Demand For Fire Protection Engineers Exceeds Supply

Fire is a danger that can affect entire communities. For example, each year in the U.S., more than 3,000 people die as a result of fire. To combat its destructive force, fire protection engineers use their acquired skills and the latest technology.

Fire Protection Engineer Tony Caro studied industrial engineering at New Mexico State University before switching to an education in fire protection engineering. "I realized I wasn't as interested in industrial engineering as I was in the fire service. I also knew that I wanted to do more than just fight fires while still providing a service to society," he says. "Fire protection engineering was the right fit." Caro now works for the City of Denver's Fire Prevention Bureau and Investigation Division.

Using science and technology, fire protection engineers perform a wide range of roles that include:

• Evaluating buildings to pinpoint the risks of fires and the means to prevent them;
• Reviewing building design documents for fire departments, fire marshal offices, and/or code enforcement agencies to assure compliance with the applicable building and fire regulations;
• Designing building systems that: detect fires, control the spread of fires, control the movement of smoke, alert people to danger, and provide a safe means for building occupants to exit a building;
• Conducting fire safety research on consumer products and construction materials;
• Investigating fires to discover how they spread, why protective measures failed, and how those measures could have been designed more effectively.

"Fire protection engineers are in high demand and short supply," said Chris Jelenewicz, a fire protection engineer with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). In a recent SFPE survey of the largest employers of fire protection engineers, an overwhelming majority currently has difficulty recruiting enough qualified engineers. "Those surveyed believe this imbalance in demand will continue at least five years into the future," said Jelenewicz.

These employers cover a wide range of industries, including private consulting firms, large corporations, fire departments, local building code officials, insurance firms, federal, state and local government agencies, and architectural and design firms. Frequently, fire protection engineers assist architects, builders, and fire departments in the design and construction of new facilities.

A fire protection engineer uses science and engineering principles to protect people, homes, workplaces, the economy, and the environment from the devastating effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape. Fire protection engineers also work closely with other professionals, including engineers of other disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local fire departments to build fire safe communities.

For more information about a career in fire protection engineering, click this link.

Johnson Controls Acquires Energy Services Firm

The company has acquired PWI Energy, an independent global provider of energy and greenhouse gas management services, based in Philadelphia, PA. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition is part of Johnson Controls Inc.'s ongoing strategy to deepen and broaden the company's leadership in energy and greenhouse gas management solutions providing global organizations access to a comprehensive suite of energy and sustainability-related offerings. In North America, Johnson Controls can further expand the enterprise-wide energy management solutions provided to customers in vertical market segments, such as government, education, industrial manufacturing and many other industries.

PWI Energy currently serves global clients with an energy management program that integrates energy supply management, energy efficiency services, and energy information, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management. The company has developed an information technology platform which organizes all the information needed to create a comprehensive, global management system for energy and greenhouse gases.

PWI Energy will integrate into Johnson Controls' Global Workplace Solutions business, which is a recognized leader in managing the real estate portfolios of global organizations with multiple facilities.

"With the acquisition of PWI we are now even better positioned to help global organizations measure, manage and reduce their energy costs, as well as their overall Greenhouse Gas Footprint," said Iain Campbell, vice president and general manager, North American Service and Global WorkPlace Solutions, Johnson Controls. "In this era of rising energy prices and increasing concern over the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions, our enhanced solutions can positively impact climate change while decreasing organizations' vulnerability to a volatile market."

"Johnson Controls was quick to recognize PWI Energy's ability to bring state-of-the-art energy management technology and services to the table," said Joseph Turk, president and principal, PWI Energy. "We look forward to seeing our solutions integrated into the Johnson Controls family and to bring greater benefits to customers the world over."

PWI will retain offices in Philadelphia, and will take on the Johnson Controls name within a few months.

Nanotech: A Regulatory Blueprint For The Next Administration

Nanotechnology will significantly change virtually every facet of the way we live. The next president has the opportunity to shape these changes and to ensure that nanotechnology's benefits will be maximized and its risks identified and controlled.

A new report by former EPA official J. Clarence (Terry) Davies lays out a clear roadmap for the next presidential administration and describes the immediate and longer term steps necessary to deal with the current shortcomings of nanotechnology oversight.

To read the full report, click this link:
pen13.pdf