Saskatchewan Chapter 

Minutes of the CFAA Saskatchewan Chapter Meeting, October 8, 2014

MEETING CALLED BY - Bruce Tait,  FACILITATOR - Jim Burns,  NOTE TAKER - Jordan Klemick
ATTENDEES - Jim Burns, Bruce Tait, Mark Horsfall, Lou Raposo, Jordan Klemick, Will Weik, Jody Willis, Luc Durand

DISCUSSION - Bruce Tait welcomed all to the Saskatchewan chapter meeting, provided a history of previous chapter activity  and reviewed the goals set out at our September meeting. Discussion followed on steps necessary to plan electrical contractor training and AHJ training and need for training and involvement from 3 parts of triangle, FD, AHJ and Fire alarm industry
CONCLUSIONS - Look into possibility of using electrical distributors as a place to advertise contractor training and possibly using
Training rooms as a facility. Further discussion required on training agenda, speakers and schedule. AHJ possibly coordinated with
SBOA event to involve building officials in the training.
ACTION ITEMS - Look into schedule for SBOA (SK Building Officials Assoc) conference, PERSON RESPONSIBLE - Luc Durand, DEADLINE - Nov 12/2014
ACTION ITEMS - further discussion required on future training goals, PERSON RESPONSIBLE - chapter/ training committee, DEADLINE - ongoing

DISCUSSION - Bruce distributed a survey he conducted with fire alarm industry reps throughout Canada on the level of interaction. They have with the fire alarm industry in their areas. Discussion followed on how we interact within the province and where we can
Look to build on that relationship. Also discussed fire dept response to false fire alarms
CONCLUSIONS - One item that came up in this discussion as a key takeaway was the importance of code references on deficiency reports. If a deficiency on a report includes a reference to the code and section it would help the AHJ with enforcement of the repairs and lend credibility to the deficiency report
ACTION ITEMS - Further discussion required at next meeting

DISCUSSION - During discussion on interaction with AHJ’s a gap was identified in typical electrical drawing packages supplied to Electrical contractors. No riser diagram is typically supplied and some fire alarm devices such as loop isolators are not shown on Drawings. This leads to installation errors and verification deficiencies. More complete drawing packages are required by code
CONCLUSIONS - The need was identified to reach out to the building official and engineering community to work towards rectifying this issue. A goal is to incorporate fire alarm training following an existing SBOA event or incorporate fire alarm training into an SBOA event. First step is to introduce CFAA SK Chapter to SBOA and engineering community through a letter
ACTION ITEMS - Draft letter to SBOA to introduce SK Chapter and our concerns, PERSON RESPONSIBLE - Jordan Klemick, DEADLINE - Nov 12/2014

DISCUSSION - Discussed code requirements relating to verification and previous inspection reports being kept on site. Discussed the need or value in the eyes of AHJ in issuing an inspection certificate. Gaps identified where an AHJ may not be aware of system modifications and are not asking to see any verification reports for these changes. Discussion on when an AHJ might look for a verification report on site such as when deficiencies are identified that would indicate a proper verification was not completed. Related later discussion on procedures the industry should follow on identifying major deficiencies with system installations to the fire department.
CONCLUSIONS - Luc Durand and Jim Burns identified themselves as contact persons within their respective departments to advise of major system deficiencies. Inspection certificates have little value to an AHJ

DISCUSSION - Code requirements for monitoring panels in buildings with sprinkler systems. It was agreed that there is a large number of sprinklered buildings in the province with no monitoring service. Discussion on when lack of monitoring should be identified as a deficiency. Discussion on code requirements of CAN/ULC-S561
CONCLUSIONS - It was agreed that any new installations should be to the standards of CAN/ULC-S561 in the opinion of the AHJ’s present. As this is not currently the case in the vast majority of installations a need was identified to further discuss what is needed to educate the industry and enforce the code
ACTION ITEMS - further discussion required on this topic regarding training, PERSON RESPONSIBLE - chapter/training committee, DEADLINE - ongoing

MEETING ADJOURNED - 1:15 PM

NEXT MEETING - Wednesday November 12th 2014, Location TBD in Saskatoon

CFAA Saskatchewan Chapter Lunch & Learn / Chapter Meeting - September 25, 2014

Presentation by Cindy Leber: “What do 120 Million Device Inspections Tell Us?” View her presentation
Cindy is the owner and President of Building Reports Canada (BRC). She is a graduate of Carleton University and a licensed Mediator. BRC was introduced to Canada in 2004. The tools BRC offers assist companies to complete inspections faster, better and more economically. Cindy has experience across the fire and life safety industry and has been involved in the design and implementation of countless work flow and management software projects. This provides Cindy with the ability provide her members with the necessary operational support required when making any significant changes to an operation such as moving to digital documentation and organization.

