Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/522141
Laboratory (UL). A former code official with the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, he is also a past president of the SFPE. The Standards Committee convened at NWPCA's annual conference in Tucson, Arizona to begin the process of developing a proposal for both fire codes that is effective in reducing the threat of pallet fires, yet works within the operating parameters of most pallet businesses. Mr. Koffel participated in the meeting and provided valuable insight into the key parameters that code officials look for in proposals. Mr. Koffel stresses the importance of industry participation in the code development process. "In my 30 years of code consulting, I have found that when the affected industry engages to inform and educate those involved in the code development process, the resulting code tends to be more effective and less burdensome than had they not participated in the process." When asked about his impressions of the industry, Koffel said, "I was struck by the variety among the businesses, whether that be in the size, geographic location or how they run their operations in order to be successful. It truly is a diverse industry." This diversity is an asset to the industry, providing it ample flexibility so it can meet the needs of shippers across the globe. In terms of developing a fire code that will apply across every manufacturer and recycler, it presents a significant challenge. In addition to submitting a proposal to the ICC, NWPCA is reaching out to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), who also develops fire codes that are enforced by fire marshals. While the ICC and NFPA develop different codes, there is typically overlap between the two of them. NFPA develops codes through working groups and NWPCA can use the feedback received in these working groups to produce a more informed proposal that suits the requirements of fire officials, increasing the likelihood of proposal acceptance. The NFPA draft proposal deadline is in July of 2015, while the ICC deadline is in January of 2016. PC 32 PalletCentral • May-June 2015 palletcentral.com MANUFACTURING Dr. Brad Gething, PhD, is NWPCA's technical and PDS manag- er. He can be reached at bgething@palletcentral.com or phone 703-519-6104. Follow Brad on Twitter @NWPCATech for the latest technical news and updates.