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Contents page
The RCR CPD video library includes lectures filmed at RCR meetings. Users can claim 1 CPD credit for viewing and reflecting on a lecture. An additional credit can be claimed for evaluating the impact of the CPD on patient care. Lectures are moved to the Archive section after 24 months.
RCR members and Fellows need to log in at the top of the page to view lectures and look up their personal online CPD records. If you do not have your log in details please select the log in button and choose the option 'Create an account' or 'Request a new password'.
This resource can also be used by non-RCR members on a pay per view (PPV basis) – the charge is £5 per lecture. To access the site for the first time, please select the log in button at the top of the page and click the blue 'guest registration tab'.


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Read this profile of the Ackland's Katie Ziglar in the latest issue of Carolina Alumni Review!
Greetings from the Ackland!
While we are still riding the wave of our January gift of The Peck Collection, the year 2017 continues to be a banner year for the Museum.
On October 6th we announced that we have been given three major collection gifts of art valued at $41.5 million from alumni John L. Townsend III and Marree Townsend, alumnus John G. Ellison Jr., and former Ackland director Charles W. Millard III. The art gifts include diverse works from a wide array of artists that will increase our already top-quality, encyclopedic collection and accelerate our mission to become the preeminent public university art museum in the country! You can read the press announcement here.
These gifts mean that, for the first time at the Ackland, there will be paintings by some of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, among them Gerhard Richter, Adolph Gottlieb, Willem de Kooning, and Alex Katz. Building on our strength as a vital teaching resource, works of art by a number of important women artists—including Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and Dorothea Lange—are also entering the collection.
It was a privilege to announce this historic moment during the launch of the Campaign for Carolina. We were honored that Chancellor Carol L. Folt and Vice Chancellor for University Development David Routh joined us to mark the occasion. If you missed it, you can watch a video about the announcement here.
With the excitement that has surrounded our announcement, we are already being asked when these art works will be on view. I'm happy to tell you that some of them will be part of our landmark fall 2018 exhibition celebrating the Ackland's 60th anniversary.
You certainly don't have to wait until then to experience great art at the Ackland! When you visit the Museum this fall, I invite you to:
- fully explore – including inside – the Ackland's giant "stickwork" vessels constructed by sculptor Patrick Dougherty and a dedicated crew of volunteers
- shop at our newly (and conveniently!) relocated Museum Store, right off the lobby
- linger in and marvel at our newest special exhibition, Flash of Light, Fog of War, which showcases newly-acquired late 19th- and early 20th-century Japanese prints donated by UNC alumnus Eugene Roberts and Susan Roberts
Whatever you decide to see at the Ackland in the coming months, you'll be able to get close to the art – the familiar, the unexpected, and the challenging – and connect with the beauty and complexity of the wider world. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Katie Ziglar
p.s. To stay informed of everything that is new and next at the Ackland, subscribe to our eNews!
Photos, top to bottom, by Audrey Shore, Katie Voss, and Emily Bowles.

subset: commoncrawl


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CAMBRIDGE — Two council meetings took place on Monday night. First the old council conducted the business of their last meeting, approving some major events in the city.
The Richardson Museum will again sponsor the Schooner Rendezvous, from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. This has got to be one of the proudest events in a waterfront city. The beautiful and historic schooners arrive for the 11th Annual Rendezvous this year.
Crabtobefest, which fills the city streets with German music and dancing, sponsored by the Duren-Dorchester County Partnership, will take place on Sept. 24.
Also approved were the annual Back to School Party on Aug. 20, sponsored by the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church; and the "Strut Your Mutt" event at Great Marsh Park on Sept. 17.
The council's big job of determining the progress of the Sailwinds Project was next.
A proposal for a market analysis was sent out and the City Manager reported on four responses, ranging in price from $7,000 to $32,500. The highest bidder, Delta Associates was the recommendation of City Manager Sandra Tripp Jones. The firm's qualifications included a background of land use development, diversified staff with market analysis skills, and an impressive history of working in both large and small municipalities.
The commissioners had questions and alternatives. Outgoing Commissioner Frank Cooke suggested that local skilled people could be drafted to do the market analysis, saving the city some money. Others objected, citing that the waterfront project has been "in irons" for decades. Outgoing Commissioner Jackie Vickers suggested that the ongoing project decision be left to the next council. Outgoing Commissioner Gage Thomas disagreed because this council has the history to conclude at least this chapter.
Commissioner Thomas' history goes back to the last century. But the majority decided to forego a decision on the market analysis proposals.
A last piece of business, the certification of the General Election results, and it was over. Time to swear in the new members of the City Council. From Ward 1, Steve Rideout fills the seat vacated by Jackie Vickers. Thanking voters for their confidence, he promises to stay focused on the problems facing Cambridge, including race relations and education.
