Moving Forward, But Slowly

Special to INSIDER REPORT -- Indicating its persistence but scaling back a previous attempt to set standards for physical security in most commercial buildings, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) will try to develop "a standard guide that will help engineers and facility owners determine design criteria for the physical protection of assets within a facility."

The Subcommittee F12.10 on Systems, Products and Services, part of ASTM Committee F-12 on Security Systems and Equipment, has a draft standard guide that matches a U.S. Army process.

For more information about the draft standard, contact Edward Conrath, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, Attn: CEMRO-ED-ST, 215 N. 17th St., Omaha, Neb. 68102-4978, phone (402) 221-3152.

This special issue of INSIDER REPORT includes a list of other security, fire and life safety coding organizations as well as their e-mail and Web site addresses, where provided.

Fire Code Sources

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
11 West 42nd Street, 13th Floor
New York, NY 10036
212/642-4900
FAX: 212/398-0023
E-Mail: info@ansi.org
Web Site: www.ansi.org
Assists standards developers and users from private and public sectors to establish common fire alarm standards. Company membership starts at $250 a year and is determined by yearly revenue.

Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA)
P.O. Box 951807
Lake Mary, FL 32795-1807
407/322-6288
FAX: 407/322-7488
Web Site: www.afaa.org
Sponsors fire research projects, develops model codes with various other organizations, and represents the industry in Washington, D.C. Membership cost is $240 a year ($150 to $200 a year through state associations).

British Standards Institution, Inc.
8000 Towers Crescenct Dr.
Suite 1350
Vienna, VA 22182
703/760-7828
FAX: 703/761-2770
E-Mail: 103634.2075@compuserve.com
Web Site: www.bsi.org.uk
The British Standards Institution was founded in 1901 to coordinate the development of national standards, and was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1929. A non-profit-distributing organization, BSI is independent of government, industry and trade associations.

Building Officials & Code Administration Int'l. (BOCA)
4051 W. Flossmoor Road
Country Club Hills, IL 60478
708/799-2300
FAX: 708/799-4981
E-Mail: order@bocai.org
Web Site: www.bocai.org
Developed a series of model construction codes. Provides technical information to fire protection and construction officials and trade professionals. Membership cost is $150 a year and includes a newsletter, code updates, and discounts on books, manuals, and training seminars.

FM Global
Web Site: www.fmglobal.com
Conducts fire research, writes standards, and approves equipment as a third-party testing laboratory. Memberships are not offered. Educational interactive workshops are offered to fire professionals.

International Fire Code Institute International Conference of Building Officials (IFCI/ICBO)
5360 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
562/699-0124
FAX: 562/699-4522
Web Site: www.icbo.org
Offers Uniform Fire Examination to those who desire certification. Non-governmental membership is $110 a year for IFCI and includes Uniform Fire Code Updates. Membership in ICBO is $90 per year and includes Uniform Building Code Updates, Building Standards magazine, and a listing in the ICBO membership roster.

Institution of Fire Engineers (United States of America Branch)
P.O. Box 131145
Birmingham, AL 35213-6145
FAX: 205/592-0590
E-Mail: info@ife-usa.org
Web Site: www.ife-usa.org
IFE is an international learned body established to promote the science and practice of fire prevention, fire extinction and fire engineering and all expedients connected therewith. With 11,000 active members in 56 countries, the Institution is one of the largest and most diverse fire safety organizations in the world. The principal aim of the Insitution is to advance fire safety engineering theory and practice through education. Membership in corporate (voting) member grades -- Fellow, Member and Associate -- are achieved by passing qualifying examinations, graduation from accredited four-year academic programs, or exemption by qualifying education and experience. The non-corporate grade of Graduate is open to candidates passing the qualifying examination, graduating accredited two-year academic programs, or exemption by qualifying education and experience. Student membership is open to individuals interested in entering the discipline of fire engineering. Membership fees start at $75.

Industrial Risk Insurers (IRI)
P.O. Box 5010
85 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06102-5010
860/520-7300
An association of 45 insurance companies that conducts fire research and offers the Industrial Fire Control Concepts Course to fire professionals. Training Director's number is (860)520-7361. Memberships are not offered.

National Association of State Fire Marshals
721 South Kirkman Rd.
Orlando, FL 32811
407/299-8743
800/437-1016
FAX: 407/299-8458
E-Mail: staff@firemarshals.org
Web Site: www.firemarshals.org
The purpose of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) is to act for the mutual benefit of state officials engaged primarily in fire prevention and safety from fire. In addition, NASFM's purpose is to promote fire protection programs and activities among the various states and territories, the federal and state government, the fire service, codes and standards body, private groups and other organizations. NASFM accomplishes this by discussing, developing, sponsoring and promoting legislation, programs, publications and activities that will enhance fire prevention and safety from fire.

National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFFA)
7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 901
Bethesda, MD 20814
301/907-3202
FAX: 301/907-7897
E-Mail: staff@alarm.org
Web Site: www.alarm.org
Offers training and certification to members and non-members. Membership cost is determined by the number of employees, starting at $125 a year for firms with five or fewer employees in non-chartered states; $95 a year in chartered states.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 1847
Rosslyn, VA 22209
703/841-3200
FAX: 703/841-5900
Web Site: www.nema.org
Represents a broad spectrum of electrical manufacturers. The automatic fire detection and alarm industry section of NEMA offers educational materials on all aspects of fire protection. Membership is restricted to manufacturers.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
One Batterymarch Park
Quincy, MA 02269
617/770-3000
FAX: 617/770-0700
E-Mail: public_affairs@nfpa.org
Web Site: www.nfpa.org
A standards- and code-making body involved in fire research and fire-protection training, offering books, videotapes, and seminars. Membership is $95 a year and includes a discount on publications.

Professional Alarm Services Organizations of North America (PASONA)
860/687-1210
FAX: 860/687-1308
An association that promotes codes- and standards-compliant fire and burglar alarm signaling systems. Memberships are offered. Annual dues range from $25 to $500 a year, depending on the type of membership desired.

Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
1 Liberty Square
Boston, MA 02109
617/482-0686
FAX: 617/482-8184
E-Mail: sfpehqtrs@delphi.com
Web Site: www.wpi.edu/academics/depts/fire/sfpe/sfpe.html
A professional society for those involved in fire protection. Education is the main function. Members must hold engineering degrees and have four years of experience or demonstrate sufficient knowledge with six years of experience. Membership cost is $150 a year with a one-time $60 application fee.

Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs
E-Mail: seafc@iafc.org
Web Site: www.seafc.org
SEAFC is a division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and serves as the regional professional organization for fire service executives. One of its principal projects is the development of the Standard Fire Prevention Code in cooperation with Southern Building Code Congress International. The association offers code-related training in fire protection and hazardous materials management in cooperation with SBCCI, related trade and professional organizations, state fire academies and state fire chiefs and fire marshals assocations. Active (voting) membership is open to chief fire officers only. Associate (nonvoting) membership is open to interested parties. Annual dues $105.

Southern Building Code Congress Int'l. (SBCCI)
900 Montclair Road
Birmingham, AL 35213-1206
205/591-1853
FAX: 205/592-7001
E-Mail: members@sbcci.org
Web Site: www.sbcci.org
Provides technical and educational support for fire and building professionals in the southern United States. Company membership cost is $150 a year and includes code updates and discounts on books and periodicals.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60061
847/272-8800
FAX: 847/272-3846
Web Site: www.ul.com
Conducts tests on fire equipment and establishes product compatibility regarding in-the-field products/system compliance. No memberships are offered.