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The Hawaii Chapter is part of the international Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Our goal is to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering in Hawaii, to maintain a high ethical standard among our members, and to foster fire protection engineering education in Hawaii. To learn more about the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, or about fire protection engineering, please visit the International SFPE HomePage. To contact the Hawaii Chapter, go to info@sfpehawaii.org.
News

Chris Jelenewicz, SFPE Engineering Program Manager visits SFPE Hawaii

Chris visited SFPE Hawaii March 13-14, 2008. His busy schedule included a presention of a short seminar on the recently released SFPE "Chemistry of Fire" CD, a presentation to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects in support of FPE licensing recognition, leading a PE Exam problem writing workshop, and attending the University of Hawaii College of Engineering Spring Career Day.

Chemistry of Fire Luncheon Seminar This seminar was held at the Fort Shafter Hale Ikena Gold Course Clubhouse on March 13, 2008. Chris introduced the "Chemistry of Fire" CD produced by SFPE in partnership with Discovery Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This is a new in-school program geared toward high school chemistry students and is designed teach the science of fire. This is an interactive program with a teacher's guide, lesson plans, DVD demonstration of experiments, classroom posters, and a website with further information for both teachers and students.

Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects Chris made a presentation in support of recognition of the fire protection engineer license to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects at their March 13, 2008 Board Meeting.

PE Exam Problem Writing Workshop Chris led a PE Exam problem writing workshop on March 14, 2008 at the office of SS Dannaway Associates, Inc. The workshop was open to engineers who have already passed the FPE exam. SFPE is responsible for maintaining the fire protection engineering licensing exam, so if SFPE members do not write problems, there would be no exam.

University of Hawaii College of Engineering Spring Career Day Chris joined SFPE Hawaii at the UH COE Spring Career Day on March 14, 2008. Chris helped SFPE Hawaii introduce the field of fire protection engineering to UH engineering students and answer questions. Chris was also able to meet with Assistant Dean Song Choi.
Click on the following link to view Chris and SFPE Hawaii on the SFPE website blog: Hawaii Chapter Participates in Local Career Fair.

UH COE Spring Career Day.     UH COE Spring Career Day.
Kauai County adopts 2003 International Building and Residential Codes.

The County of Kauai has adopted the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Codes with amendments. The 2003 IBC and 2003 IRC became effective approximately January 22, 2008. Copies of Kauai County's amendments to the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code are available for purchase at the Office of the Kauai County Clerk.
SFPE Hawaii Welcomes New Members

SFPE Hawaii would like to welcome the following new members:

  Tara Hendricks of Blazemasters Fire Protection, LLC.
  Kevin Katayama of Katayama & Associates, Inc.
  Colin Lusher of Blazemasters Fire Protection, LLC.
City and County of Honolulu adopts the 2003 International Building and Residential Codes.

Effective September 18, 2007, the City and County of Honolulu will begin to enforce the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code with amendments.
Click on the following link to view a PDF of the amendments.
Ordinance 07-22
Copies of the 2003 International Building Code and 2003 International Residential Code are available for purchase at the City and County of Honolulu Municipal Bookstore. Copies of the amendments are being ordered and will be available soon. Click on the following link to view the Municipal Bookstore price list.
Municipal Bookstore Price List

The State of Hawaii will also adopt the International Building Code. Act 82 requires the implementation of a State Building Code, which will include the latest editions of the International Building Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, State of Hawaii Fire Code, and other standards. Act 82 does not adopt the codes itself, but sets up the process for adoption of a State Building Code.
Click on the following link to view a PDF of Act 82.
Act 82

The County of Hawaii is currently working on amendments to the 2006 International Building Code. SFPE Hawaii is assisting Hawaii County with analysis and review of the proposed amendments to the 2006 IBC. If you are interested in participating, please contact SFPE Hawaii Chapter President Mel Harano at harano@thermaleng.com
SFPE Proposal for specialty certification programs

The SFPE Board of Directors is currently studying the need for specialty certification programs in practice areas of fire protection engineering. If implemented, a specialty certification program would be designed for professional engineers who want to demonstrate a higher level of fire protection engineering specialization within specific practice areas. The purpose of this program would be to effectively measure an individual's capability to perform a specific task. For example, possible practice areas of certification could include sprinkler system design, fire alarm system design, computer fire modeling, structural fire protection, and performance based design.