From Ward 3, La-Shon Foster took her oath with her hand on her family Bible, which she had brought for the occasion. Next to be sworn in as Commissioner of Ward 4 and accompanied by his wife was Dave Cannon, a frequent attendee of council meetings in the past.
A second meeting began with a council consisting of two holdovers and three new members. City Manager Sandra Tripp Jones promised the newly-elected commissioners "a rigorous schedule to learn about the workings of the city departments." "Government work is serious work, and we want you to enjoy it," she said. With that, the new council was seated. They elected veteran Robert Hanson of Ward 5 as president and Donald Sydnor of Ward 2 as chairman pro-tem. A new era begins.


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Fear of risk deters companies, institutions and communities from pursuing microgrids. In this excerpt from a new special report from Microgrid Knowledge and Schneider Electric we examine how the EaaS model secures microgrid benefits without the inherent financial, developmental and ownership risk. It's clear that microgrids need an 'easy … [Read more...]
Securing Microgrid Benefits without the Risk
Microgrid Benefits
The U.S. Department of Energy defines a microgrid as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. Microgrid benefits help us connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or … [Read more...]


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Summer days are always tuff to dress up and people prefer dresses getting shorter.
One need to be carefully dressup himself for office purpose to make themselves look professional. If one dosent know what to wear during hot days of summer, you can follow following suggestion to dress up yourself well and perfect for summer days.
Follow a policy of avoiding short dresses specially mini's, Always goodto use mini's which are few inches above the knee and a decent pair of shoes/sandals. You should need to feel comfort with your wears, one with uncomfortness can lead to many complications, so its a good practise to wear comfortable wears which makes you comfort for all ocasions of office during office hours.
Do not dressup yourself in sloppy wears, Avoid loose fiting and tight fittings. Avoid dresses which become topic of comments for others, such as the knee minis, uncovered arms, transferent wears.


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Following my graduation from York in 1991, I spent three years working on a project to re-vamp the "Time Cars" at Jorvik Viking Centre by designing a microprocessor control system.
I then spent the next three years working as Technical Manager then Technical Director of a PC assembler / direct sales company. After that I spent five years as Technical Infrastructure Manager for a Microsoft Solution Provider Partner, where I gained an MCSE qualification.
Since late 2002 I have worked for York College as a Tutor of IT and Computing
I teach on and manage York College's Foundation Degree programme, meaning a degree in Computer Science is a basic requirement of my job. I have also found my professional qualifications and practical experience to be very useful throughout my career.
I would advise current students to not to give up; even if you have to switch job several times to find your true vocation then do so. Graduates must always have a positive goal; unless you are heading towards something you really want you'll end up going no-where - as I did for my first six months after graduation! Graduates also need to maintain enthusiasm; it is a very attractive quality in a potential employee.
Despite the doom and gloom, the IT industry is a good place to be. Join the BCS as a student member, make use of the Careers section of their web site, attend branch meetings and network; also, read the industry press – Computer Weekly and Computing.
There are a lot of good jobs out there, although they generally require a lot of experience so don't be afraid to start at the bottom and work your way up. A Helpdesk / IT Support role may seem unappealing but if the company offers the opportunity to gain professional qualifications then it's really worthwhile and you'll find you progress rapidly.
If you're thinking about teaching as a career I can't emphasise enough the importance of getting some industrial experience first, five years minimum.
Above all make sure you enjoy what you are doing, it took me over ten years to finally find a job that I genuinely look forward to doing each day; it was well worth the effort.


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Email Jackie Bould BSc, NCS (Accred)
If you are struggling with issues in your life no matter what they are, you can ring for a free a 15 min meet up to see if we can work together. You can then arrange another appointment if you choose to do so but without any obligation.
Please either enable it in your browser and try again, or return to the profile page for Jackie Bould and select a different method of contact.


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Takeuchi's new Hybrid grabs attention
One of the main attractions was the new dual power machine the Hybrid TB216E.
A machine that offers plug in power option when excavating indoors, in sensitive environments or internal demolition works.
The option of a switch over hybrid from diesel to electric power, with no reduction in performance has proved in demand for specialist contractors working exclusively in emission free zones - food processing, animal farming, internal demolition.
Alongside the new hybrid for many it was the first chance to see the new TB230 and TB240 mini excavators launched at the end of last year.
These 3 and 4 tonnes minis are often an in-demand weight class for construction and plant hire and Takeuchi's new stylish options are proving popular
» Click here to view the excavators
» Click here to view the carriers
» Click here to view the breakers
» Click here to view used machinery
Takeuchi All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Cookies | Site Credits | Sitemap


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Prom On The Cheap: Saving Dollars On Dining
Picking a restaurant on prom night can be tough.
