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Spotlight Session
Antifreeze Solutions and Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems — Panel Discussion
Track(s): Fire Suppression, Codes & Standards

Christian Dubay (Moderator), Vice President and Chief Engineer, NFPA;
Jim Lake, National Fire Sprinkler Association;
Steven Wolin, Code Consultants, Inc.;
Matt Klaus, NFPA

Audio Sample:




This panel discussion will provide a detailed review of the recent issues surrounding the use of antifreeze solutions for freeze protection in automatic fire sprinkler systems and how recent fire incidents have brought this issue to the forefront of automatic fire sprinkler standards. The panel discussion will review the history of antifreeze solution within codes and standards, recently completed research, the actions of NFPA, and the current status of the codes and standards.

Christian Dubay is vice president and chief engineer for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In this role, he oversees the codes and standards operations and also serves as the chief technical spokesperson for the association. Mr. Dubay holds a BS in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered professional engineer in the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

James D. Lake is currently the Assistant Vice President of Training and Education for the National Fire Sprinkler Association. He formerly served as the Staff Liaison for the NFPA Technical Committees on Automatic Sprinklers, responsible for writing NFPA 13, 13D, 13R and NFPA 24 and 291 where he was closely involved in the process of addressing the recent questions surrounding antifreeze in sprinkler systems. He also served the Technical Committee on Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Systems responsible for NFPA 25, and the Technical Committee on Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems responsible for NFPA 750. He is the editor of the 2010 Editions of the Automatic Sprinkler Handbook, the Automatic Sprinkler Handbook for Residential Occupancies and the 2011 Edition of the Water-Based Fire Protection Systems Handbook.

Steven Wolin is a Principal of Code Consultants, Inc. He is a licensed professional engineer in several states. Mr. Wolin has presented technical topics at seminars and conferences on a range of fire protection issues, including at a prior NFPA Conference and Expo. He is a recipient of the Harry C. Bigglestone award for excellent in the written communication of fire protection concepts.

Matt Klaus is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer at the National Fire Protection Association, where he is responsible for NFPA documents addressing systems commissioning, standpipes, wet and dry chemical suppression systems, stationary fire pumps, inspection testing and maintenance of water based systems, , fixed guideway and rail systems, semiconductor facilities, roadway tunnels and recreational vehicles. He presently holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering as well as a masters degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Klaus has extensive fire protection engineering consulting experience where he was a project manager for projects in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as projects across the United States.