Madrzykowski and Kerber Receive Gold Medals

SFPE members Daniel Madrzykowski, P.E. , FSFPE and Stephen Kerber, P.E., fire protection engineers with the Building and Fire Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) received the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal for Scientific/Engineering Achievement at a ceremony in Washington DC on November 18, 2008.   Steve and Dan were recognized for their research focused on large scale experiments  to understand and document how wind impacts fires in structures and how positive pressure ventilation can improve the safety and effectiveness of fire fighters.  Implementation of the research will lead to improved fire fighting tactics and will lead to decreased injuries for fire fighters and building occupants.  

Shown in the photo left to right: Honorable Carlos M. Gutierrez (Secretary of Commerce), Daniel Madrzykowski, Stephen Kerber, Honorable John J.Sullivan (Deputy Secretary of Commerce), and Patrick Gallagher (Deputy Director of NIST).  Photo courtesy of U.S. DoC. [Click on picture to enlarge it.]

SFPE Members Gardner and Munguia aid in investigation of firefighter LOD Death

On Thanksgiving Day 2006, a fire in an abandoned single family dwelling in Atlanta, Georgia claimed the life of firefighter Steven Solomon. Chief David Wall asked for assistance of Corporate 100 Benefactor Shirmer Engineering to help with the investigation on a pro-bono basis. SFPE Members Thomas W. Gardner, P.E. , FSFPE and Alex Mungia, EIT , with Shirmer Engineering's Atlanta Office, used the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) fire modeling software to make predictions of the temperature conditions that firefighter Solomon may have been exposed to when he was overcome. Information from the fire model helped the Atlanta Fire Department understand the incident and determine actions that should be taken to protect firefighters in the future. This is an example of one way that Fire Protection Engineers help to protect people from fire.

Jeffrey Tubbs, PE Recognized by Consulting-Specifying Engineering Magazine

SFPE Professional Member, Jeffrey Tubbs, PE, has been recognized by Consulting-Specifying Engineering magazine as one of 40 talented and dedicated young professionals for 2008.  Jeff, an Associate Principal with ARUP in Westborough, Mass., leads firm's Americas region Fire Skills group. He is the lead author (with Brian Meacham) of the text “Egress Design Solutions: A Guide to Evacuation and Crowd Management Planning.” Tubbs led Arup's work supporting the investigation of the fire The Station nightclub fire and reviewed and analyzed the overall code and performance design of Dallas-Fort Worth's International Airport Terminal. Jeff Tubbs is the immediate past president of the New England Chapter of Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and vice-chair of ASHRAE’s technical committee for control of smoke and fire. For more information about the CSE 40 under 40 elite click here>

Message from SFPE President Richard Davis

Richard Davis, P.E., FSFPE and 2009 President of the Society shares some thoughts in a message to the membership. To view his letter posted on the SFPE website Click Here> .