Most teens want to go out in groups and not spend a lot of money but it's hard to find a place that can meet those needs, get the teens to the dance on time, and treats them like young adults, not children.
"They're the future of our business, so obviously if we make them happy now they will be coming back in the future and that's what we're looking for," Kyle Healy, the assistant manager at Trombino's in Albuquerque, said.
When prom season rolls around every year, Healy said teens know the restaurant is a place where they can come for a great, affordable meal.
"We just do everything we can," Healy said. "We offer large portions, we bring them extra plates, we encourage sharing entrees."
Entrees start at just $10 and appetizers are so big they can make a meal.
The restaurant also splits the check per couple, making it easy for the group to get in and out in time for the dance.
Healy said Trombino's does everything it can to make prom night memorable, and it appears to be working.
The restaurant has regulars who still come in after going to prom together 10 or 20 years ago.


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I'm excited to announce a new addition to the Toolkit that has been in development for a long time - the NFPA 13 Edition Translator.
2019 Changes
With the major restructuring changes in the 2019 Edition of NFPA 13 - it has been difficult for me to flip straight to the content I'm used to doing. From the feedback I've heard I'm not alone on that learning curve.
As a result, a couple weeks ago I released the first version of the translator, which takes any numerical section from the 2016 or 2019 edition, and returns the matching section from the opposite edition.
Full Tool Now Available
This full version is quite the powerhouse. With over 130 hours of research included, it can now take any numerical section from any edition of NFPA 13 from 1999 through the 2019 edition, and returns the matching section throughout it's history.
A quick search on the edition translator shows the history of the section and where it appears.
Why could this be helpful? If you work across multiple jurisdictions or your local jurisdiction just updated to a new edition of NFPA 13, the shift in organization can be frustrating.
If you use the free versions of NFPA 13 that are supported by NFPA, then this tool could help you quickly navigate equivalent sections.
Probably the most common use I have is finding the back-history of where a section first appeared and where to look for it in past editions. This comes up occasionally for projects when there's disagreement about a particular section of code and searching for the back-history and any clarifications in future editions is very helpful.
Available Now
If you're a Toolkit subscriber, you can download the latest version of the Toolkit, including this edition translator, here.
I've made it easier to download updates for Toolkit users. You can access the latest version and quickly download it at www.meyerfire.com/download. No sign in required.
Find this interesting? Consider sending to a friend or colleague who might find it helpful.
It's always a bit of a wild ride between March and May around here publishing the new edition of the PE Prep Guide. Each year I go through all of the prior year's feedback, make the updates I want, and then wait for the official SFPE list of required references to make any changes and publish.
Good & Bad News
The good news is for 2019 that the books are here a whole month earlier than I was anticipating - thanks to SFPE's early posting of the 2019 required reference list in early April. If you order a copy with our current sale, we'll get it headed your way in less than 24 hours.
The bad news is that SFPE has also just revised the required reference list again just last week, well after their usual April posting and also after I sent the 2019 edition to the publisher. I guess this isn't really bad news at the latest update just took NFPA 25 from the 2014 edition to the 2014 OR 2017 edition, and NFPA 92 from the 2012 edition to the 2012 OR 2015 edition.
The 2019 Edition is now the 4th and largest edition of the PE Prep Guide.
I don't know for sure, but I suspect that this change was based on recent feedback SFPE gathered about introducing older standards to the exam than what they've previously used. I'm guessing it was in good faith to not force examinees to go hunt down older versions of these standards while not materially affecting this exam.
Regardless, this week I was happy to receive the largest shipment of books we've ever had (a FedEx Freight semi-truck dropped off a 480 pound pallet of books at our home Thursday) and we've already shipped over three dozen books in the last 24 hours.
An annual tradition around here is pre-packaging the shipment of books as they come in for quick turn-arounds. This year we received our largest shipment to date - a nearly 500 pound pallet of hardcover books.
PE Guide Growth
If you're in the hunt for the PE Exam this year, you might consider getting a copy of the PE Prep Guide. Last year over 2 out of every 3 examinee had the 2018 edition in hand, and many of the last 1/3rd had prior editions of the guide. It's quickly becoming the go-to resource for the Fire Protection PE Exam and is well beyond what I could ever have hoped would happen when I put the first guide together in 2016.
Weekly Exam Prep Series
If you already have the 2018 Edition, you might consider the Weekly Exam Prep Series. It's a 20-week set of mini-exams that simulate the pace and difficulty of the actual PE Exam, with a bank of on-demand questions as well.
For the numbers we're still gathering from last year's users of the Weekly Exam Series, we're having tremendous success with those who are taking the exam for the 2nd or 3rd time with a pass rate double the average of all repeat examinees. Check it out especially if you're a repeat examinee.
