PCI Latam Assembly Summary, August 28, 2024 at Expo Fire Mexico.
On August 28th, within the framework of ExpoFire Mexico 2024, organized by the Mexican Association of Automatic Sprinklers, AMRACI, was held the breakfast – General Session of Partners of the Latin American Fire Protection Network «Latam PCI».
During this face-to-face and virtual session, we had the participation of representatives from the 15 countries that make up our organization, and several of the 25 organizations that collaborate with us, highlighting for example the face-to-face participation of Mark Fessenden, Managing Director of IFSA (International Fire Suppression Alliance), a key organization that supports us in achieving our objectives.
This session had 05 main axes:
1.Welcome
Welcoming words in person by our President, Carlos Morett, and virtually by Bruce LaRue, who chairs our «Advisory Council» of international allied organizations.
Carlos Morett, and virtually by Bruce LaRue, who chairs our «Advisory Council» of international allied organizations.
Group Visibility
Project: Celebration of: «International Fire Prevention Day».
Morett accompanied on this occasion by Gary Strong, CEO of IFSS (International Fire Safety Standards).
Morett accompanied on this occasion virtually by Gary Strong, CEO of IFSS (International Fire Safety Standards), both explained that this October 8, 2024, from the IFSS offices in London England, will be held a conference in person and virtually, where the entire network that makes up Latam PCI and allied organizations will be invited, to give what we could consider, the starting signal to start several of the activities to be held internationally to prepare for the great moment that will be the official inauguration by the United Nations «UN» of the:
«International Fire Prevention Day.»
Which will be officially held on the same October 8th, but in 2025.
And where for this important day, we will have delegates from all continents.
Let’s be ready!
Regulation Group
Update Study on the State of Regulation in Latin America
This presentation was led by Maxi Wutzke, VP of CEMERA Argentina, who explained that this study in which the 15 countries participated, was divided into 03 axes to identify, in this scope, the mandatory use of NFPA standards and other building codes for new buildings in at least one part of the country:
Axes:
a) What is the level of development of fire protection requirements in Latam?
b) How is the regulation organized according to its purpose in the constructions?
c) How is the use and application of fire protection systems incorporated?
In addition:
- Central aspects of the diagnosis were shown.
- The following problems were identified
- Basic Recommendations were pointed out
Finally, Maxi shared with us those actions that are moving forward with respect to this study, such as:
- Inclusion of additional statistics
- Tailored drafting of the executive summary
- Final document approval.
- Translation of the study: English, Portuguese.
- Media outreach plan
Education Group
Led by Marcelo Lima of ISB, Sprinkler Institute of Brazil, where he presented advances on what will be: «The Virtual Library» Latam PCI.
Marcelo showed us the graphs of the exit polls to identify the core issues, where both partners and allies voted for the Education chapter as a priority.
In addition, he reiterated, for everyone’s clarity, what this development of the virtual library is and what it is not.
*We are NOT competition for the associations.
On the contrary, we will be a channel for the diffusion of the quality material available.
We are talking about creating a «SINGLE POINT OF ACCESS» that «concentrates» the educational content of the ASSOCIATES «Who Want It», in Spanish and Portuguese from Canada to Argentina.
And in this way, the PARTNERS can: show, offer and channel their educational material for FREE.
This is a project that is already a reality and is in the process of starting up.
5.Group Certification
This very important axis, focused on developing a:
The «Certification of competencies for PCI specialists in the region», is led by Cristobal Mir, President of ANAPCI of Chile, for which we have 3 subgroups that work weekly: «Certification of competencies for PCI specialists in the region».
We have 3 subgroups which work week by week:
*Sub-GroupSuppression: Coordinated by Giorgio Silva of SNPCI, Sociedad Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios del Perú.
*Alarm and Detection Sub-Group: Coordinated by Marcelo Oronoz of AUPCI Asociación Uruguaya de Protección Contra Incendios and Raúl Duarte of SNPCI Sociedad Nacional de Protección Contra Incendios del Perú.
*Passive Protection Sub-Group.
Coordinated by Paloma Carralón of ANAPCI, Chile.
During his time in the session, Cristobal and his coordinators presented us with a timeline that clearly showed the steps involved in this certification for specialists, as well as the progress made in each subgroup.
It is important to emphasize once again that this specialist certification program will include aspects of both knowledge and skills, which will be developed and therefore accepted by all participating countries, so that once completed, it will be a very valuable tool for the authorities (certifying bodies) of each country, and to initiate local efforts to achieve its validity and use.
A project that is also unique in its kind, and which requires the valuable participation of everyone.
The Session culminated with the commitment of all to maintain the efforts in the 04 «Groups» columns that we are successfully working on thanks to the participation and commitment of all.
«All united for a Latin America without fire victims».
Congratulations Latam PCI.
Roberto Rivera Mier
Executive Director Latam PCI
