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Conflagration to Code: How Historic Building Fires Shaped Modern Codes
Track(s): Building & Life Safety, Codes & Standards

Thomas Gardner, The Protection Engineering Group;
April Musser, The Protection Engineering Group

Audio Sample:



This session offers an in-depth analysis of the causes and contributing factors in some of history's most notorious structure fires and outlines how the lessons learned eventually translated into modern code requirements. Hear about many well-known fires such as the Cocoanut Grove, Iroquois Theater, and Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, as well as the Winecoff Hotel, GM Transmission Plant, Hartford Circus Tent Fire, and others.

Mr. Gardner holds a degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered Professional Engineer with 29 years of experience. He has held positions with the US Fire Administration, several fire protection engineering consultants, Grinnell Fire Protection Systems, and has over 20 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter. He was the editor of the 6th and 7th editions of the NFPA 99 Handbook, and co-authored two editions of NFPA's Fire and Life Safety in Health Care Facilities. Tom is the Immediate Past Chair of the Health Care Section and is a Principal with The Protection Engineering Group, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ms. Musser holds a BS in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and a MBA from Georgia State University in Organizational Management. April is a registered Professional Engineer with nine years of experience. She has held positions with several consulting firms and has six years of experience as a volunteer with the fire service. April has authored several articles on historic building fires and is currently serving as a Sr. Fire Protection Engineer with the Protection Engineering Group, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.