The feedback and growth for the Weekly Exam Series has also been great - there's already as many people signed up for this year as we did all of 2018.
Thank you for the feedback and interest so far - I can't wait to get these books out to everyone and get the summer of study rolling. Any questions/concerns - I'm always here at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Should it be called "preparing" or "prepping" for the PE (Principles and Practice of Engineering) Exam?
If you've studied for the exam and spent hours and hours covering thousands of pages of material - it just might feel more like "prepping" for doomsday more than anything else. The required references for 2019 alone now cover 9 different books, 12 volumes and over 6,500 pages.
This week I'm covering a review of the 2018 exam and some updates to 2019 for the Fire Protection PE Exam.
Discouraging 2018 Results
The overall results from all 241 examinees came in December, and the results were not great.
Pass rates for first-time examinees fell to 56%, the lowest this decade. The pass rate for repeat takers also fell to 28%, the lowest rate since 2015. These results are published annually by NCEES.
4th Toughest Exam for First-Timers
We once again maintain a distinction for having one of the most difficult exams to pass. The 56% pass rate for first time examinees ranks 4th toughest of the 24 different PE disciplines, behind only software, civil (construction), and power systems.
The overall pass rate (first-time and repeat takers combined) isn't much better with fire protection having the 7th most difficult pass rate.
On a related note one of the adjacent fields where some people working in fire protection get their PE is mechanical and architectural. Architectural used to have an overall pass rate above 80%, but that appears to no longer be the case. The Mechanical PE on Thermal & Fluid Systems has an overall pass rate of 60%, higher than fire protection but not by a large degree.
Raw Cut Score about 70%
With the popularity of the Weekly Exam Series (a 20-week series of mini-exams for Fire Protection PE examinees), I've gathered significantly better analytics on the difficulty of the actual exam and how well studying translates to passing the exam.
We're now able to better estimate the raw cut score (the percentage of questions correct to pass the exam), and how the difficulty of the Weekly Exams compares to the actual exam.
From the 2018 exam, we've estimated an overall raw cut score of 69-70%.
MeyerFire User Pass Rates
The statistic I love and get asked about more than anything is what the pass rates are for people buying the PE Prep Guide and what the pass rates are for people doing the Weekly Exams.
In short, it is very difficult to calculate this value now that the Prep Guide has become so popular. Consider this - on the 2018 exam over 2 out of every 3 examinees had the 2018 edition in their hand when they took the exam. Many who didn't have the 2018 edition brought a copy of the 2017.
In concept, if nearly everyone has a copy of the book on the actual exam, then it becomes more of a prerequisite to taking the exam than it does a boost only to the person using it. Where I have found differentiation, though, is between examinees who get a copy, study early, and study thoroughly. Somewhat obviously - the best prepared tend to do better on the actual exam.
As for pass rates of the Weekly Exam - I'm trying hard to get those exact values. If you used the Weekly Exam Series in 2018, I would be very grateful to hear from you and how the test went.
While I've reached out to everyone, I still haven't heard from the following users: Pepe Sylvia, GingerSnap, RoundONE, JT, Ginger, AB, JDB Falcon, onebadshark, MAXCRYPT, Senior, Old Guy, Ryan, Tip Top, na, dot dot dot, and yeass. [if you can't tell, we have a lot of fun on the Weekly Exam Series]
If you're one of these people, please shoot me an email at email@example.com. Your input helps craft future editions and support success for others going forward.
A Checklist of Resources
Are you planning to take the 2019 exam? If so, you'll want to see our list of every resource we know to be available to you. The list includes formula sheets, practice exams, reference materials, Prep Books, Study Communities, and Courses. It's all here: https://www.meyerfire.com/pe-tools.html
Changes to the 2019 PE Exam
Once again the exam writers can't help but make tweaks between each edition of the PE Exam. While published articles as old as five years ago suggested a narrowing of required references down to just the NFPA and SFPE handbooks, the actual exam references have done anything but condense.
For 2019, there's a few notable changes from the 2018 Exam (as published by SFPE):
Here's the year to year changes, with edition, additions or subtracted changes highlighted.
The 2019 PE Prep Guide Release
Fortunately this year, SFPE released the required references earlier than in years past. As a result the 2019 PE Prep Guide, which usually would ship in June, will ship earlier. At this time I'm estimating a mid-may shipment of these editions for anyone who pre-orders a copy. Of course if you'd rather get a copy in your hands now, we still have the 2018 edition available.
Weekly Exam Prep Series
Back for a third year the Weekly Exam Prep Series will kick off June 3rd. If you're looking to get as much regular practice as is available anywhere in a fun exam-simulated pace, then this is for you. See where you rank and get access to over 400 questions with the Weekly Exams. Learn more about the Weekly Exam Prep Series here.
