NFPA Conference & Expo

Enjoy special discounts when you attend C&E!

Enjoy special discounts on shopping, entertainment, and sight-seeing while you’re in town for the Conference. Discounts are being offered to C&E attendees thanks to the wonderful folks at Choose Chicago. Keep your badge close at hand and enjoy the richness that is, Chicago!

Visit our discounts page and let the savings begin!

Get ready! Let the mobile app be your companion at NFPA Conference & Expo

Get ready for C&E by equipping yourself with the mobile app: the comprehensive onsite guide that fits in your pocket and alerts you about important events. Sounds like a sales pitch? Well, I've been testing it out and would like to share with you what I think are its best and/or most interesting features.

NFPA 2013 C&E mobile app is the name and networking is the game. That's right! We've gone and added networking among the many useful features of this year's mobile app. Friends is a fully opt-in social plug-in that allows you to see who's attending and invite them to be a "Friend". Once you're linked to each other, you can send messages, view each other's schedule, and even remove them from your friends list if they misbehave. No stalking, people!

The enhanced Maps feature will offer you directions on the expo floor. Let's say I'm at the conference with several colleagues (which I will be) and I want to meet up with them at the NFPA booth between sessions. I can view all their schedules via Friends, find a time we're available and send them a message. I arrive on the expo floor a bit early and decide to look around. It's a fairly large place and directions would be helpful. From within the app, I look up NFPA under exhibitors, tap "get directions" and then tell it whose booth I'm near. A second later, a nice trail leads me to my destination. Indoor mapping is still a fairly new technology and not yet widely available. In my opinion, the expo map does a pretty good job.

Still skeptical? If you you're a little hesitant to jump on the social media bandwagon, this may be good place to start. It's simple, the community is fairly limited, and you can leave it at any time. Just remember that any personal information you choose to share will be at your sole discretion. There are plenty of other features to rave about if you're not ready put your virtual identity out there.

The new features may be exciting, but the real value of this app remains the session schedule and content. As in prior versions, My Schedule will build your conference schedule based on the sessions and special meetings you select and show it to you in a familiar calendar format. You can also add your own items to this calendar. I like adding my own items. I'd really like to see it integrate with the calendar on my smartphone, but I suppose there need to be some boundaries. Bonus - It will alert you when your next session is coming up!

The rich content you're likely familiar with includes downloadable session handouts, speaker bios and session descriptions. In addition, videos provided by NFPA offer several minutes of entertainment, a photo gallery will display photos taken by conference attendees and all of NFPA's social media channels are available from within the app, which means you don't need to have accounts on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+ to view them.

NFPA's goal is to provide you with the tools to get the best experience possible while navigating your way through unfamiliar territory. Spend some time with mobile app before you get to the show. I'm sure you'll discover something noteworthy!

Downloading the NFPA 2013 C&E mobile app is easy!

Scan the QR code at left to the download the app.

- OR –

For iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad and Android devices: Visit your favorite app store on your device and search for NFPA.

All other mobile devices: While on your smartphone, point your mobile browser to www.m.core-apps.com/nfpa-ce13. From there you will be directed to download the proper version of the app for your particular device, or, on some phones, you simply bookmark the page for future reference.

Read the Report of the Motions Committee on Certified Amending Motions for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code

The Report of the Motions Committee for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, addresses the certified amending motions for consideration at the Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, IL on Thursday, June 13, 2013. This Report also identifies a list of NITMAMS not certified on NFPA 70.

This Report is the third of three reports addressing motions submitted for consideration at the 2013
Association Technical Meeting, and is specific to the NEC. A Consolidated Final Motions Committee
Report (the Consolidated Report) will be posted shortly on the NFPA website prior to the Association Technical Meeting. 

See the order of documents to be presented at the Association Technical Meeting.

Three lucky winners will find $1,000 coming their way

Need another reason to attend the NFPA Expo? How about the chance to win $1,000 cash!

Thanks to the support from Edwards, a winner will be drawn every day of the expo. All you have to do is complete the ballot (inserted in your tote bag), drop it off at the Edwards booth (423) and be present at the grand prize stage at the time of the drawing.

Register today to attend!

Chicago travel video: theater & performing arts

Chicago has five Tony Award-winning theater companies, original world premier productions and breathtaking classical performances. Learn more about Chicago's theater and performing arts at the Choose Chicago website. 

Architectural intrigue braces the Windy City

Chicago is known for its modern forward-thinking architecture, since most of its older structures were consumed by the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  But, modern doesn't mean devoid of history.

Buildings along Chicago River line the south border of the Near North Side and Streeterville and the north border of Chicago Loop, Lakeshore East and Illinois Center in this panoramic photo: flickr user mindfrieze [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Where can you go to see and touch nearly 150 buildings from around the world? Chicago—to be exact, Tribune Tower on North Michigan Avenue, home of the Chicago Tribune newspaper and 149, I mean 148 pieces of buildings from around the world. I could have said from around the solar system, but unfortunately, in 2011 the moon rock was removed by NASA with the intention of replacing it with a newer one. The last I heard, it's still not back and has been replaced by ads. Now that's sad. In any case, Dean Larson, NFPA instructor and Chicago native, mentioned this as one of his favorite sites to take visitors (after the Museum of Science and Technology, of course). You can walk around three sides of the Tribune Tower and easily see the embedded rocks/bricks in the cement. The Chicago Architecture Blog photo catalogued all 149 pieces (including the moon rock)!

