From my friend, Jack Thacker who posted this comment (below) in response to the July 29 Home Builder letter. Posted with his permission.
T Terri Simmons Leyton PROTECTION DESIGN & CONSULTING Ph: 858-751-2930 - ext. 101 Fax: 858-751-2933 Cell: 619-871-8450 In Chinese the word "crisis" contains two symbols, danger & opportunity... How do you choose to deal with "crisis"? --Jim Maclaren From: Jack Thacker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 1:26 PM To: Los Angeles Area Fire Marshals Association Subject: [laafma] Terms for Travelers - International Code Counsel I noticed there have been several postings relative to the International Code Counsel hearings in Minneapolis on September 17th to 23rd, 2008. Concern of the postings has been whether or not the IRC Sprinkler Coalition's offer of travel expenses is appropriate. Although I personally am not on the IRC Sprinkler Coalition Committee, I have been in meetings where this issue has been discussed. My take on this travel support takes me back to all the NFPA committees that I have been involved in where the lack of Committee participation by Fire Jurisdictions was readily evident. Throughout the years I have been a Technical Committee Member on NFPA No. 13, 13D, 13R, 230, 231, 231C, 232, and 30B. During my involvement in the development of these Standards, it was obvious that the Technical Committee could have benefited by the presence of Fire Officials during the actual Committee meetings but the Fire Service participation was slim to none with the reasoning being "time and money" restrictions. Now the issue of the potential inclusions of mandatory fire sprinklers for single family homes has surfaced. Everyone has an opinion on the subject, but their opinion will not count unless they are present in Minneapolis, again a time and money issue. The following are the terms that a participant who feels the issue is important, no matter what side he or she is on, and is in need of travel assistance must agree to. * Your agency/department is an ICC Voting Governmental Member, and you have informed your agency/department that you will be attending the ICC hearing in Minneapolis using travel assistance provided by the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition. * You are authorized by your agency/department to serve as their voting designee and you have verified with ICC that you are credentialed as a voting member. To confirm that you are credentialed with ICC to vote, go to <http://www.iccsafe.org/membership/2008vote.html> * Your acceptance of travel assistance must be in accordance with any applicable laws or rules of your state or local jurisdiction governing ethics and conflict of interest. The IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition has only reviewed the efficacy of our program with respect to Federal laws and ethics. Compliance with local laws and rules governing acceptance of travel assistance to attend the ICC hearing is the responsibility of individuals who accept such assistance. * You acknowledge that you are not representing the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition at the Minneapolis hearing and that your vote on any issue coming before ICC at the hearing is independent and neither directed nor influenced by the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition. It would be better if all stake holders on this subject where able to be in Minneapolis. Obviously this will not happen unless assistance is available. The Home Builders also feel this way. However unlike their association, the IRC Sprinkler Coalition does not pre-qualify a vote which seems not to be case with the Home Builders as indicated in their letter dated July 29, 2008 to a Mr. Mark Richter, an August 6th, 2008 posting on the LAAFMA website. Jack Thacker Allan Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of So Cal 3233 Enterprise St Brea, CA 92821 Office - (714) 993-9500 Mobile - (714) 746-8576 Fax - (714) 993-5708 Office - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Direct - [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