2019 vs. 2020 Exam
Big changes are ahead for the 2020 exam. Not only will the Fire Protection PE Exam transition to a computer-based exam, but the legacy of bringing in volumes and volumes of references will go away as well. As we understand it today, there will be a single, condensed reference book with formulas and charts that can be used on the exam - and that's it. It'll be a different delivery, different problem types, and a different reference.
It'll be a big change and without a doubt make 2020 examinees feel like guinea pigs in the sense of trying out something new to everyone involved (examinees, the exam writers, and prep material producers). That could be intimidating or could be an opportunity depending upon how you look at it.
Know someone interested in taking the PE Exam? Feel free to send them this article today.
Are you "prepping" for the 2019 PE Exam? Here's some related past articles on the topic:
A 2018 PE Exam Summer in Review
Updates for the 2018 Fire Protection PE Exam
Thoughts on the 2017 PE Prep Season
5 Tips to Crush P.E. Exam Prep
Fire P.E. Exam Ranked 3rd Toughest, 6th Overall
Collaborate with Others Studying for the PE Exam
Determining fire flow can be a tricky subject. This week I'm breaking down one common method of determining fire flow requirements and hopefully exposing some myths about the process.
Not an Exact Science
First, determining the exact amount of water required to manually suppress a fire is dependent upon so many variables. The amount of water used could depend on the building size, hazard, outdoor conditions, speed of fire growth, fire department response time, whether the building is protected by sprinklers, and on and on.
The methods used to calculate fire flow are different methods at estimating the amount of water required to manually suppress a fire. It is not an exact science.
What is Fire Flow?
I'll start by what fire flow is not. Fire Flow is not the volume of water required for the fire sprinkler system. I couldn't count the number of projects where Fire Flow has been assumed to be sprinkler-related.
Fire Flow is formally defined as the "flow rate of a water supply, measured at 20 psi (138 kPa), that is available for fire fighting." (IFC 200-2018 Appendix B Section B102)
Fire flow is used to determine the quality of a water supply to an area. It's used as an aid to determine pipe size and arrangements to delivery water to a specific area.
Fire Flow is important for emergency response at it is the total capacity of the system that the fire department has available for use in response to a fire.
How Is Required Fire Flow Determined?
In short - it depends.
There are many methods for determining fire flow. The most common cited in US circles include the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Method, Iowa State Method, and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Method. At least a dozen other methods exist (for more on these, the Fire Protection Research Foundation provides great analysis in Evaluation of Fire Flow Methodologies research paper).
The International Fire Code (IFC) offers Appendix material that provides guidance for determining the required fire flow, which is based on the ISO Method. It is not a mandated code requirement unless a jurisdiction adopts the Appendix.
Many jurisdictions I've worked with do not have an ordinance that adopts the appendix, but when asked they are typically open to using the IFC Appendix B method of determining fire flow. The International Fire Code, which is widely adopted in the US, only requires that an approved water supply "capable of supplying the required fire flow" be provided to buildings.
This process will be explored in more detail here.
1. Determine Baseline Fire Flow
The first step in this overall determination of water supply to a site is to determine the required fire flow.
Using the IFC Method, Appendix B has a reference table that stipulates a minimum fire flow and flow duration based upon building size and construction type (2000-2012 Table B105.1, 2015-2018 Table B105.1(2)).
2. Reductions & Increases
Once a baseline value for flow and duration is taken from the table, it can be reduced based on the presence of sprinkler system.
Section B105 details the adjustments that are available for buildings with a sprinkler system. A reduction of up to 75% can be permitted for buildings with a fire sprinkler system.
It's important to note that up through the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code, a reduction of fire flow had to be approved, meaning the AHJ must agree on the reduction. This may not make a difference if a jurisdiction hasn't adopted the appendix and the entire calculation has to be approved anyways, but in the case where Appendix B is adopted and you're under IFC 2000 through 2012, you'll need AHJ buy-in to use the reduction.
The 2015 and 2018 edition of IFC removed the approval necessity for sprinkler flow reductions.
As part of this process the Fire Chief is also authorized to decrease the required fire flow, based on building isolation or impracticality. Alternatively, the Fire Chief is also authorized to increase based on unusual susceptibility for the facility. These stipulations come with Section B103 of Appendix B (all editions).
Fire Flow is used to quantify the available water supply for manual firefighting operation.
3. Verify Provided Fire Flow
The best way to verify fire flow for a location is to conduct a flow test at the site itself. This of course can be difficult to impossible for new-construction projects on virgin sites.
For developed areas or building expansions, this may not be difficult to accomplish.
