TESTIMONY
Jeff Parks from the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) on Intro 88 and Fire Life Safety Dampers
2:46:20
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134 sec
Jeff Parks discusses the critical issue of maintaining and installing fire life safety dampers properly to prevent future tragedies.
- Parks represents the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association and has nearly 30 years of experience in the sheet metal HVAC industry.
- He highlights pervasive issues found with fire life safety dampers, including incorrect installation, limited access, and various damages impairing their function.
- The 2021 University of Maryland Reliability Study is cited, showcasing statistics on damper deficiencies.
- Parks emphasizes the significance of regular checks and proper maintenance to ensure the safety of building occupants and first responders during emergencies.
- He expresses unequivocal support for Intro 88, aiming to address these critical safety concerns.
Jeff Parks
2:46:20
Hi.
2:46:20
Thank you, everybody.
2:46:21
Chair Sanchez and members of the committee.
2:46:24
Thank you for the opportunity to provide my testimony on intro 88.
2:46:29
My name is Jeff Parks, and I work for the sheet metal and air conditioning Contractors National Association.
2:46:37
Worse Magna, and we're we are an international trade association representing 35100 signatory contracting firms across the country and internationally.
2:46:49
I've been in the sheet metal HVAC industry for nearly 30 years.
2:46:55
And currently, in my role, it's Magna.
2:46:58
You know, it includes providing training on proper installation of fire life safety dam but I was also a former Maryland HVAC contractor that employed certified fire and smoked damper technicians who perform formed damper acceptance and inspection testing on many buildings throughout Maryland, Virginia, and a district of Columbia.
2:47:21
So I can attest firsthand to the pervasive issues with the fire life safety.
2:47:28
Dampers as documented in the 2021 University of Maryland Reliability Study in which Chris from Nimi noted some of the statistics.
2:47:38
On many occasions, dampers were installed incorrectly.
2:47:42
They had no or limited access.
2:47:45
Broken fusible links, debris blocking the damper blade function, broken damper shaft, inoperable actuators, the list goes on and on.
2:47:57
And many times, these noted deficiency resulted in the the need for the dampers to be repaired or completely replaced.
2:48:06
So had those dampers I had just described, remained unchecked and in service during a fire life safety event.
2:48:14
It could have been catastrophic to not only the safety of the occupants, but also the first responders responding to the event.
2:48:23
I previously stated, I'm I'm in full support of this, and I believe it'll make
UNKNOWN
2:48:28
time to make sense
Jeff Parks
2:48:29
for for the documents and help prevent future tragedies.
2:48:33
Thank you.