In a previous life I was a commercial lines insurance inspector and the premiums alone on a building like this could have paid for the rest of the concrete in a short few years, folowing construction and sale. I wonder if the new tennants know that? In my present life as first a Compliance Officer and now OSHA Consultant for State of Utah, I shudder to think what one neighbor falling to sleep while smokeing might do to the whole structure.

I have seen several such buildings go up here and wondered where the building code people went. I now work with Public Employers, such as Fire Services, to help them stay safe and healthy in their jobs. It sure makes the job harder for everyone. No life is worth this cost.

Interesting isnt it how easily one can assign value when they are the ones making the charts and graphs? I found it utterly disgusting that they hid the reality of our brothers dying by creating an under exagerated x-axis line for FF deaths, and using a data trend for the y-axis that, as you pointed out, is not even relevant. There has been no reduction in line of duty deaths. The reduction in occupant deaths is wholly attributable to the public education and other innovations that came out of the America Burning study.

And to think, these same great folks want to stop residential sprinklers and code improvements. I didnt even know what great friends of ours they are until I read their little propaganda sheet. Hopefully the author of this little gem will come and spend some time on the big red trucks and get a chance to see just how “safe” these things are when wet, incorrectly installed, and/or burning. One or two collapses or near misses ought to help clear it up no?

The southeastern US has seen phenominal growth over the past 10 years. The economics boom (that was) and the numerous devastating storms have left in there wake, whole cities that are constructed almost entirely with some form of lightwieght components in them. My job is certainly no exception to this rule.

As a result, my companies have been instructed to assume all structures are in fact lightweight until proven otherwise. They have standing orders to start opening up as soon as they enter a structure and to report the type of structural components they find to the IC. It has already paid off on several occasions by keeping us looking for alternative means of entry. We look for the shortest and most direct routes CONTINUALLY. We are still dedicated to aggressive tactics and interior operations, we just try to limit the amount of realestate over our heads while we are doing it.

Thanks again and stay safe Brothers.