The United States Fire Administration (USFA) in partnership the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) announced the release of a comprehensive Web-based educational program developed to enhance firefighter awareness of the performance of different forms of lightweight construction components during fires to create a safer operational environment for the fire service. These components include trusses, glue laminated beams, I-joists, structural composite lumber, and wood structural panels.
Included in this program is FireFrame, an interactive tool on building construction for the fire service. This Web-based program was developed with the assistance of several State and local level fire training systems.
“Firefighter safety and building construction is an important issue for the fire service today” said Charlie Dickinson, Acting US Fire Administrator. “Education is critical for firefighters operating at incidents to understand how modern building products perform in fires.”
“AF&PA was proud to work in partnership with USFA as well as several State and local fire training organizations to develop a program to educate the fire service on today’s and tomorrow’s building components,” AF&PA President and CEO Juanita D. Duggan stated. “Though this educational outreach and partnership we are committed to supporting the operational safety of the firefighters that bravely protect us everyday.”
Further information on this program can be found on this page of the USFA web site: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/research/safety/construction.shtm.
This program is also available at http://www.woodaware.info.
