Monday, January 30, 2012

NAFED 2012 Conferences

Get excited for 2012. New digs in Vegas AND an annual meeting in New Orleans will make this a can't miss conference season.

Las Vegas
March 8-9, 2012
Monte Carlo Casino & Resort
3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(800) 311-8999
NAFED Discounted Hotel Rate: $83.00
Reservation Cut-off Date: February 6, 2012

Atlantic City
April 12-13, 2012
Caesars Atlantic City
2100 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(800) 345-7253
Hotel Rate: $115/Temple Tower
Hotel Rate: $135/Centurion Tower
Reservation Cut-off Date: March 11, 2012

New Orleans
May 10-11, 2012
Astor Crowne Plaza
739 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
(888) 696-4806
NAFED Discounted Hotel Rate: $149.00
Reservation Cut-off Date: April 8, 2012

Florida Fire Equipment Dealers Association 2012 Educational Seminar

FFEDA February 2012 Educational Seminar
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Florida State Fire College – Auditorium – Ocala, FL

*** You Asked For It and We Delivered ***

FFEDA has scheduled a DOT Representative to attend and teach a 5 hour seminar on DOT requirements for FFEDA members and fire equipment professionals on Saturday, February 25th at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala.  There is ample time built into the schedule for questions and answers so please plan to attend this important seminar and have all your questions answered directly by a DOT representative.

Schedule of Events:

7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.             Registration

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.            Cost of Doing Business Seminar
              Note: Content most suitable for owners and managers only

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.          U.S. D.O.T. Regulations Seminar
(continued in afternoon)

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.           Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.            U.S. D.O.T. Regulations Seminar
(continued from morning)

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.            Fire Equipment:  State of the Industry Seminar

There will be 7 Technical Hours and 1 Business Practices Hour approved for both Licensees and Permittees for Portable Extinguishers and Preengineered Systems at this seminar.

Please make plans now to attend this important day of educational seminars.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

15,000 fire extinguishers removed from planes worldwide after Welsh factory owner's fraud

15,000 fire extinguishers removed from planes worldwide after Welsh factory owner's fraud

by Elwyn Roberts
Jan 13 2012

A MAN who sent shockwaves through the global airline industry by supplying substandard gas to onboard fire extinguishers has been jailed for two and a half years.
More than 15,000 fire extinguishers were removed from planes worldwide because of Eric Andrew Lyon, 47.
His actions sparked a huge investigation and led to the changing of guidelines for the production of fire extinguishers and fire suppressant systems in aircraft in Britain, Europe and in America.
And at the time his actions were discovered it was believed he had put the lives of thousands of aircraft passengers at risk.
Mold Crown Court heard the halon gas Lyon supplied for fire extinguishers was not up to a required standard and that he had altered certificates.
The gas had to be 99% pure but Lyon changed analyses certificates when his samples failed to meet that high standard. Some were later found to be as low as 60%.
The gas, recycled by Lyon at his company Lyontech Engineering Ltd at Flints Manor Industrial Estate, was used by manufacturers at home and abroad in 2007, 2008 and the start of 2009.
The court, sitting in Chester, heard the gas was no longer manufactured because of its harmful effects to the ozone layer.
It was not used in everyday fire extinguishers but because of the importance of being able to prevent catastrophes in the air it was used in airplanes under strict guidelines.
When the fraud was discovered it sent shockwaves throughout the aircraft industry and aviation safety authorities worldwide.
Prosecutor Wyn Lloyd Jones told the court that while Lyon had admitted a s390,000 fraud upon his customers, the seriousness of the case outweighed the high value.
There was a substantial breach of trust in this case. Because the gas was being supplied to the airline industry there was at the very least a real risk that public safety could have been compromised, he said.
The motive was greed and profit.
Lyon, of Oakmount House, Northop Country Park, near Mold, admitted 25 fraud offences and was jailed for 2.5 years.
Judge Niclas Parry told him: By your activity, you caused the potential withdrawal of aircraft from service both in this country, in Europe and in the USA.
You caused emergency directives regarding the recall of safety equipment to be issued worldwide.
It has subsequently transpired that the breaching of the regulations may not have had such an impact upon public safety as had initially been feared.
That knowledge is important for the sake of future passenger confidence.
But the reality is that at the time you were offending you could not have been certain of that and you continued to ignore the risk regardless.
The judge said Lyon had s operation was close to being to a monopoly because of his expertise and said he abused that position in a systematic, sophisticated fraud achieved with total disregard for the potential risk to public safety.
It beggars belief that a man of your experience in such a specialised activity acted in such a cavalier fashion, showing utter disregard for the potential consequences, the judge said.
Lyon was not charged with any airline safety offences following an investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority.
It was passed to North Wales Police who carried out a fraud investigation.
But the Aviation Regulation Enforcement Department of the CAA had carried out a full investigation into the risk to flight safety caused by fire.
Halon was a highly effective fire suppressant widely used in the aircraft industry and it was estimated that about 15,000 fire extinguishers had to be replaced because the gas was outside specification.
Following tests in America it had been found that gas with a 90% purity was just as effective as that with 99%.
But Mr Lloyd Jones said the defendant did not know that at the time and some of the purities in the gas he supplied were far less than that.
The probe by the CAA, the European Aircraft Safety Agency and the Federal Agency in America meant thousands of extinguishers were recalled and replaced by compliant products.
Paul Abraham, defending, said his client denied his actions were down to greed.
He was not supplying a product that was rubbish to make money, he said.


