AIA seeks members to participate in life-safety project
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Fire and Life-Safety Task Force, in an effort to “create an important positive dialogue between architects, building code officials, and the fire service,” is recruiting firefighters, officers, chiefs, and fire marshals to work with local architects to establish a database on structural fires that have occurred. The ultimate goal of this initiative, according to Scott G. Nacheman, Assoc. AISA, A.ASCE., is to “directly affect how the buildings in our cities are built and how they should perform in a fire.” Nacheman is an architectural designer and civil engineer with LZA Technology in New York City, a multi-discipline firm specializing in building investigations and failure analysis, and a firefighter with Guardian Engine Company No. 2 of the Jericho (NY) Fire Department.
Direct collaboration between fire service personnel and architects throughout the country is needed to facilitate the analysis of post-fire building damage and the establishing of a reporting mechanism similar to the NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System). “By reviewing incident reports, building plans, and applicable codes,” Nacheman says, “the fire service/architect team will have the necessary information to evaluate the performance of the buildings` components and systems. The information will then be standardized and utilized to educate the design community and guide the authors of the new building codes.”
Individuals who would like to collaborate on this project should forward the following information to Scott G. Nacheman, LZA Technology, 641 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10011-2014, fax: (212) 989-2040, e-mail: snacheman@lzagroup.com: name; title/position; personal address, phone number, e-mail (optional–employment address may be used); department/company name, address, phone number, e-mail; size of city/district (square miles and population); and relative construction experience.
