NFPA Conference & Expo

An alternative Chicago campus

Chicago is home to renowned art museums, but for those whose idea of a good time in a museum does not involve reverently inspecting Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, there are some alternatives. Fortunately, a few are located in Chicago Museum Campus.

Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium contains more than 80 habitats, with some 1,500 species floating around inside of them. Beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Alaska sea otters and California sea lions and a 360-degree view of Caribbean sea-life are all within a stone’s throw of each other.

Sitting out on its own bayside peninsula is Adler Planetarium. Among the exhibitions are the Galaxy Wall — the largest and most complete view of our Milky Way — and an interactive trip through the creation of the universe. Next to Adler is the Field Museum, within which the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton (named Sue) can be found. There are also extensive mineral collections that can be observed in an exhibit tracking 4 billion years of rocks, fossils and gems.

Lastly, Soldier Field — the Chicago Bears stadium — sits above the vast majority of the parking spots. It was stripped of landmark status in 2006, as a result of a drastic 2003 renovation, but you can admire the new field and the Veteran’s Memorial water wall as you pass by.

Catch these case studies on recent construction projects in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia

In addition to the Expo, we also have 150 conference sessions Monday through Wednesday. The sessions highlighted below demonstrate how NFPA codes and standards are gaining relevance internationally.

CASE STUDY T54.  Justification of a Natural Ventilation Smoke Control Design for a Complex Atrium - Stephen Hill and Steven Whitman, Rolf Jensen and Associates

This session details the development of a performance-based natural ventilation smoke control strategy for the Conference Center at King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Egress and fire modeling analyses were used to assist the design team in the validation of the smoke control system design, which employed natural ventilation and mechanically forced make-up air in lieu of mechanical exhaust. The design approach corresponds to that permitted by NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke Control Systems, for gravity smoke venting to slow the rate of smoke layer descent for a period that allows occupants to egress from the space. The session will focus on all steps of the performance-based process, from pre-design to submittal of the final recommendations.

CASE STUDY T74.  Abu Dhabi International Airport Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) — Fire Safety Strategy - Bassem Khalil and Sami Al Naqbi, and Salem H. Salem, Ministry of Interior; Susan Lamont, ARUP; Samiha Al Nuaimi, Abu Dhabi Airports Company 

This session will present the fire safety strategy for the MTB. This iconic building comprises multiple connecting floors under a mega roof structure of 50 m in height. It has a total floor area of 700,000 m2 over six levels. The MTB will host retail, restaurants, and airline facilities for a total capacity of 27 million passengers per year when opened and 40 million passengers per year at project completion. The presenters will describe the performance-based fire strategy, which addresses the connectivity between multiple floors, tall ceiling spaces, and extended travel distances. Evacuation plans and emergency response procedures will also be presented. Throughout the presentation, the importance of close collaboration among the designers, the fire engineer, the client, and the local authority in achieving a safe working building will be discussed.

And these sessions address other international issues:  

T07. International Approaches to Performance-Based Design of the SFPE Case Study will summarize the design approaches taken by each country that participated in the fire protection and life safety design case study for SFPE.

W51. The Global Code Compliance Puzzle will address local acceptability of NFPA codes and standards, how each country’s codes are applied, how codes from different countries differ from those of NFPA, how codes are enforced, what different companies have done to comply with AHJs, positive output from past build-outs, and recommendations for NFPA.

350 solution providers...are we missing anyone?

Last year, we had over 350 vendors with solutions for fire protection, security, electrical and life safety exhibit at NFPA Conference & Expo.

This year, we have an equally impressive list of companies exhibiting with us. Please check out our exhibitor list to see the current list of suppliers that will be showcasing their products and solutions in Chicago.

Are there any companies that aren’t currently listed that you would like to see at the expo this June? Email our Director of Sales, Noel Hoekstra and let her know who you’d like to see!

NFPA thanks Mircom Group of Companies for sponsoring the 2013 Conference & Expo

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

Please visit Mircom Group in booth 1215 from June 10th-June 12th to learn more about their products and services.

The Mircom Group of Companies will be showcasing Mircom’s FleX-Net as well as Secturon’s MMX, unified fire protection and emergency communication solutions, at the NFPA Conference and Expo. MGC’s representatives will demonstrate how its proven technology and professional team will ensure total occupant confidence during real time instruction in the event of a fire condition or emergency incident. For more information on The Mircom Group of Companies, FleX-Net or MMX visit us at www.mircomgroup.com.

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!