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/01/13/15-000-fire-extinguishers-removed-from-planes-worldwide-after-welsh-factory-owner-s-fraud-91466-30118951/#ixzz1jUDjdz9j

Friday, January 13, 2012

US Air flight makes emergency landing at Yeager Airport

Posted: Jan 12, 2012 6:24 PM ESTUpdated: Jan 12, 2012 6:24 PM EST

Friday, January 6, 2012

National Association of Fire Equipment Deals (NAFED) eAlerts




2011-2012 Compensation & Benefits Survey Is Here!



Use this invaluable resource as a benchmark for your compensation and benefits program. Download the form to order your copy today.

Reminder: Don't Forget Your Dues!

The deadline for 2012 dues was on January 1, 2012. Those who do not pay their dues within 30 days net, by January 31, 2012, will have their membership suspended. Don't let your dues lapse--send your payment in today!

Board Nominations Still Being Accepted

NAFED will hold its election for open board of director positions in the first quarter of 2012. Please send nominations in by January 31, 2012. Open seats include:
Region One Director, presiding over Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
Region Five Director, presiding over Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Region Seven Director, presiding over Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Director-at-Large

Only self-nominations will be accepted. Please address all nominations (or questions) to Danny Harris at NAFED headquarters. Call (312) 461-9600 or e-mail dharris@nafed.org.

Information to include with nomination:
Name of nominee (your name)
Name of company
Contact information (address, telephone, fax, e-mail address)
Motivation for nomination
Background statement (bio/CV, relevant achievements)
Current affiliations, additional contact info

Term of office: The term of office is three years, beginning May 15, 2012.

Responsibilities: Regional directors are the official NAFED representatives in each region of North America. In this capacity, regional directors represent the association in matters pertaining not only to their own regional matters, but also concerning association activities of a national scope. All directors should have an awareness of the industry, national and regional issues and concerns, and the internal operation of the association. Responsibilities include the following items and activities:
  • ·Conducting regional business meetings at sectional conferences and moderating the actual election of a successor.
  • ·Serving as a moderator at sectional conferences.
  • ·Serving on NAFED’s board of director committees and other association committees.
  • ·Conducting membership drives or contacting potential members within the designated region.
  • ·Submitting reports to headquarters on any local meetings and activities, especially legislation.
  • ·Increasing support, attendance, and activities of all members in national NAFED functions.
  • ·Actively seeking candidates for replacement at end of term.
  • ·Serving as a contact point for member concerns in the designated region.
  • ·Authoring at least one article for Firewatch! magazine during term of office.
  • ·Attending two board of director meetings each year: one in the fall and one in conjunction with the annual meeting.
  • ·Appointing and monitoring the activities of NAFED’s state/provincial representatives.


