THE STATE OF VANCOUVER - IS OUR CITY SAFE?

READ THE LATEST UPDATE to this story. It's truly SHOCKING!

UPCOMING TECHNICAL WEBINAR - The Three "W's" of Carbon Monoxide Detection!

AFAA is holding the latest of their Webinars on February 17, 2011 between 1:00 and 2:30 PM Eastern Time. For more details (or to register) click HERE!

THE LONG SLIDE INTO CHAOS!

Vancouver's Brain Blight, which started with Arkady Tsisserev's (Vancouver's former City Electrician and Chief Electrical Inspector) dismissal in January 2010, and continued with the removal of Bob Cornwell, Quality Control Manager (and Ark's immediate assistant), has struck again just recently when I received notification that Laurie Baranyais, Senior Inspections Clerk, got word that her position had been eliminated. I can't comprehend the reason behind the continued and deliberate effort being made towards further service reductions represented by this latest insanity, but then I'm not crazy, which apparently you have to be to understand the reasons given by City Management that brought us to this sad state of affairs in the first place.

All I can say is that I'm going to miss Laurie's smiling face as she manages the counter looking to put the various inspectors together with the customers waiting patiently there, while an ever growing trail of multi-coloured sticky notes meander up her sleeves.

I'm interested in seeing how Vancouver's going to respond to the couple of stories featured in our December 2010/January 2011 Tech-News!. No word yet on Ark's replacement, but stay tuned!

NEWS FLASH! - New Assistant Director Appointed! Is Vancouver really safe?

SURREY (BRITISH COLUMBIA) ADOPTS CAN/ULC-S524-06!

Surrey, B.C.

Surrey has joined the Province of Ontario in requiring new fire alarm systems (and any additions to existing systems) to meet the 2006 ULC Standard for Installation (the British Columbia Building Code -2006 - actually references the 2001 Standard). Kudos to Nick LeForte (Electrical Inspections Manager) and a progressive Surrey City Council. You can read more about the new requirements for fire alarm system installation and verification at the City of Surrey Website.

NORTH VANCOUVER RCMP AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUE WARNING ABOUT PRANK SPRINKLER "TESTING" CALLS!

North Vancouver, B. C.

A number of restaurants and commercial businesses have recently been the target of pranksters posing as either fire equipment technicians or the fire department who advise victims to "test" their fire protection equipment by activating it. Their usual "modus operandi" involves contacting an on premises employee via telephone to inform them that their fire equipment is sending false signals to the fire department and that activating the kitchen suppression (or sprinkler) system will rectify the problem. You can read the official advisory from the RCMP HERE. The important thing is to remember that testing of fire protection equipment is NEVER conducted over the telephone and no technician (or fire department member) will EVER ask you to precipitate a suppression system activation. Testing of life safety equipment is only undertaken under very strict and carefully controlled conditions that are designed to prevent an accidental discharge. As for the pranksters... All I can say is that people that get their jollies from perpetrating this kind of thing are very sick and twisted individuals of the sort that wouldn't hesitate to "key" the paint on someone's car (or a competitor's van).

LAUNCHING A NEW (OR IMPROVED) DOO-DAD? GOT A STORY? SOMETHING OF INTEREST AND/OR NOTE-WORTHY?

Email us! We'll make sure it gets out there!

TECH-NEWS & VIEWS (Main Page)

JOIN US!

Individual members will receive Fire Technicians Network shoulder patches which they can wear as a visible demonstration of their commitment to the higher standard. You'll also enjoy access to manuals and the resources you need to shift your career into high gear. Our goal is help you improve your knowledge and skillset and, ultimately, your own community's LIFE SAFETY standards. Remember:

We are not a professional union but together, we are a union of professionals!