Best of NFSA Expert of the Day

Coffee/Social starts at 9 a.m

Training starts at 9:30 a.m

PRESENTATION:  

Best of NFSA Expert of the Day

A compilation of informal interpretations on fire sprinkler codes and standards from the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) Expert of the Day (EOD) program.  Interpretations can assist in understanding what the standards actually say as well as navigate through a gray area based on actual field conditions.  Valued for its consistency, logic, and committee insights, the EOD program is relied on by contractors and AHJs alike when fire sprinkler technical questions arise.

SPEAKER: 

Mark Hopkins, P.E. (NFSA)

Mark is Vice President of Engineering for the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA). Mark has both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park. Mark is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He has 24 years’ experience in all aspects of fire protection engineering. With NFSA, he supports fire sprinkler research, promulgates standards, and provides informal technical interpretations for member companies. He has successfully managed large campus-wide fire protection and corrosion related projects, including the development of fire safety goals and objectives. These projects typically involved master planning support, code compliance determination, fire protection and alarm system design, life safety design and layout, corrosion evaluations, systems survey/evaluation/testing, development of cost-effective strategies for improvements, designing upgrades, and providing bid package support and construction period services. He has co-authored a report for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) regarding the performance of the fire suppression systems in the World Trade Center disaster, NCSTAR 1-4B. Mark currently serves as a member of the NFPA 13 Sprinkler System Discharge Committee, Hanging and Bracing Committee, and Correlation Committee. He also serves as a member of the NFPA 909 and 914 Cultural Resources Committee and is an alternate member on the NFPA 232 Record Protection Committee. He has previously served as a member on the NFPA 25 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Committee, the NFPA 13 Installation Committee and the NFPA 13D and 13R Residential Committee.  

Business Meeting starts after lunch, but no earlier than 12:30 p.m.