Training

Certification Prep--Portables
Wichita, KS

January 24, 2012

Certification Prep--Pre-Engineered
Wichita, KS

January 25, 2012

Certification Prep--Portables

Lawrenceville, NJ
February 29, 2012

Certification Prep--Pre-Engineered

Lawrenceville, NJ
March 1, 2012

2012 Conference Registration Is Now Open

Looking to attend our Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or New Orleans conference? Online registration is now open.

Australia Tax on HFCs - To: Alliance Members


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA)

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Two quick start-of-the-year reminders that will be of particular interest to the fleet, transportation and/or operations managers of FSSA companies:

1. Today (January 3, 2011), new federal regulations go into effect prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in interstate commerce. According to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, “Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses.” Further, employers “that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000.” To view this new rule promulgated by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA),Click Here.

To review a helpful FMCSA document titled “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)–Ban on Hand Held Cellular Phones,”
Click Here

The new regulation follows the promulgation in September 2010 by FMCSA and last February by PHMSA of regulations banning texting by drivers operating CMVs. To view the texting ban rule which went into effect on October 27, 2010,
Click Here.

2. HOURS OF SERVICE REGULATIONS:

Driving hours for commercial truck drivers are regulated by Federal “hours of service” (HOS) rules administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). On December 27, 2011, FMCSA issued a Final Rule enacting a number of changes to the HOS rules which will affect companies who operate their own truck fleets and those who utilize the services of for-hire motor carriers. The most notable changes to the HOS rules include the following:
**Drivers must take a 30-minute break at least once in an 8-hour on-duty period.
**The 34-hour re-start period must include at least two 1:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m. periods.
**Use of the 34-hour re-start period is limited to once per week.
**The definition of “on-duty time” is changed to exclude: (1) Up to 2 hours in the passenger seat of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) if that 2-hour period immediately precedes or follows an 8-hour period in a sleeper berth; and (2) All time resting in a parked CMV.
The compliance date for the new definition of “on-duty time” is February 27, 2012; the compliance date for the bulk of the new rule’s provisions is July 1, 2013.
These changes to the HOS rules do not go as far as FMCSA had proposed on December 29, 2010 in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. It is important to note that no changes are made to the daily driving limit (11 hours) or driving “window” (14 hours), the 60-hour (in 7 days) or 70-hour (in 8 days) on-duty limits, or the limited exemption for drivers who return to the same place of business at the end of each daily tour of duty. However, the effect of these new regulations will nonetheless be widely felt. According to FMCSA, “FMCSA’s new HOS final rule reduces by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week” from “82 hours within a seven-day period … to 70 hours.” (See FMCSA’s December 22, 2011 press release announcing the changes to the HOS regulations.)
To view the new Hours of Service rule and/or several helpful documents related to it, please go to the FMCSA website.

To see a summary of the differences between the current HOS Rule and the new HOS final rule, go to:
New Hours-of-Service Final Rule

 

2012 ARFF Chief’s & Leadership School February 5-8, 2012 – St. Petersburg, FL

A Partnership in Education & Training

The ARFF Working Group and the AAAE are pleased to announce the 6th Annual cooperative program since the formation of the ARFF Training Alliance! Due to the overwhelming success of past programs, the ARFF Training Alliance will once again conduct the ARFF Chiefs & Leadership School, February 5-8, 2012 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park Hotel, St. Petersburg, Florida.

There is still time for “Early Bird” Registration (1/15/12).   Don’t delay!

February 5-8, 2012
St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon Park Hotel

Hotel Reservations can be made by calling 727-540-0050 or on-line at St. Petersburg Hilton Carillon ParkROOM BLOCK ENDS JANUARY 12, 2012 – MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

On-Line Registration is available for Attendees and Exhibitors.  If you are paying by credit card, check or Purchase Order… you can register on-line today. To register by fax or mail a complete Seminar Brochure and Exhibitor/Sponsorship Brochure is also available.  

A draft Schedule of Events is now available  

For Attendees, a unique opportunity to network with ARFF Shift Officers, ARFF Commanders, Deputy Chiefs and Fire Chiefs, as well as others from airports around the country and world.

For Exhibitors, don’t miss this opportunity to support the ARFF Training Alliance and market your products and/or services to the leaders and decision makers in the aviation fire fighting industry.  Sponsorships are also still available!  Please help us continue  to provide a premier educational opportunity for airport Fire Chiefs from around the world.

Summary of Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol