AUGUST 2021 – Minutes

Member Meeting – August 11, 2021 2:30 – 4:30 PM Via ZOOM

Attendees

AGENDA

1. Introduction
2. Adoption of Agenda
3. Adoption of July Minutes
4. Financial Report – Tim Lindsay, Treasurer
5. TECH TALK (approx. 2:40 – 3:10 PM) – Duct Smoke Issues
6. Prices Alarms Becomes Telus Custom Security Systems
7. Court Cases We’re Watching
8. Suggested Future Topics
9. Update – Victoria Fire Alarm Upgrade & Replacement Policy

CHAIR: Colin Greenhalgh

1.  OPEN MEETING AND INTRODUCTIONS: Colin – Western Canada Fire Protection

2.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA

3.  ADOPTION OF JULY MINUTES

1^st: Tim Lindsay. 2^nd: Matthew Leonard. Unanimous.

4.  FINANCIAL REPORT:

Current balance as of today – approximately $1,482.02.Latest expenses are just the monthly bank charge. We’ve received funds from members. We have used some of the funds to work on upgrading our website – do take a look: www.vifpa.ca. We’re adding info weekly and be sure to set up a personal profile.

5.   TECH TALK – Duct Smoke Issues

It has been identified that most haven’t been tested properly over the years and often didn’t work from day one. One of the primary reasons is due to improper placement in the first place, which should be in the supply duct with an appropriately sized and positioned air sampling tube. You need a manometer — a device to measure pressures, which commonly consists of a U-shaped tube of glass filled with some liquid — to do correct testing for air sampling. This Tech Talk will be led by Tim Lindsay or Cantec Fire Alarms and Murray Enders of Troy Life and Fire Safety,

This recorded talk will be available to Members on the VIFPA website under the Members Only Area and includes valuable additional information from Chris Caddel of Viking Fire and Calvin Gray of Victoria Building Dept. (2:40 – 3:21)

6. Prices Alarms Becomes Telus Custom Security Systems

Randy Beres, Director of Sales, Western Region, for Telus Custom Security Systems will join us to talk about the acquisition of Prices Alarms by Telus and the upgrade requirements for D-Vacs lines. We’ll be discussing how this corporate changeover will affect our life safety customers.

This recorded talk will be available to Members on the VIFPA website under the Members Only Area. Randy will also be providing further information and layouts that we will be posting on our web site for Members. (3:21 – 3:44)

7. Court Cases We’re Watching

Tim will give an update The Okotoks Premium Fire Owner’s sentence on July 29th, so we can give an update on how this has evolved, as well as the Econo Lodge fire in Prince George and its case certification.

Premium Fire was investigated two years ago now after it was discovered they were doing uncertified and unqualified inspections and testing. He made a charitable donation to clear his name, but was subsequently charged with multiple violations, as well as the clients, whom he had provided service, and the unqualified employees.

Premium’s owner and employees were all found guilty of violations of the Alberta Fire Code with hefty fines for the owner, company, and employees. The client companies that were affected are also now suing Premium and the owner for having to have all of their inspections re-done.

Meanwhile, in Prince George, 3 people died in the Econo Lodge fire in July 2020. The fire department had done an inspection in February 2020 and required remediation of multiple issues noted at the building. July 6^th, the fire department followed up and signed off that all deficiencies had been remedied. A couple of days later, the fire broke out, with multiple claims that no bells sounded.

Mr. Hays, who was in the fire, has started a class action lawsuit against the owners and operators of the building, as well as the annual fire inspection provider, the fire department, and the municipality. Tim is working with the Vancouver law firm as a technical adviser. The case is going to court in September to be certified as a class action suit.

The Owner has outright stated that they are not responsible and they stated that they relied on the fire department and service provider to give him the correct information and ensure the safety of the site.

We’re following this case specifically because it is so typical: older building older system, annual inspection completed, fire department oversite provided…and yet, this personal injury, death, and property loss still happened. We want to bring awareness that we all need to do our due diligence and help to raise the bar on life safety inspections, maintenance, and training. We’re trying to do better, but often there is resistance and a belief in “industry standards” over actual legislated codes and standards.

8. Suggested future topics

a) Proper documentation for the removal of a device from a system – CAN/ULC-S537 (modification or…?)

Brief update by Calvin Gray on City of Victoria requirements for replacement/removal of devices.

In the end, it’s on the Owners of the building to ensure that they have the correct devices in the right locations, as they’re ultimately responsible for the provisions of both the Building and Fire Codes. If there is a dramatic change (a doorway is being removed, for example, which is a larger concern) get the AHJ’s involved and their approval in writing. If the change is based on a structural change, it’s good to engage an engineer and/or architect to make sure that we’re covered.

Currently, we don’t have a duty to report and we are required by the Privacy Act to protect the information of our clients. (This will be researched further and may turn into a topic.)

b) Fire rating & protection of conductors – Calvin Gray @ Victoria Bldg. Dept (coming soon!)

This came from a long discussion he had with an engineering firm regarding the requirements for protection of wiring.

c) Discussion to facilitate inspectors and AHJ’s understanding what we do and what they require.

9. Updates

Calvin Gray updated about the Fire Alarm Upgrade and Replacement policy. Reshaping the document made it more complex, where the older one was more conversational and clearer. It’s available online in the Permits Department for City of Victoria and on the VIPFA web site in Members’ Only. Reminder that for fire alarm work, both a Building AND Fire permit are required. The hole has been plugged in permits so that BOTH must be obtained. The two departments are looking at the drawings now to ensure that they meet Building AND Electrical Codes.

NEXT Meeting

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

CLOSING: 4:30 PM