GVFCA High-Rise Symposium
Event Description:
The Greater Vancouver Fire Chiefs Association (GVFCA) will be hosting a high-rise symposium on October 4 & 5, 2017. As cities grow and density builds, high-rise buildings are becoming taller and more complex from a fire & life safety perspective. Our symposium aims to start early discussion with developers, builders and code consultants as to some of the challenges the fire service faces as it relates to firefighting tactics in these structures as they continue to reach new limits. This symposium is aimed at all organizations involved in the successful development, building and support of high-rise living i.e. developers, building officials and code consultants combined with representation from fire departments such as Fire Prevention, Training Officers and Chief Officers.
Let’s start the discussion early so we can collectively work to enhance fire & life safety in today’s modern high-rises.
Keynote speakers Curtis Massey and John Miller have many years of combined firefighting experience. Massey Disaster Services are experts in disaster planning and knowledge specifically in high-rise structures. Both Curtis and John have travelled the world educating groups on a number of topics pertaining to high-rise structures and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the symposium.
Topics of discussion:
- Building Design – importance of preplanning and differences between residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings
- HVAC and Stack Effect – understanding the movement of products of combustion during a fire and include HVAC management to limit the speed of fire and control movement of smoke and CO
- Monitoring and Tracking of Deadly Fire Gases – understanding how air travels within a high-rise structure and predict, plan and monitor where threats will exist
- Fire Flows and Attack Line Options – reliance upon building systems to establish an effective fire stream and attack the fire. Understanding the type of water system, where and how to establish hose connections and knowing the capable flow demands
- Fire Control Rooms – what to look for and how to use the information in these rooms
- Stairwells and Elevators – whether to utilize stairwells or elevators, safe use and decision making. Cross over floors and evacuation planning
- Discussions on past high rise fires and lessons learned for future developers
- Firefighter access as well as apparatus staging and placement during fire situations
- Command and control as well as early development and preplans, mutual aid agreements and standard response operating guidelines
- In-building communication challenges requiring the possible use of in-building repeaters for fire ground communications
- Breathing air stand pipe systems and firefighter refuge areas for air filling incorporated into building design
In addition to our keynote speakers, the afternoon of day two will introduce a simulated high-rise fire scenario which will be conducted using fire simulation software from Digital Combustion and utilizing Battalion 3 Technologies in Command and Control. A number of vendor booths will also be available to visit during the course of the two days.
The high-rise symposium is being hosted at the Anvil Centre in the heart of the City of New Westminster. This state-of-the-art boutique conference centre is conveniently located directly across from the New Westminster SkyTrain station and is connected to the major highways enabling ease of access from the lower mainland with convenient on-site parking. For more information, please visit www.anvilcentre.com.
The symposium includes a delicious breakfast and lunch on both days with dinner and hospitality being served on the evening of October 4. For delegates travelling out of town, accommodations are available at the Inn at the Quay just a short walk from the venue. For more information and to reserve, please call 604 520 1776, email reservations@innatthequay.com or visit www.innatwestminsterquay.com.