Chicago sightseeing- Millennium Park

Unless you’ve been living in a reality free from images of Chicago (which is unlikely, given the recent posts on this blog), the massive metal bean known as the Cloud Gate should ring a bell. It’s one of the most recognizable Chicagoan icons and sits in a position of prominence in Millennium Park. Summer moves quickly in the city, especially when working around a bustling expo, and the park offers a chance to get outside and enjoy the scenery.

The park is located right next to the Art Institute of Chicago. If art and the sight of grass aren’t enough of a draw, Millennium Park has some profoundly unique features (Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, The Boeing Galleries, etc.) and areas to eat (The Park Grill). Additionally, the 2013 Grant Park Music Festival will take place at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, on the Great Lawn in the middle of Millennium Park, beginning June 12.

Explore the official website for more information.

Top 10 reasons to attend NFPA Conference & Expo

Here's why you belong at the largest industry event of its kind in North America.

1. Get information you can use on the job immediately.
Sessions are geared toward practical knowledge that makes even complex safety issues easy to understand and apply in the workplace.

2. Learn directly from the leading authorities.
Conference speakers include the industry’s top experts, providing their expertise and insight.

3. Gain up-to-date knowledge on current industry topics.
NFPA helps develop the codes and standards, so you can be sure you’re getting the most current technical information available.

Click here for 6 more reasons! And feel free to share your comments below on why you attend NFPA's annual event!

 

Electric Vehicle Safety Showcase at NFPA Conference & Expo

New for 2013! The Electric Vehicle Safety Showcase will address the potential hazards encountered in an electric vehicle (EV) collision, and safety considerations for the growing installed base of charging stations in residential, commercial, and public spaces.

Get information on the NFPA’s first responder training programs, and NEC^® provisions on proper installation, inspection, and maintenance of charging stations at the Electric Vehicle Safety Showcase at the Expo.  

If you are a fleet manager, municipal authority, utility worker, first responder, or electrical contractor and you are affected by issues surrounding the growth in electric vehicle usage and the build out of the battery-charging infrastructure, then check out the conference sessions that focus on emergency services:

• M02. Performance Requirements for Emergency Responder Interoperable Electronic Equipment
• T02. Emergency Responder Research to Practice
• T40. Best Practices for Emergency Response to Incidents Involving Electric Vehicle Battery Hazards
• T72. Deployment of Hydrogen Fuel Cells – Safety Considerations and Resources
• W08. What 30 Years of Emergency Service Vehicle Driver Training Has Taught Us
• W09. All Hazards Emergency Response Teams (ERT) – Public and Private Partnerships
• W43. Traffic Incident Management: Protecting Our First Responders and Motorists
• And more!

For more information on the Electric Vehicle Safety Showcase, contact Jerry Carter

Invitation from James M. Shannon - Come to Chicago for NFPA Conference & Expo

Click to play this video

 

James M. Shannon, President of the National Fire Protection Association, gives highlights of the annual 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo nfpa.org/conference. The event will be held June 10-13 at the McCormick Place Convention Center and features an extensive conference program, Keynote Address by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Association Technical Meeting, 300+ exhibitors, and so much more!

Yield to your consumerism in Chicago

From the wreckage of the Great Chicago Fire to a massive shopping district, the Magnificent Mile is a 13-block stretch of North Michigan Avenue with 460 stores, 275 restaurants and copious landmarks and other attractions. During the summer, it is quite crowded but worth a visit.

 The hundreds of stores along the mile are mostly high-end retailers, but the blocks surrounding it feature shops for any price range.  Restaurants speckle the area, which offers an opportunity to satisfy the need for a deep dish pizza (Giordano’s) or southwestern barbeque (Bandera), or get your chocolate fix at Ghirardelli’s.

 The Magnificent Mile is the site for many seasonal exhibitions. During the summer, it puts on the free Summer Concert Series and the Gardens of the Magnificent Mile festival. Anyone window-shopping or wandering on the mile is welcome at the events.

 If theater is calling your name, the Magnificent Mile district includes easy access to the Broadway Playhouse, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and The Second City. Concerts more to your taste? Check out the House of Blues or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. There are seven museums nearby, ranging from contemporary arts to an aquarium.

 For more information, visit the official site.

A digital version of the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo brochure is now available

Here it is! A digital version of the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo brochure. The links inside direct you to more detailed information online. We hope you find this additional level of interactivity helpful in making your plans. Click on the image to see all the programs, events, exhibitors, and new stuff that we have planned for Chicago!