2027 Annual Conference

2027 Class Descriptions

Find the classes that fit your job and your next certification. Every class at the 2027 Annual Conference, by day, with ICC CEUs for each one.

Attendees working through a problem together at a round table

Work through real cases with your peers

Instructors at a table with laptops during a CAL FIRE OSFM session

Smaller sessions where you work alongside the instructor

Practical training from experienced instructors

Back to the 2027 Program Register Now

Monday, March 1

Management Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Bridging the gap between Prevention (CRR) and Suppression (Operations)

Lawrence Powell

Fire operations and fire prevention share the same mission, yet they often communicate in different languages. Drawing on over 30 years of experience with the San Francisco Fire Department in suppression, inspection, plan review, training, and supervision, I will use candid stories to examine where communication breaks down, and how both sides can repair it. Through examples involving fire access, hydrant placement, standpipes, emergency shutoffs, photovoltaic systems, and signage, participants will see how decisions made during plan review and inspection can affect firefighters during an emergency. The course also addresses the other side of the issue: operational preferences cannot always be imposed as permit requirements when the adopted code does not provide the necessary authority. Prevention must understand how its department responds, while operations must understand the legal and technical boundaries within which prevention works. Participants will learn to translate code, plan-review, engineering, and installer terminology into clear operational information that firefighters can recognize and use under pressure. In an interactive exercise, I will have the class break into groups and will have them identify a significant prevention\-operations gap, develop a practical bridge plan, and present it to myself as he role\-plays a suppression officer. Each group will respond to realistic questions, skepticism, and operational constraints before refining its proposal. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building reciprocal communication, improving operational readiness, and ensuring that prevention and suppression work as one department before an emergency exposes the gap.

Technical Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Energy Storage Systems CFC/CRC

Robert Davidson, Michael O’Brian, Kara Gerczynski

This program provides fire service and code enforcement professionals with a practical review of technical requirements for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) found in the California Fire Code and California Residential Code. Participants will examine permit application requirements, system testing and listings, common submittal issues, and areas of concern encountered during plan review, inspection, and approval. The course will incorporate case histories and real-world examples to illustrate challenges associated with ESS installations and provide practical insight into identifying potential compliance issues. Discussion will address how incomplete or inconsistent submittals can affect the review process and highlight key considerations for evaluating ESS installations in residential and other applicable occupancies. Participants will also receive a preview of anticipated 2027 changes to the International Fire Code (IFC) and International Residential Code (IRC), including the increasing reliance on NFPA 855 for energy storage system requirements. The program will provide guidance on significant changes associated with the 2026 edition of NFPA 855 and offer practical pointers to help participants stay informed about the development of the next edition. Electronic handouts will be provided to support continued reference and application of the information presented throughout the course. Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission Submission

Management Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

FCSN Doing It Right: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service for Arson Investigators

Scott Jennie

FCSN Doing It Right: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service for Arson Investigators Arson and fire-cause investigators face unique occupational exposures that may increase their risk of cancer. Fire service personnel have a 9% greater risk of receiving a cancer diagnosis and a 14% greater risk of dying from cancer than the general population. This course provides practical strategies investigators can use to reduce exposure and protect their health before, during, and after an incident. Topics include preparing clean equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE); limiting exposure in contaminated environments; using proper respiratory protection; conducting on-scene decontamination; safely handling, packaging, and transporting evidence; and properly containing and transporting contaminated PPE, tools, and equipment to prevent cross-contamination of vehicles, workplaces, homes, and families. Participants will learn how to be proactive about their health and wellness by documenting occupational exposures, recognizing potential warning signs, and understanding which risk-based screenings, tests, and health concerns to discuss during annual medical examinations. The course also teaches personal advocacy skills, empowering investigators to clearly communicate their occupational risks, exposure history, and screening needs to healthcare providers. The course concludes with survivorship information and support resources for investigators diagnosed with cancer, including guidance for navigating treatment, recovery, peer support, and returning to work. Participants will leave with realistic, actionable practices they can use throughout their careers.

CFSTES Monday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Rocque Yballa, Ian Hardage, Jessica Power, Robert Marshall

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for the Fire Marshal to safely, effectively, and competently develop community partnerships; create media strategies and policies; conduct a community analysis; and create, implement, and evaluate an intervention strategy. Students will review an overview of a Fire Marshal’s community relations roles, a description of local community groups, a list of fire and injury priorities, and organizational policies for community partnerships, will be able to create a collaborative fire and life safety education partnership so that a specific fire or injury priority is mitigated by the partnership. Personnel preparing to pursue Fire Marshal certification or anyone who performs community risk reduction, community relations, or fire and life safety education duties within their agency. Students will also be given a description of local groups and organizational policies for relationships with community groups, will be able to develop relationships with community groups, attendance at community meetings, and participation at community events so that a schedule is established for ongoing contacts. Students will learn about media outlets such as newspaper, radio, web pages, television, and social media platforms; characteristics of local media including deadlines; and the resources to provide media with accurate information, will be able to create media communication strategies and policies so that consistent and accurate prevention information is disseminated in an understandable manner.