I have a current project we're working on that is a major building expansion. Fire flow needed to be assessed based on the new expanded building and whether a single 8-inch feed would still meet the minimum requirements. A flow test on the site itself confirmed that we are just short of required fire flow which prompted a healthy discussion with the AHJ.
4. Calculate from Flow Test to Site (if necessary)
Sometimes a flow test can't be conducted on the site itself.
When this is the case, a hydraulic calculation can be run between the water supply source (nearby flow test, a water tower, reservoir, or pump) and the project site to estimate what the available fire flow will be. This calculation incorporates the pressure loss of the pipe network as water is constricted between a source and a project site. The best way to confirm actual fire flow (in my opinion) is to verify with a flow test once any extension is installed.
Easy Tools for Fire Flow & Water Supply Analysis
There's a new tool in the arsenal around here that directly addresses fire flow requirements.
It's the Fire Flow Calculator that's now a part of the Toolkit. If you're already a Toolkit subscriber, download it today.
The Fire Flow Calculator uses the IFC method based on your project parameters to quickly grab the baseline fire flow and duration, and make adjustments for sprinkler protection. Now you have extremely quick access to determine required fire flow, and the documentation to support your process.
This is a tool I'm happy to debut and have used with great client feedback.
On a side note, Toolkit subscribers also now have access to last week's Design Checklist with user-provided feedback. The download update includes both tools. Give them a download and let me know what you think!
Don't get these weekly articles? Subscribe here and get a free guide for canopies & overhangs.
If you've been following the blog for awhile, you might already know about the Toolkit that has really taken off lately. This past week I've incorporated some (great) user feedback and now have a new version to present:
I've revamped the organization and it's FAR easier to navigate and use now.
With a new main menu and crisp pages the Toolkit is FAR easier to navigate. Now you can get what you need, quickly.
If you're already a subscriber to the Toolkit, use the download link below to get the latest version right now. No need for any new access codes - it just updates the Toolkit right over your current version.
A clip of the latest version of the Sprinkler Obstruction Calculator on the MeyerFire Toolkit.
What is the Toolkit, and what does it include?
The MeyerFire Toolkit is a downloadable series of excel-based tools that allow fire protection designers, engineers and code authorities to quickly calculate a myriad of regular applications. With this tool you can save time with quick but powerful tools that you can save, PDF, or print.
The Toolkit contains all of the tools you see on this website - plus the popular Fire Sprinkler Database - which is a live collection of all fire sprinklers on the market where you can sort and filter to see what products exist for your application, and then specify or design the ones that best match your design goals.
A Free 30-Day Trial, Starting Today
If you've never seen the Toolkit, or have used a trial version before and are interested in testing the new look, download the toolkit with a trial code (good through late March) here:
What's Next?
There's a few new additions to the Toolkit I hope to debut in the next couple weeks based on suggestions from users just like you. If you're an expert in fire flow calculations or water storage tank design and are interested in early testing, email me at email@example.com.
If you know someone who might be interested in giving the Toolkit a try, email them about downloading it today. As always, you can subscribe to these weekly articles & resources here.
Introducing the New Fire Pump Database
I receive feedback regularly from many users and observers - and I'm very grateful for both!
Sprinkler Database Interest & Feedback
One member recently reached out about the Sprinkler Database and said:
"I appreciate all the work you've done on that site. The sprinkler database has helped tremendously when looking for specialty sprinklers, specifically available storage sprinkler is odd configurations!"
It's a tool that is basic in premise but can save tons of time when you're looking to compare sprinklers, find a specific type of sprinkler, or see if a solution exists for your specific problem. Here's a quick overview
Fire Pump Database
With the interest and feedback from the Sprinkler Database, it was only a matter of time before I expanded this into other areas. You may already have seen the Backflow Database, but now we have a beta version of a Fire Pump Database.
With the fire pump database you can now search for fire pumps of various configurations, drivers, sizes, and then instantly link to CAD and Revit models, performance curves, website links, product data, and dimensions. The current beta version includes AC, Armstrong, and Aurora Fire Pumps.
All-inclusive Toolkit members can log in and use the database now.
Know a Contact for Patterson or Peerless?
If you work for or know a great contact for Patterson Fire Pumps and Peerless Fire Pumps, please let me know their contact information. I'm looking to partner with both of these companies to also help connect users to their products.
Toolkit Sale Through November 30th
Interested in getting the Toolkit and access to all of our tools? Join between now and Friday the 30th for $30 off your first year's subscription. Just use coupon code CYBER18 when you checkout here before Friday November 30th.
Lastly, if you're in the US, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
Last week I introduced a new Thrust Block Calculator and explored some of the concepts around the design and function of Thrust Blocks.
