NFPA Las Vegas, NV June 9-12

Register now for the premier event in fire and life safety, coming to Las Vegas this June!

Register now to attend NFPA Conference & Expo®

James Shannon announces that the 2014 NFPA Conference & Expo® is scheduled June 9-12, 2014 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Registration is open for Conference, Expo and the Association Technical Meeting. 

HAZCOM Standard adoption...FSSA Town Hall

At the February 2014 Installers Division Meeting during the Town Hall the topic of HAZCOM Standard adoption by OSHA was discussed.  FSSA would like to provide you with the following preliminary information that may be useful to you since it is time sensitive.  FSSA will continue to provide more information regarding this topic in the coming months. 
There are new hazardous shipping standards that OSHA is adopting to align their HAZCOM standard with the UN Global Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Standards.  These standard update new labeling elements, as well as a standardized format for Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) .  By December 1, 2013, employers are expected to have completed training their workers on the new label elements and safety data sheet format required under the revised Hazard Communication standard (HCS).
For more information, please view the following article on J.J. Keller & Associates Inc.’s website.
To view a presentation “HAZCOM What You Need to Know” submitted to FSSA by Roger Bourgeois, please click here. 
As an additional resource, please view the free OSHA training tutorial here.

If you have information or documents you are using in your business that you think could benefit your fellow FSSA members, please send to Vince Mullhausen at FSSA Headquarters.

FSSA UPDATES

FSSA 2014 ANNUAL FORUM RECAP The FSSA recently held its 2014 Annual Forum in San Diego, CA.  With over 170 attendees, this year’s meeting was a huge success!  A big thank you to our volunteer program committee members who organized an informative and educational program that included guest speakers from DLB Associates, Minimax, The Wackel Group, Tyco, UL, Wesco HMB, and the Fire Chief of Redding, CA.  In case you were not able to attend this year we have posted the presentations to our home page and have linked them here. Mark your calendar for next year’s Annual Forum for February 21 – 24, 2015 in Clearwater Beach, FL at the Sandpearl Resort. FSSA ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT At this year’s annual forum Eric Burkland, Healey Fire Protection was elected to serve as president of FSSA for 2014-15. Eric has over 13 years’ experience in design engineering, project sales & project management of engineered special hazard fire protection systems including specialty gas & flame detection, air sampling, clean agents, CO2, foam, dry chemical, explosion-suppression, water mist and water deluge systems for industrial and commercial applications.  Eric has served on the FSSA since 2009 when he was appointed Vice-Chair of the Installer’s Division.  Eric is the youngest President ever to serve for the FSSA.  Left: Bob Burkland, Owner, Healey Fire Protection Right: Eric Burkland, President, FSSA FSSA 2015 FORUM TOURNAMENT An impromptu but fiercely competitive ping pong tournament took place after this years President's Reception and Banquet. Steve Foulk, Comprehensive Fire Technologies, winding up for his serve. Tim Pope, Janus Fire Systems, employing his be the ball strategy. Tim was the reigning champion of the night and its easy to see why with all that focus in the picture above.  That was until  Brad Stilwell of Fike Corporation arrived and apparently swept up the competition.  Will the ping pong masters continue this over into next years forum?  We shall see. 2014 - 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS The FSSA would like to congratulate and welcome its 2014-15 Board of Directors: PRESIDENT: Eric Burkland | Healey Fire Protection Inc. VICE PRESIDENT: Tim Carman | Tyco SECRETARY/TREASURER: Steve Carter | Orr Protection Systems, Inc. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Dale Kent | 3M Company DIRECTORS: Matt Euson | 3S Incorporated Tina Nelissen | Amerex Corporation Scott Bailey | Koorsen Fire & Security Mike Kiamanesh | WAYSMOS USA Inc John Lawlor | Keystone Fire Protection Helen Lowery | DuPont Fluoroproducts Bill Howerton | Fike Corporation Rick Scott | BFPE International Todd Stevens | Minimax USA LLC INSTALLERS DIVISION:  Bill Blanchard (Chair) | Great Lakes Building Systems, Inc. Anna Gavin (Vice Chair) | Fireline Corporation MANUFACTURERS DIVISION: John Demeter (Chair) | Wesco HMB Kevin Murray (Vice Chair) | Siemens Industry MEMBERSHIP DUES NOTICE It's almost that time of year again for the yearly renewal process.  Dues renewals will be sent out in the next month for the 2014-2015 calendar year.  Thank you to those who have already renewed for the upcoming year. Questions about billing, payment, or maybe want to get a jump start on the process?  Please contact Jason Dumm, Financial Coordinator at headquarters for assistance. NEW USPS POSTAGE RATE INCREASE In case you have not heard the FSSA would like to inform its members of the recent postage rate increase. On January 26, 2014 the rate to mail a first class letter rose from $0.46 to $0.49. Click here to download a printable rate increase chart. 2015 FSSA ANNUAL FORUM The 2015 Annual Forum will be held next February 21 - 24 in Clearwater Beach, FL at the Sandpearl Resort. More information coming soon. FSSA TRAINING PROGRAM The FSSA Training program is live!  If you reserved a spot at the forum invoices were emailed in May. For questions regarding the training program or to reserve your space, please contact Vince Mullhausen at FSSA HQ. Table of Contents 2014 FSSA Annual Forum Recap FSSA Elects New President Forum Ping Pong Tournament 2014 - 2015 Board of Directors 14-15 Dues Notice New USPS Rates 2015 Annual Forum   FSSA Training Program Have News to Share? Do you have news to share about your company or newsworthy topic?  Send it our way and it may be included in an issue of the Annunciator.  You can email Vince with your news. Volunteers Needed! FSSA's Marketing & Membership Committees are looking for volunteers to serve on the committees and assist the association with marketing, communication, and membership recruitment efforts.  If you are interested in participating and offering your expertise, please contact Vince at FSSA Headquarters via email.     FSSA, the FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS ASSOCIATION, is a not-for-profit trade association, drawing members internationally. FSSA is a unique blend of designer/installers, manufacturers and suppliers working together to share ideas and strategies for the benefit of the fire suppression systems industry. FSSA members are dedicated to the highest level of safety, reliability and effectiveness of special hazards fire suppression.   The mission of FSSA is to promote the use of, and be the leading recognized authority on, special hazard fire protection systems; employing existing and new technologies to safeguard people, high-value assets and the environment. Interested in passing along information on FSSA to prospective members? FSSA has printed cards proclaiming "WHY Join the FSSA" with information on member benefits. If you would like a stack of cards mailed to you so that you can distribute them to your colleagues, please contact FSSA Headquarters. Crista LeGrand, CAE, CMP - Executive Director Vince Mullhausen - Meetings & Member Services Donna Liberto - Financial Manager Jason Dumm - Financial Coordinator (contact Jason for all membership dues & meeting registration payments or invoicing) The complete archive of The Annunciator is available on the FSSA website. Click here to view.  Please contact Vince Mullhausen at FSSA Headquarters if you would like to have a colleague added to the mailing list. Copyright © 2013 Fire Suppression Systems Association. All rights reserved.