CFSTES Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Justin Beal

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for a Fire and Life Safety Educator to safely, effectively, and competently coordinate and deliver existing educational programs and information.

WUI Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

From Entitlement to Occupancy: Integrating Wildfire Prepared Home and Neighborhood Programs into New Development

Maia Pearl, Laura Blaul

Wildfire resilience decisions made early in the development process can be significantly easier and more cost-effective to implement than measures added after plans are approved or homes are built. This presentation will demonstrate how enhanced wildfire mitigation can be integrated into new residential development from entitlement and site planning through plan review, construction, occupancy, and long-term community maintenance. Using the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home and Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood programs as practical frameworks, attendees will examine where these voluntary, science-based requirements complement and exceed California Building, Fire, and Wildland Urban Interface Code requirements. The presentation will also explore how wildfire resilience objectives can be translated into enforceable project conditions, design standards, and long-term maintenance mechanisms that remain effective throughout the life of a community. Topics will include home hardening, defensible space, structure spacing and exposure, neighborhood-scale risk reduction, designation requirements, and provisions needed to sustain mitigation over time. Case studies from participating developments, including Dixon Trail, will illustrate how developers, fire protection consultants, planners, and fire officials can identify wildfire resilience objectives early, resolve potential conflicts during design, and carry requirements through construction and community governance. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for incorporating enhanced wildfire mitigation into development review, improving consistency among project stakeholders, and advancing community-scale wildfire resilience.

Technical Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Houston, We Have a Data Center: NFPA Standards for the Next Generation of Fire Protection

Greg Rogers

For the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), these facilities present a unique challenge: Which NFPA standards apply, how do they interact, and what should the AHJ actually be looking for during plan review, inspection, and preincident planning? This highly practical two-hour program will provide Fire Marshals, fire prevention personnel, fire protection engineers, and other AHJs with a roadmap for navigating the NFPA requirements applicable to modern data centers. The program will use NFPA 75 as the starting point, while demonstrating how it interfaces with NFPA 70, NFPA 72, NFPA 13, NFPA 25, NFPA 76, NFPA 110, NFPA 111, NFPA 2001, NFPA 855, and other applicable NFPA standards. Rather than simply reviewing individual standards, participants will examine the AHJ's role throughout the life of a data center, from initial development and plan review through commissioning, inspection, maintenance, emergency response, and ongoing changes to the facility. The program will explore the questions Fire Prevention Staff should be asking: What makes a data center different from other high-hazard or mission-critical occupancies? When does NFPA 75 apply, and what does it actually require? How does NFPA 75 interact with the National Electrical Code, particularly Article 645? What should the AHJ look for when reviewing high-density computing environments? How should the AHJ evaluate automatic sprinkler protection, clean-agent systems, and very early warning detection? What happens when lithium-ion batteries, UPS systems, and energy storage systems become part of the facility? What fire protection challenges are created by emergency generators, fuel systems, and massive electrical infrastructure? How should AHJs approach liquid cooling and other emerging technologies? What inspection, testing, and maintenance issues are critical after the facility is occupied? What information does the fire department need before the first emergency occurs?

Technical Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Residential Care Facilities in California: Understanding the Fire Service’s Role

Crystal Sujeski

Residential care facilities present unique and often complex fire and life safety challenges for California’s fire service. The intersection of building and fire code requirements, licensing regulations, resident capabilities, facility operations, and enforcement responsibilities can create uncertainty for inspectors, fire prevention personnel, facility operators, and other regulatory partners. This two-hour course provides fire service professionals with a practical overview of fire and life safety requirements affecting residential care facilities throughout California. Participants will explore the respective roles and responsibilities of local fire authorities, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division, and other state and local agencies involved in the approval, licensing, inspection, and ongoing operation of these facilities. The course will examine common challenges involving occupancy classification, fire clearances, resident ambulatory status, means of egress, fire protection systems, facility modifications, changes in resident populations, and coordination between licensing and fire authorities. Emphasis will be placed on identifying where regulatory responsibilities intersect and how improved communication and collaboration can help resolve compliance issues while maintaining appropriate fire and life safety protections. Through practical examples and discussion of real-world challenges, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of the fire service’s role and how effective partnerships with CDSS can support consistent enforcement, regulatory compliance, and the safety of California’s vulnerable residential care populations.