Expanded Calculator
Here's the new expanded thrust block calculator. With similar inputs as before, we're now able to calculate the thrust block volume required, as well as determine the height and width required for the thrust block.
Toolkit is Here
Well it's here! The MeyerFire Toolkit is past a beta version and ready for you.
To celebrate here's the latest version I've created and free access that runs through the end of September. You can download the complete Toolkit with installation instructions below:
Don't Get These Updates?
You can subscribe to all the tools and resources we discuss and create by following the blog here: Join In
"Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking." - William Butler Yeats
This site is built to start a discussion.
You see, I'm not a 30-year industry veteran, standard committee member, or organization technical expert. I'm perhaps a mediocre engineer, average illustrator, novice website developer and author. Perhaps the thing I'm best at is Microsoft Excel, but as the son of two accountants - that's just in my blood.
The only real unique angle I have is a combination of those items that I've used to compile these online resources.
In the end, though, that might be all it takes to start the discussion.
What is Wrong
I've seen fire protection that could be better and you probably have too.
I've seen design documents where fire protection is completely not-addressed, where even a "provide sprinkler heads throughout" would have been an improvement. There's bad installations, a lack of resources to review drawings & calculations, and educational resources that exist but aren't great.
Who We Are
Fire protection is a niche market.
You don't need me to tell you that – far and away the majority of designers and engineers in the industry are comprised of small design outposts. It's not the Jensen Hughes of the worlds that make up most of the industry – it's the mom and pop contractors, freelancers, MEP firms, insurers, building owner's engineers, and small fire protection consultants that make up the majority of fire protection design, installation and review in the US and abroad.
How do I know? I interact with these people all the time. People that are far smarter and more experienced than myself. The resources I've just started to share are not new – they're just shared publicly across corporate borders for perhaps the first time.
You may already know - in fire protection we're the lone-gunners.
Mechanical and electrical engineering are massive industries. For every newly licensed fire protection engineer, there are 14 newly licensed electrical engineers and 17 new mechanical engineers. And that's despite the tremendous growth we've seen in fire protection engineering in the last couple decades.
We're already on a small island compared to those disciplines.
We do have something that those massive fields don't – we have the fire (pun intended). Fire protection designers, engineers, installers, and reviewers in my experience are far more passionate about this field than the average mechanical, electrical, plumbing or structural engineer.
We're a niche market and I'm told constantly a "rare breed" (I think that's a compliment...). Being niche in addition to understanding the importance of what we do is part of what makes so many people in fire protection so passionate about our careers. It's the niche market and that passion that makes the community aspect of what we do so important.
I had lunch with a new colleague I admire last week who had previously worked in other fields and he specifically mentioned that the community within fire protection is a major differentiation for our industry.
Importance of Independence
I'm not a product manufacturer, I'm not a tiered membership organization, and I'm not a design standard. Believe it or not unless you're one of about three people following this blog I'm also not a competitor to you or your company.
Independence on the part of this website may be the most important perspective I can create to offer something meaningful for the industry.
Why? Because if there's something that the industry could use, I want to create it. If there's a better, faster, leaner way of helping people like us do fire protection better, then this website is built to be right at that intersection.
The tools here are not limited to representing one manufacturer's products.
The articles here are not so high-level that you can read three full-page spreads and have nothing to apply to your workflow. I don't write with the hope of sounding sophisticated.
A Rising Tide Raises All Ships
I've been asked before about why I'd consider sharing tools and resources I've used, when it's essentially "training the competition".
As mentioned earlier; I'm really not a competitor. But more importantly, how much better could the industry be if there are greater numbers of people who are passionate, sharp, and involved in fire protection?
If we've all witnessed a lack of concern for fire protection, how could offering up the small things we learn as we go not help us all out in the end?
I still come across architects who had yet to work with or weren't familiar hiring a fire protection design team. How much better could the industry be served if fire protection were considered early in project development the way mechanical, electrical, structural and plumbing design is?
How much better could fire protection be if bid documents contained water supply information, well-established design criteria with the building owner's involvement, and basic coordination such that the sprinkler installer isn't the bad guy when he installs a main?
How much better could building owners be served if sprinkler contractors didn't have to take on so much risk with bidding empty documents?
How much better would it be for review authorities if someone else was looking out for code compliance, and they didn't have to be the bad guy every time?
Our past culture of minimal fire protection involvement early in project development doesn't have to be our future.
With a basic set of competent specifications, contractors can actually give building owners what they want while making profit even in competitive bid scenarios – all while review authorities can receive better documents and better results.
Getting there isn't a matter of mandating FPE involvement, forcing continuing education or ramming more requirements on the industry. In my opinion doing better fire protection is getting knowledge and tools into the hands of people that can use it. The more tools and help we can create, the better we're all served in the long run.
