FY24 May Technical Meeting

Course Description:

The presentation focuses on the application of code requirements in the International Fire Code (IFC) and International Building Code (IBC) pertaining to hazardous material storage and use. The presentation will include the chemical classification process to ensure appropriate requirements are enforced. The IFC and IBC hazard classifications will be compared to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) classifications. The IFC and IBC Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQ) will also be discussed along with requirements when the MAQ is exceeded.

Learning Objectives:

1. Break down the code requirements enforced in the IBC versus the IFC.
2. Differentiate between IBC/IFC hazard classifications and GHS/DOT.
3. Develop a systematic approach to the hazard classification process.
4. Determine code impacts as a result of quantities being stored or used.
5. Identify Group H occupancy classification requirements and explain conditions that exempt a building from Group H requirements.

Bio: Joe Chacon wears many hats in the world of fire protection. In addition to being a professional fire protection engineer (FPE), he is also a firefighter, HazMat technician for the city of Henderson, NV, and inventor of the TheHazMatApp. As a fire protection engineer, Joe provides building/fire code consulting services, plan review, hazardous materials consulting, hazard analysis and risk assessments, and design and testing of fire protection and life safety systems. As far as his firefighting duties are concerned, Joe has experience conducting pre-plans, school drills, and hazard evaluations.

Joe, in his capacity as a HazMat technician, includes responding to spills or potential releases of hazardous substances. Joe’s expertise in the hazmat arena is renowned, resulting in his teaching building and fire code courses at the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals 2022 National Conference and the 18^th Annual Fire Protection & Life Safety Forum. Joe has drawn on his extensive expertise in the hazardous materials arena to create TheHazMatApp, which helps users ensure their storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials, including flammable liquids and combustible dusts, meets all required code standards.

A registered professional fire protection engineer in seven states, Joe is a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1620 — Standard on Pre-Incident Planning and serves as an alternate on NFPA 420 — Standard on Fire Protection of Cannabis Growing and Processing Facilities. He has a master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.