To see the rest of Chicago, take an acclaimed tour with the Chicago Architecture Foundation by riverboat, trolley, or on foot. They'll give you the story behind the skyline. Perhaps I'll see you on Chicago's First Lady!

"Chicago is a great city to visit and enjoy but remember the name "Windy City" came from the politicians not the wind!" I'll bring a jacket anyway.

Marina City, photo: Anne Evans	Chicago's First Lady - North Branch, photo: Bob Agra	Water Tower and John Hancock Center, photo: Anne Evans

The  three photos above are courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Visit Choose Chicago online or onsite at C&E for more to see and do in Chicago. Several places will offer discounts for attendees to C&E if you show your badge.

Stop by NFPA booth #471 for a chance to win tickets to the Chicago White Sox game on June 11

Stop by the NFPA booth #471 in the expo hall on Monday, June 10 and drop off your business card for a chance to win two tickets to the Chicago White Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays game on Tuesday, June 11.  The game is at 7:10 p.m. at US Cellular Field.  The drawing, sponsored by Choose Chicago and the Chicago White Sox, will be held on Monday, June 10 at 6:00 p.m.  You must be present to win.  No purchase is necessary.  Note:  ROC Exhibitions employees, NFPA employees, members of the NFPA Board of Directors, spouses and partners, exhibitors, and Standards Council members are not eligible to win.

In addition, to show their appreciation of NFPA for choosing Chicago as the host city for the NFPA Conference & Expo, the Chicago White Sox have partnered with Choose Chicago to offer specially priced tickets to NFPA C&E attendees while you are in Chicago.  Tickets will be discounted up to $10.  This is a great way to unwind during your free time in Chicago!

A quick point-of-reference to identify exhibitors of interest - Product Showcase

As you approach the exhibit hall floor at the NFPA Conference & Expo on Monday, June 10th, check out the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo Product Showcase!  Located at the entrance to the exhibit hall floor, several of our exhibiting companies will be featuring their products and services on these displays. Check them out and visit their booths to find out more about what they have to offer.

 
The 2013 Product Showcase features:

Amerex Corporation, Cooper Notification, Emirates Fire Fighting Equipment Factory, LLC (Firex), Gerand Engineering Company, Guardian Safety Solutions, Fire-Lite Alarms, Honeywell Power, Insight Numerics, Janus Fire Systems, Mircom Group of Companies, Peerless Pump, Potter Electric Signal Company, REMBE, Safety Technology International, Solberg, and Victaulic.

Register now for access to more than 150 conference sessions and over 300 exhibitors!

 

Willis (Sears) Tower from a unique fire protection perspective

When most people visit the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), they're likely to head up to the SkyDeck on the 103^rd floor, to take in the magnificent view! Let's read what one of our instructors says about this iconic building in his hometown.

Jerry Schultz, PE indulges in his perspective of the Willis Tower as only he can. "The other place that I, as a fire protection engineer find fascinating is Willis Tower.  The only problem that I have with this is that the fire protection features are not part of the visit.  I always remember in the 70's when disaster movies were the rage watching the movie "The Towering Inferno". (A fire protection engineer who has not seen this movie should not call themselves a fire protection engineer—what great acting and special effects!)  When they decide to blow the water tank to put out the fire and have to strap themselves to columns so they don't float off the floor, one can imagine the water tanks on the upper floors at the Tower.  Keep in mind that I saw this movie once in the 70's and these are the items I remember—maybe I should watch it again to see if I can learn anything else.   The protection provided in the Willis Tower consisting of intermediate water tanks on certain levels of the building show a forward thinking and makes me wonder what came first—the movie or the protection scheme in Willis Tower.  Someone should do an article on the protection in Willis Tower and compare it to what is being done in high rise buildings today.  For good measure, throw in references to The Towering Inferno."

Thanks Jerry, for that unique perspective!  It should be noted that the Glass Tower used in the movie referenced above was a fictional composite of two buildings in San Francisco along with a model sculpture—no relation to the "Sears Tower".

Brush up on your knowledge of sprinklers and NFPA 13 with our 3-day pre-conference seminar taught by Schultz. Who knows, maybe you'll be the one to write an article on the protection scheme in Willis Tower...?

For more information on how Willis Tower management and the Chicago Fire Department joined forces to protect the country's tallest building, read the feature article "Drill Team" in the May/June 2013 edition of NFPA Journal. 

Then make sure to attend the related session W30 Working Together for One Response — The Chicago Fire Department and Iconic Willis Tower, on Wednesday, June 12, 9:30-10:00 a.m., presented by Michael Schroeder, US Equities Asset Management and Anthony VanBuskirk, Chicago Fire Department. Register today!

For a SkyDeck fast pass and discounts to other top tourist attractions around Chicago, visit our discounts page.

NFPA thanks Intertek for sponsoring the 2013 Conference & Expo

Thank you to Intertek for participating in the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo sponsorship program! We appreciate your continued support.

Please visit Intertek in booth 1057 from June 10th-June 12th to learn more about their products and services.

Establish your product on the market with accredited, third-party testing and certification from Intertek – your trusted industry partner. Intertek is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) committed to helping you navigate shifting requirements for the design, development, production, and installation of your electrical products, components and systems. At NFPA C&E this year, learn how you can leverage Intertek’s global testing and certification solutions to help you realize your business goals on schedule. 

If you would like to learn more about the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo sponsorship opportunities and the exclusive benefits our sponsors receive, please contact Laura Koski at 630.271.8226 or lkoski@rocexhibitions.com.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in Chicago!