Present:          
1.      Bruce Tait Bruce.Tait@vipond.ca ,  
2.      Mark Horsfall mark.horsfall@vipond.ca ,
3.      Jordan Klemick jklemick@simplexgrinnell.com ,
4.      Luc Durand luc.durand@saskatoon.ca ,
5.      Daniela Tanase Broten Daniela.tanasebroten@lightsource.ca ,
6.      Kim Orchard kim.orchard@vipond.ca ,
7.      Dwayne Loewen loewen.d@sasktel.net ,
8.      William Weik xeonbw@hotmail.com ,
9.      Dean Kindt dkindt@amtechelectric.ca ,
10.  Allan Greva grevaelectric@shaw.ca ,
11.  Les Peters grevaelectric@shaw.ca ,
12.  Todd Boreen todd.boreen@vipond.ca ,
13.  Lou Raposo lou.raposo@troylfs.com  ,
14.  Neil Hovdestad neil.hovdestad@lightsource.ca ,
15.  Wayne Rodger wayne.rodger@saskatoon.ca ,
16.  Carey Hydamacka carey.hydamacka@lightsource.ca ,
17.  Sasha Atamaneko sasha.atamanenko@saskatoon.ca ,
18.  Jim Burns mjburns@regina.ca ,
19.  Lori Prince-LeBlanc lori.prince-leblanc@saskatoon.ca ,
20.  Trudy Bartel Trudy.bartel@saskatoon.ca ,
21.  Yvonne Stove Yvonne.stove@saskatoon.ca ,
22.  Amir Janjoa, clickcanada@hotmail.com ,
23.  Gregory Dubois gregory.d@sasktel.net ,
24.  Scott Debienne firechief.carrotriver@sasktel.net ,
25.  Cindy Leber cleber@buildingreports.ca ,
26.  Steve Clemens sclemens@cfaa.ca ,
27.  ONLINE Kurt Bertrand kurt@premiumfire.com ,
28.  ONLINE Jody Willis jody.willis@troylfs.com
29.  ONLINE Laurent Desnoyers protech.alarm@shaw.ca
                                                                            
 
10:00 AM        Welcome – Bruce Tait, Saskatchewan Chapter President
                        Presentation – “What do 120 Million Device Inspections Tell Us” – Cindy Leber
12:00 PM         Lunch
12:45 PM         Meeting called to order by Steve Clemens, Executive Director
                        Call for Directors:
-          Jim Burns, Regina Fire & Protective Service
-          Mark Horsfall, ALSASK/Vipond
-          Lou Raposo, Troy Life & Fire Safety Ltd
-          Todd Boreen, ALSASK/Vipond
-          Kim Orchard, ALSASK/Vipond
-          Bruce Tait, ALSASK/Vipond
-          Luc Durand, Saskatoon Fire Department
-          Jordon Klemick, TYCO SimplexGrinnell
-          Laurent Desnoyers, PRO-TECH Alarm System Services
-          Jody Willis, Troy Life & Fire Safety Ltd
 
Call for Chapter President nominations
-          Bruce Tait
-          Jordon Klemick
 
Election called – Bruce Tait elected Saskatchewan Chapter President
 
Chapter opted to elect a Chapter Vice President
Jordon Klemick elected Saskatchewan Chapter Vice President
 
Chapter struck a Training/Seminar Committee:
-          Luc Durand
-          Lou Raposo
-          Jim Burns
-          Kim Orchard
 
Chapter set next Chapter meeting for Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 11:00 AM (to be scheduled to run to 1:00 PM). Jim Burns to find a municipal location for the meeting in Regina.
 
 
Chapter goals:
1.      To have monthly meetings the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Location to be circulated among major urban centres in Saskatchewan and use of GoToMeeting.
2.      To hold elections in April 2015
3.      To provide Technician training
-          Aim is to provide training initially to installing electricians
-          Aim is to have training outcomes and date established by the training committee
-          Aim is to have training scheduled to run by January 2015
-          Need to review the need for instructor led CFAA Fire Alarm Technician courses in Saskatchewan.
4.      To provide AHJ Training
-          Aim is to run another AHJ training course spring 2015 (possibly in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs conference)
5.      To provide Building Owner/Manager training
6.      To run a Technical seminar in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs Conference (March/April 2015)
 
2:00 PM           Meeting adjourned