Samuel S. Dannaway

Samuel S. Dannaway, P.E., FSFPE, is a licensed fire protection engineer and mechanical engineer with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering. He is a past president and fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He is vice president of Fire Protection Technology at Coffman Engineers Inc., a multidiscipline engineering firm with over 360 employees across eight offices. Sam can be reached at dannaway@coffman.com.

FPE Corner

Conclusion

Bringing more than 40 years of learning from the best in this industry to an end.

June 4, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

In this, my last column for Plumbing Engineer, I wish to describe my journey as a fire protection engineer and give some recognition to several of those who lent a hand or gave some good direction along the way.

FPE Corner

Best Friends

How Dalmatians became the definitive firehouse dogs.

May 6, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

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A look at how Dalmatians became the definitive firehouse dogs.

FPE Corner

Proposed New Standard: NFPA 855

The rise in popularity of battery storage systems for solar PV systems has led to a rise in fire safety concerns.

April 1, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

The popularity of battery storage systems brings fire safety concerns. Proposed NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems addresses these concerns.

FPE Corner

Are Sprinklers Required? — Reprised

Many provisions in the IBC and IFC pertain to fire sprinklers, not only those in IBC Chapter 9.

March 4, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

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This is an outline of many areas in the codes where sprinklers are required or used to take advantage of the many trade-offs giving architects and builders flexibility in the design and construction of a building.

FPE Corner

The FM Handbook and Early Sprinkler Hydraulic Calculations

Browse through the handbook and glimpse the basis for many of the things we still do today.

January 31, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

In this column, I would like to focus on the handbook’s approach to sprinkler system hydraulic calculations. Note that hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems did not appear in NFPA 13 until the 1972 edition.

FPE Corner

Thoughts on Wildfires

Managing our forests properly and understanding the dangers of fires can help us all be more prepared.

January 5, 2019

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

At the writing of the column, the death toll in the Camp Fire is 84 people with 475 people missing. It has burned more than 250 square miles and destroyed more than 14,000 homes.

FPE Corner

The Trouble With (Some) AHJs

Young fire protection engineers need mentors to help them use good judgment.

December 3, 2018

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

Ah yes, AHJs. You cannot live with them and you most definitely cannot live without them. The official NFPA definition of an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) is “An organization, office or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation or a procedure.”

FPE Corner

2019 Editions of NFPA 20 and NFPA 14

Code changes for stationary pumps and standpipe/hose systems.

November 3, 2018

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

The National Fire Protection Association Standards Council issued the 2019 edition of NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, with an effective date of May 24, 2018.

FPE Corner

2019 NFPA 13D and 13R

Code changes for residential sprinkler systems.

October 5, 2018

Samuel S. Dannaway

No Comments

NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, is effective as of Sept. 3, 2018. NFPA 13R. Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies, is effective as of May 24, 2018.