January 18, 2019

Robbin Foxcroft opened the meeting at 10:03 am, and stated we would follow the agenda as distributed.

Minutes: The minutes of April were distributed by the secretary Robbin Foxcroft on the AFSA website. Robbin moved that we dispense with the reading and adopt them as they are circulated. Darrel Shermak moved and Bastien Morin seconded the minutes be approved as read. Motion carried.

Treasurers Report: Bank account as of today (January 18, 2019) is $11,951.71. All bills and accounts are paid and up to date.

New Business:

• -  Darrell Shermak has notified that he is unable to carry on as chair for the Portables Committee; we will accept no volunteers for the position and elect at next meeting in April.

• -  The 2018 year end is being completed by the accountant, therefore the invoices for the 2019 membership dues will be sent out once the year end is returned to Robbin. All invoices will be emailed this year, rather than mailed in order to be environmentally friendly.

  Action Items From Previous Meetings:

• -  10.13.14.3 – TC requirements for Amerex cylinders. No formal answer if Amerex cylinders are required to have the TC stamp. Ron Foxcroft to request an update from Brian McBain of ULC. Scott Thackray stated that he believes the TC/DOT requirements have changed and the DOT stamped is now being accepted. He is going to look into the new CSA B339 to confirm and send the documentation to post on the website.

• -  01.26.1.1 – Training videos for inspectors and SCO’s to be developed and added to the AFSA website. No progress made. To be left on Action Item list for Robbin.

• -  01.26.18.2 – Website maintenance. New company needed. – Randy, has been trained on the website to update and we will continue to update ourselves. To be left on Action item list. Looking to move to a Go Daddy type website. – Robbin Foxcroft/Randy Brown. The website has been moved to GoDaddy, and is fully functional. Item to be removed from action item list.

• -  04.20.18.1 – Motion to submit change to NFP A regarding ‘inspection’ on new fire extinguishers in NFP A 10. - Darrell Shermak is moving forward with this. Darrell has been unable to look into this due to time restraints, Robbin will take this item over.

• -  04.20.18.2 – Electrical shut down requirements for wet chemical fire suppression systems in kitchen. Previously denied by NFPA, will continue to produce request to submit to Building Sub Council and/or Electrical Sub Council with the possible use of GFCI’s instead of full shut downs. – Cameron Doran from Alberta Municipal Affairs Electrical division stated that this would be a difficult item to bring to electrical codes as this would be a Building Codes issue. Marc Chayer suggested we contact OH&S and/or WCB to get their opinion, as they have may have more power to have this changed. Robbin to make initial contact.

Committee Reports:

1. Portables: (New chair to be appointed): Pat Purnell is concerned that Saskatchewan and Manitoba have no requirements for fire extinguisher technicians or shops; therefore there is no standard for quality of work. He is hoping that AFSA would be interested in starting communication with Standards Council of Canada to enforce ULC S532 for these provinces.
   FlameTamer has ULC listed disposable fire extinguisher that does not require 6 year internal maintenance. Robbin – NFPA 10, 2010 does state the following for disposable fire extinguishers: “7.3.1.2.1.3 Non-rechargeable fire extinguishers shall not be required to comply with 7.3.1.2.1.2 and shall not be hydrostatically tested but shall be removed from service at a maximum interval of 12 years from the date of manufacture.” Therefore, disposable fire extinguishers do not require an internal maintenance. More research into these extinguishers to confirm if they do not require an annual maintenance, as previously reported.

2. Fixed Systems: (Ron Foxcroft): Ron Foxcroft rewrote the SAIT Wet Chemical Restaurant Fire Suppression System Technician course to update referenced documents, manuals and technology. Although the SAIT website’s Course Description is accurate for people curious about taking the course, many people are enrolling with no outside hands on training and subsequently not doing proper inspections on systems. The course is designed to instruct on Codes and Standards with the student having hands on field training before or after the course is taken to ensure proper training is given. This does not appear to be the case in all situations.

   Mark Warren – There are systems being installed for particular appliances (such as Henny Penny fryers) that appear to not have proper coverage for the specialized appliance. Although all manufacturers have listed coverage for deep fryer, which a Henny Penny is, the Henny Penny is a pressure fryer that Ansul has done particular testing on for a listed system design. Robbin has volunteered to write the other manufacturers to inquire if they will have special coverage for these ‘special’ appliances as Ansul has done.

   Mike Baker informed us that Edmonton and Calgary both have the 311 reporting capabilities, and if you are running into a situation where a business owner is refusing to complete deficiencies on systems, or there are major hazards in a business, it would be beneficial to use the 311 reporting method to have an inspector do a site visit. In the rural areas, you would have to report to the local AHJ.
   Marc Chayer suggested we contact OH&S to invite them to a meeting to get their feedback on some of our issues being seen in the field.

3. Fire Alarms: (John Wingert): John Wingert was unable to attend.
   Sandy MacKenzie – The CFAA Technical seminar that was cancelled for October 2, 2018 will be held on April 9th at NAIT in Edmonton. You will be given credits for the CFAA course if you attend the technical seminar. Also, CFAA course 1 & 5 have been combined into one 40 hour course being held at SAIT & NAIT as well as the practicum.
   June Morin requested for information regarding an absence of original verification reports for buildings, and how to rectify this for accurate inspections/reports. ULC S1001 Testing of Integrated Systems will not be of help in this situation; however Mike Baker suggested that by involving the local AHJ, they could request a building audit to locate or have a new building verification completed to have the appropriate documents in the future.

4. Canopy Cleaning: (Shelby VanGroothest): Shelby was unable to attend.

5. Fire Sub Council: (Robbin Foxcroft): The Qualified Persons Registry has been moved to James Orr, and will continue to move forward.

   There are no updates at this time.

   Alberta Municipal Affairs continues to move forward with fire code updates.

6. Fire Administrator’s Office: (Mike Baker): The existing Fire Alarm Standata is going to the Electrical Sub Council

   A Fire Works Standata will be released soon from the Fire Sub Council stating municipalities will be responsible for fireworks use and

   distribution requirements in their bylaws.

7. Sister Associations: Office of the Fire Commissioner: Dean Clark advised that the Office of the Fire Commissioner has become fully

   staffed

Membership:

Round Table:

Westech Labs, Edmonton
Save All Fire Services Inc, Edmonton VEG Fire & Safety, Vegreville Jackal Electric, Edmonton

Mark Warren: We are the driving force to make changes in our industry, and it is appreciated that we all make the effort.
Pat Purnell: Intertek is updating their Certified Group Website. Go to Intertek – Spec Direct to see if your shop is listed, and others. It is a free access.

Next Meeting: Scheduled for April 26th at 10:00 am at the Black Knight Inn, Red Deer, AB confirmation has been received. As this concluded the business on hand, the meeting was adjourned at 12:08 pm.