The Future of MeyerFire
This website is here for the long run.
I have been so thrilled to meet and hear from such a variety of sharp and passionate people after developing this basic website. My hope is that this website is a conduit that helps bring people to the industry, help share knowledge and help share resources that little by little move us all forward and up.
It's all about the movement towards better fire protection.
The tools posted here are literally about 3% of the ideas others have shared and I have down in writing for future development. There's so much to create and share, and it's just getting started.
This summer (July 11th) will see the launch of the Toolkit, which is a printable, savable, downloadable software package incorporating all of the tools on this website. For Weekly Exam users, July will also have an on-demand practice exams, offering unlimited runs of questions you've faced but with different inputs & solutions to extend your prep ability.
Later this summer and into the fall I'll be working towards new design tools & resources to add online and to the toolkit, while also helping support the ongoing community in the MeyerFire Daily space.
Between following the Blog, the Daily Questions, beta testing the new software package that will debut two weeks from today, or using the PE Exam Tools, thank you for being a part of the movement towards better fire protection.
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Beta Test the [All New] Toolkit
As promised I've been busy developing all of the tools available from this site into a downloadable software package, where you can quickly run calculations, save, and print your work. I'm calling it the MeyerFire Toolkit.
Here's the info page about the MeyerFire Toolkit.
The Toolkit is a downloadable software package with an assortment of basic tools for the fire protection professional.
I have the software to a point now that I'd love to gather feedback from you - if you're interested.
If you'd like to beta test the software (try it out and poke around for free), please just reply to this email or shoot me a quick email at firstname.lastname@example.com letting me know you're interested. I'll send a link for a trial version of the software.
While it would be great to get a gauge on where the software is now, I'm far more interested in where it can go in the coming months and couple years. I've been very encouraged by the interest and support to date and I think what these tools are now hardly scratches the surface of what could be developed to help fire protection professionals like you work faster and smarter.
If you'd like to give it a try, all I ask is that you let me know your thoughts about it - usefulness, ways it can be improved, your level of interest - anything that might help build a better resource going forward.
See more about it all here: MeyerFire Toolkit. Thank you!
SFPE Releases 2018 Required References
This week the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) released the required references for this fall's Principles of Engineering (PE) Exam. Interestingly enough, NFPA 72 is back on the list of required references after being removed for the 2017 exam.
Changes to Weights of Topics for 201
One other important update from last year's exam is the weighting of problems overall. SFPE has adjusted the number of questions dedicated to each topic, which has been a point of focus to modernize the exam for SFPE's Professional Qualifications Committee.
The 2018 Fire Protection PE Exam incorporates changes in topic weighting to better match industry expectations.
Thoughts on Adjusted Exam Weighting
If you plan to take the exam this year, what does this mean? Not much in the big-picture. The bulk of the content is still very closely related to what was in the exam before. The weighting of the questions isn't a firm barrier but more of a loose goal for each year's exam anyways.
I believe the most noticeable difference might be the number of special hazard questions, which has been reduced by half to now make up only 5% of the exam.
Fire Protection Remains 3rd Toughest Exam for First-Timers
Of 24 different PE Exam disciplines, Fire Protection remains one of the most difficult for first-time test takers to pass.
Why is this? Primarily, it's because the Fire Protection PE Exam covers such a variety of topics (active systems, smoke control, fire dynamics fundamentals, and life safety) that any one individual is unlikely to have depth in. It can be easy to underestimate the exam when taking it for the first time.
Pass Rate for Repeat Examinees Improves
If there's reason for hope, the pass rate for repeat-test examinees was the highest in 2017 that it's been in recent years, at 48%. The interest in obtaining a Fire Protection PE has also grown, up to 266 examiness marking a 23% growth in just two years.
Weekly Exam Series Returning
The best source for extra problems and practice is also returning this summer. The Weekly Exam Series incorporates 20 weeks of 10-question, 1-hour mini exams that simulate the pace and difficulty of the actual exam. If you don't pass with this tool you'll get it free the following year.
I'm excited to add additional practice to the Weekly Exam Series this year - for no additional cost, you'll be able to take unlimited 1-hour mini exams on-demand. These mini exams are only limited by the total bank of questions, but will offer flexibility and simply far more opportunity to practice questions than available before. This new feature begins in July.
See more about the Weekly Exam Series here.
More Resources
After having a difficult experience taking the PE Exam several years ago with a lack of great resources, I decided to do something about it and begin providing resources that created a better experience for examinees.
See all the resources (good and bad) I've found on the PE Tools page and free daily practice on the Daily page.
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Joseph Meyer, PE, is a Fire Protection Engineer in St. Louis, Missouri. See bio on About page.
March 2020