SFPE woudl like your opinion. If you feel there is, or is not, a public need for specialty certification programs in practice areas for professional engineers who work in fire protection engineering, please send your opinions to Chris Jelenewicz at chris@sfpe.org.
Maui County Adopts the 1997 Uniform Fire Code.

Effective July 1, 2006 Maui County will begin to enforce the 1997 Uniform Fire Code with amendments. The Maui County amendments are in addition to the State Fire Code Amendments, similar to Honolulu and Kauai County.

The City and County of Honolulu and Kauai County have already adopted the 1997 Uniform Fire Code with amendments.

Click on the following links to view the amendments.
City and County of Honolulu amendments to the State Fire Code
Maui County amendments to the State Fire Code (CAUTION: File is 6.61 megs.)
State Fire Code amendments to the 1997 Uniform Fire Code
SFPE Corporate 100 Program

The SFPE Corporate 100 Program was founded in 1976 to strengthen the relationship between industry and the fire protection engineering community. Membership in the program recognizes those who support the objectives of SFPE and have a genuine concern for the safety of life and property from fire.

Click here to learn more about the SFPE Corporate 100 Program.

SFPE Engineering & Scientific Foundation

Founded in 1979, the mission of the SFPE Engineering & Scientific Foundation is to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering internationally, by advocating and supporting engineering research, technology transfer and education.

Click on the links below to learn more about the SFPE Engineering & Scientific Foundation and how you can help to support the Foundation.

SFPE Engineering & Scientific Foundation Brochure

SFPE Engineering & Scientific Foundation Webpage
SFPE Member Rewards Program

Refering new members can earn you rewards. click the link below to read about the SFPE Member Rewards Program.

Member Rewards Program Brochure
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) Supports the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003

Bethesda. Md., April 21, 2004 - The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has announced their support for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003. The bill is assigned to the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee (H.R. 1824). Currently, there are over 110 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors for this legislation. Passage of this legislation would modify the current federal tax code to classify fire sprinkler systems as five year property for purposes of depreciation. This would allow building owners to depreciate the cost of a sprinkler system over an accelerated schedule that would allow cost recovery in a much shorter time frame than offered by the current tax codes. "The installation of a fire sprinkler system in a building significantly improves the chances of survival in a fire. Unfortunately, because there is a cost to install these systems, building owners may be reluctant to retrofit their facility with an automatic fire sprinkler system" said, Kathleen Almand, P.E., FSFPE, at the SFPE. "The incentives that are provided in the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act will motivate building owners to install these life saving systems." By providing tax incentives, this legislation will promote the installation of fire sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings. Consequently, passage of this bill should lead to a reduction in the economic and human losses from fire in the United States.

For more information on the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, please visit www.sfpe.org.

Earn a Professional Master of FireProtection Engineering Degree at the the University of Maryland, Online.

Fire is a complex phenomenon. The rapid acceleration of technology to reduce loss of life and property caused by fire is opening vast new opportunities and increased demand for well-educated fire protection engineers. Fire protection professionals possess unique skills to ensure safety and they are increasingly being sought to fill positions in government and industry, with median salaries significantly higher than those of other engineering disciplines.

The University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering, one of the few places in the world offering degrees in fire protection engineering, announces a new, Web-based fire protection option under its existing Professional Master of Engineering program. Designed with the working engineer in mind, the program features a curriculumrich in the latest scientific and technological principles and practices needed to advance your career.

The 30-credit program can becompleted in as few as two years, and you'll have the convenience and flexibility of learning when and where it's most convenient for you. In addition, you'll experience the same high standards of academic excellence and accessible resources that you'd expect from the leading educator of fire protection engineers the University of Maryland.

Everything you need to get started is at http://www.e-learning.umd.edu/fire/