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Wilmette passes sprinkler ordinance on concerns
with "lightweight" construction
Wilmette, Illinois, passed the village’s first residential fire sprinkler ordinance requiring fire sprinklers in all new homes that are being built with lightweight construction. According to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, Wilmette’s residential fire sprinkler ordinance is the first occasion that a municipality or fire district has passed such art ordinance specifically over concerns with lightweight construction. For years, Wilmette has required lightweight construction commercial buildings to post placards that alert firefighters to the presenec of engineered-wood trusses and joint assemblies. (Submitted by Ed Prendergast June 2010)
Bill to require sprinklers in Greek housing introduced in Illinois House
HB5664 creates the Greek Housing Fire Safety Act. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure (that is, a fraternity or sorority house) the construction of which is begun on or after January 1, 2011, that construction must include the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. Provides that in the case of a Greek housing structure construction of which was begun before January 1, 2011, automatic fire sprinkler systems are required in every such structure by January 1, 2019. See full text. (Submitted by Ed Prendergast June 2010)
Firesafety product recalls listed on ConsumerWatch.com
ConsumerWatch.com strives to prevent serious injury or death due to faulty fire safety products. In June 2009 Kidde recalled dual sensor smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers for product failure reasons. On December 22, 2004, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and GE Security, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of approximately 246,800 smoke detectors with certain control panels that also failed to activate during a fire or an emergency.
ConsumerWatch.com is a comprehensive database featuring information and news alerts about thousands of products currently on the market or previously available worldwide. The Web site is dedicated to keeping the public informed about product recalls, manufacturer defects, and safety concerns associated with products ranging from household appliances, lawn equipment, and vehicles, to children’s toys and food. Find their website here.
Sprinkler standby charges to be outlawed in Illinois
A bill has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly to prevent private utilities from charging a standby fee for buildings that have an automatic sprinkler system, as follows:
Illinois General Assembly
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois, 2009 and 2010
HB5837 Introduced 2/10/2010
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that no public
utility shall impose a sprinkler standby charge on the owners of
structures that contain automatic fire protection systems.
Provides thaL “sprinkler standby charge" means additional charges
imposed by a public utility on owners of structures because the
structures are equipped with automatic fire protection sprinkler
systems. Effective immediately.
1 AN ACT concerning utilities.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Public Utili ttes Act is amended by changing
5 Section 9—223 as follows:
6 (220 ILCS 5/9—223) (from Oh. 111 2/3, par. 9—223)
See full text
Illinois PE License Renewal:
Requirements
for Professional Development Hours
by Paul Hart, PE, 10-24-2005
Many professional societies, including the Chicago Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, offer educational presentations as part of their periodic meetings and periodic special educational seminars. These events are typically designed to enable members to enhance their professional skills and knowledge of new technologies.
These opportunities have taken on new focus now that the Illinois Professional Engineering regulations require professional development hours for license renewal.
Beginning with the November 30, 2005 renewal, in order to renew a license as a professional engineer, a licensee will be required to complete 30 professional development hours (PDH) relevant to the practice of professional engineering. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in non-renewal of the professional engineer's license or other disciplinary action, or both.
One exception is that a renewal applicant is not required to comply with the professional development requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois license. The specific details of the Regulation requirements on PDH’s can be found in Section 1380.325.
One professional development hour equals 50 minutes of instruction or participation. If a program is taken that awards continuing education units (CEU) rather than professional development hours, one CEU equals 10 professional development hours of class in an approved continuing education course.
Professional development activities shall include, but not be limited to:
- Successful completion of a college or university course in the area of professional engineering, related sciences and engineering ethics. One semester hour completed shall equal 15 PDHs and one quarter hour shall equal 10 PDHs;
- Successful completion of professional engineering courses or programs in which professional development hours are earned;
- Active participation and successful completion of professional engineering programs, seminars, tutorials, workshops, short courses, on-line or in-house courses. Credit will be given for self study courses only if an examination has been completed by the licensee and graded by the sponsor;
- Attending program presentations at related technical or professional meetings;
- Teaching or instructing. Teaching credit is valid for teaching a course or seminar for the first time only. Two PDHs will be earned for every hour of teaching. This does not apply to faculty in the performance of their regularly assigned duties;
- Authoring papers or articles that appear in nationally circulated journals or trade magazines or presented to a professional society or organization. A maximum 10 PDHs per paper or presentation per renewal are allowed for this activity;
- Receiving a patent within the renewal period. Ten PDHs may be earned per patent;
- Active participation on a committee or holding an office in a professional or technical society. Two PDHs will be awarded per committee membership or office held. A maximum of 8 PDHs may be accepted per prerenewal period.
All professional development programs, activities or courses must:
- Contribute to the advancement, extension or enhancement of the professional skills and/or scientific knowledge of the licensee in practice of professional engineering;
- Foster the enhancement of general or specialized practice and values of professional engineering, related sciences and engineering ethics;
- Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program.
It is responsibility of the Licensee to maintain records attesting to the PDH’s he or she has obtained. The required information is:
- The name and address of the sponsor or provider, the number of hours attended in each program, the date and place of the program and a certificate of attendance; or
- A log of activities that includes the date and number of hours claiming as PDHs, a brief statement of the subject matter, printed program schedules, registration receipts or other proof of participation; or
- Transcripts or records of professional development hours maintained by an acceptable provider
Significant personal focus and time is needed to assure success in today’s high challenge nature of business. Hopefully those renewing their Illinois PE license on November 30, 2005, have obtained the required number of PDH’s. If not, there are still opportunities to do so being offered by a variety of organizations.
In the long term, perhaps the PDH requirements will result in increased attendance at professional society educational events that historically served as both educational, networking and relationship building opportunities for their members.