issues related to fire protection equipment, fire routes and fire separations.

Registration:

Please visit our Event Registration page to register.

The attendance link invite will be emailed on Thursday May 12, 2022 at 7:00 am.