Please join the Chicago Chapter of SFPE for our annual Educational Seminar! The online event will consist of 6 one-hour education sessions where you can earn PDHs and learn about a range of fire protection topics alongside Chicago SFPE members. 

1. SFFF Transition - New and Existing Systems - A Contractor's Perspective 
2. Existing Buildings - Performance-based Design
3. Advancements in Marijuana Processing
4. AHJ Panel
5. The New SFPE Guide on Assessment of Fire Safety for Existing Buildings
6. Battery Energy Storage Protection Approaches

Schedule 

9:00-10:00: Session 1 SFFF Transition - New and Existing Sytems - A Contractor's Perspective

A comprehensive review of recent challenges converting an existing fire protection system from AFFF to SFFF, and considerations for new SFFF installation from a contractor’s perspective.

Aaron M Johnson

Aaron has been in the special hazards fire protection industry now for 15 years. In 2007, Aaron started at Johnson Controls (Ansul) and worked as a firefighter for foam agents in R&D and also tested and used foam hardware during that time. Aaron moved into technical services, foam system design and maintenance training for about 10 years. Aaron then transitioned to Sales Engineering performing design, application and inside sales for customers with the outside sales team.

Two years ago, Aaron ventured over to Fire Lion Global as the business development and sales manager globally. Aaron was recently promoted to Director of Fire Lion with the retirement of Tom Reser.

Aaron is an active member of the Oconto Fire Department and has been a certified Wisconsin Fire Firefighter for 16 years.

Joe Tortorici

Joe Tortorici, CFPS is currently serving as the Foam System Specialist for American Fire Protection Group (AFPG), part of the APi family of companies. Joe's current responsibilities include assisting all AFPG offices with evaluation and review of new and existing foam systems, training, system commissioning, and providing 3rd-party support services to other fire protection contractors throughout the South-Central U.S.

In 1994, after pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice and spending four years working for the Bexar County District Attorney in San Antonio, TX, Joe took what he thought would be a temporary venture into the fire protection industry. He spent the next several years working in both the construction and design departments for a local fire protection contractor before transferring to the manufacturing side of the industry to spend 20 years as a Territory Manager with Central Sprinkler and Ansul, part of Tyco and Johnson Controls. That temporary venture was over 28 years ago with the last 3 years working for AFPG.

Joe currently resides in the Dallas/Ft Worth area with his very patient wife of 30 years. Joe's two grown children are currently a police officer candidate and a U.S. Marine respectively. Joe is an Eagle Scout, enjoys camping and travel, and is an active supporter of his local Church congregation young men's group. Joe lives by his favorite quote, "No success in life can compensate for failure in the Home." 

10:10-11:10: Session 2 Existing Buildings - Performance-based Design

Fang Li

11:20-12:20: Session 3 Advancements in Marijuana Processing

Ben Brooks

Ben is a licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer with 10 years of experience specializing in fire protection design. He has expertise in water-based, chemical and gaseous fire protection systems, smoke management & control systems for higher educational facilities, laboratories, government & healthcare facilities, office buildings, kitchens, and commercial buildngs.

Ben established the dedicated Fire Protection Engineering practice at Ross & Baruzzini in 2016. He mentors staff to provide guidance within his firm's different markets on the growing trends in fire protection and formalized an education system to help continually educate staff within the firm.

Ben currently serves on two national sub-committees, Higher Education and Professional Competency & Credentialing, of the Society of Fire Protection Engineer's Standing Committee on Professional Qualifications. Ben has also been an officer in the Greater St. Louis chapter of SFPE and is currently a Committee Co-Chair for the MOKAN SFPE chapter for Community Outreach.

Topics of Discussion:

• The history of the medical marijuana industry to illustrate trends in the industry
• What is happening within the growing and extraction laboratories and dispensaries
• How to plan, coordinate, and design these facilities for the hazard present
• What future challenges exist

12:20-1:00: Lunch break

1:00-2-:00: Session 4 AHJ Panel

Daniel Riordan, CBO CFPS

Daniel served over 40 years in the fire service most notably with the Tinley Park Fire Department. During his tenure, Daniel spent 20 years overseeing the Fire Prevention Bureau, where he guided staff to provide educational, technical and enforcement services. In 2012, Riordan led the Fire Prevention Bureau to earn accreditation status through International Accreditation Service (IAS). Through the accreditation process, Riordan implemented a continuous improvement process that has provided consistent prevention services to the community.

Daniel holds several ICC and NFPA certifications including Fire Marshal, Building Official, Fire Plan Review, and Fire Protection Specialist. Daniel is a NICET Level II for Water Based Testing Inspection and Maintenance.

Since retiring in early 2022, Daniel continues to provide fire prevention assistance to the fire service community through Fire Prevention Resource Group, LLC. Daniel is committed to helping others build effective prevention programs.

Michael Rons

2:10-3:10: Session 5 The New SFPE Guide on Assessment of Fire Safety for Existing Buildings

Warren Bonisch

Warren Bonisch is an Associate Principal in fire protection practice group of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. Dallas office. He has been a fire protection engineer for more than 35 years, beginning his career with Marathon Oil and then working as a consulting fire protection engineer for Schirmer Engineering, Aon Fire Protection Engineering and Jensen Hughes. Warren has a BS degree and MS degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland and is a licensed engineer in several states. His technical expertise spans all areas of fire protection engineering from fire alarm and smoke control systems to fire modeling and the protection of aviation, educational, hospitality and large public assembly facilities.

Warren has been a member of several NFPA technical committees and has also been very active as a speaker on technical topics before many professional organizations.  Warren has been a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) since 2010 and has been active with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) since 2003, where he serves as Chair to the Codes and Standards, Building Code Task Group.

Warren has had several leadership positions in local SFPE chapters and has served on several national SFPE committees, including Annual Conference Program committees, the SFPE Committee on Professional Development, and the SFPE Peer Review Committee.  Since 2021, especially relevant for this presentation, he has served as Chair of the Assessments of Existing Buildings Fire Safety; on the Subcommittee for Standards Oversight; and also, as Co-Chair on the Course Content and Delivery Subcommittee, a subset of the Professional Development Committee.  Warren was elected a Fellow of the SFPE in 2022.

3:20-4:20: Session 6 Battery Energy Storage Protection Approaches

Dr. Jason Sutula

Dr. Jason A. Sutula is a fire protection engineer with over 23 years of experience. He has specialized in fire protection and special hazard analyses involving lithium-ion technologies. Dr. Sutula has conducted analyses of both lithium-ion formation and assembly manufacturing. Additionally, Dr. Sutula has provided fire protection guidance for a range of lithium-ion applications including cell and pack testing, bulk lithium-ion cell storage, electric vehicle manufacturing, energy storage systems, data centers, and public transportation electrification projects.

Over the last ten years, Dr. Sutula has conducted research on the flammability characteristics of lithium-ion batteries and conducted fire hazard analyses of lithium-ion applications in commercial and industrial facilities. He has delivered presentations of his findings to both the fire forensic and fire protection engineering communities. 

Dr. Sutula holds several certificates in fire investigation and routinely conducts origin and cause investigations of fires and explosions, including those alleged to have been initiated through the failure of lithium-ion products. 

4:20-4:30: Closing remarks