Technical Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Safeguarding Buildings During Construction: Fire & Life Safety Best Practices

Gregory Womack

This presentation Safeguarding Buildings During Construction: Fire and Lifre Safety Best Practices provides a comprehensive overview of fire and life safety considerations for buildings under construction, with emphasis on identifying hazards, understanding code requirements, and implementing practical safeguards before an incident occurs. Construction sites present unique fire risks because combustible materials, flammable liquids and gases, temporary electrical systems, hot work, heating equipment, smoking, packaging, waste, and potential arson can exist in changing and sometimes uncontrolled conditions. The presentation reviews the responsibilities of owners, contractors, fire prevention personnel, and authorities having jurisdiction under standards such as the International Fire Code, International Building Code, and NFPA 241. It also explains how fire safety plans, daily inspections, hot work permitting, fire watches, guard services, site security, housekeeping, safe material storage, and clear fire department access support effective risk reduction. Additional attention is given to documentation, communication, enforcement, early installation and maintenance of fire protection systems, and special challenges associated with complex projects such as tall mass timber construction. Overall, the presentation emphasizes that successful construction fire safety depends on proactive planning, consistent oversight, code compliance, and collaboration among all stakeholders. These practices help protect workers, emergency responders, neighboring properties, and the building itself throughout every phase of construction.

CRR Monday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

What Would You Say You Do Here? Exploring Roles & Programs of Community Risk Reduction

Heather Keller, Amandeep Banwait

Using real-world examples from Menlo Park Fire Protection District, participants will examine how existing department activities, including community and school education, CERT, smoke alarm initiatives, senior outreach, community events, and fire prevention programs, can be leveraged as opportunities for meaningful risk reduction. Rather than viewing these activities as standalone programs, the course will explore how they can be evaluated, adapted, and connected to broader community risk reduction goals. Participants will also explore the importance of building relationships with firefighters, department leadership, elected officials, schools, community organizations, and other trusted community partners. These relationships can provide valuable insight into community needs, create opportunities to reach new audiences, and build organizational support for CRR initiatives. Participants will learn how to balance priorities with stakeholder expectations, available resources, and the needs expressed by the community. The course will examine practical approaches to evaluating whether existing programs are reaching the intended audience and achieving their desired outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on listening to the community, recognizing opportunities to expand existing programs, and using partnerships to reach populations that may otherwise remain invisible to the fire department. The course will reinforce that effective CRR does not always require creating something new; often, meaningful risk reduction comes from taking what already exists, understanding what works, and adapting it to better serve the community.

WUI Monday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Beyond the Interface: How Community Characteristics Influence Wildfire Risk

Matthew Crockett, Rob Hazard

Wildfire risk to communities is often characterized by the hazard posed by adjacent wildland fuels; however, the factors that influence structure loss extend well beyond the wildland-urban interface. Beyond the Interface: How Community Characteristics Influence Wildfire Risk explores how conditions within communities themselves can significantly influence how wildfire enters, spreads through, and ultimately impacts developed areas. This presentation will examine key factors that have been observed to influence community-scale wildfire losses and discuss why understanding these characteristics is critical for effective wildfire risk reduction. We will analyze findings from recent wildfire disasters to identify the community conditions and risk factors that most strongly influence structure loss. Participants will explore how spatial wildfire risk modeling can integrate wildland fire behavior with conditions within the built environment to identify areas where communities may be particularly susceptible to wildfire impacts. Finally, the presentation will demonstrate how these risk assessments can move beyond planning and into implementation by helping fire departments strategically prioritize inspections, community outreach, defensible space programs, and other mitigation activities. By looking beyond adjacent wildland hazard alone, agencies can develop a more complete understanding of community wildfire risk and better target limited resources toward the locations and conditions where mitigation can have the greatest impact.

Technical Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Building, Fire, Elevator, and NFPA Code Update for Elevators That Interface with Fire Protection Systems

Sagiv Weiss-Ishai

The 2025 CBC/CFC (building and fire codes), 2022 ASME A17.1 (elevator code) as well as the 2025 NFPA 13 (sprinkler code) and NFPA 72 (fire alarm code) and NFPA 1225-2022, Chapter 18 (ERCES), include many significant code changes and updates regarding the Interface between elevators and fire protection systems. This training will discuss and clarify all the different types of elevators (passenger and freight elevators, hydraulic, traction and machine room less (MRL), and the required interface between these elevators and the building fire protection systems. Various types of elevators are found in both low and high-rise buildings. Among these elevators are Hydraulic and Traction (Electric) Elevators with driving machines installed in dedicated spaces referred to as "Elevator Machine Rooms" while Machine-Room-Less (MRL) elevators have their hoisting machines installed directly inside the elevator hoistway. This class will discuss and clarify specific all the latest code requirements of NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) and NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems) requirements associated with these elevators, both in buildings provided with "Building Fire Alarm Systems" and those without. Specific 2025 NFPA 72, NFPA 13 (MAJOR CHANGES) and the 2022 edition of ASME A17.1 code terms, such as Dedicated Function FA System for Elevator Recall and Supervisory, Phase-I Emergency Recall Operation, Phase-II In-Car Emergency Operation, Designated and Alternate Recall levels and Shunt-Trip Function will be discussed and clarified. Also, per the 2027 NFPA 1225 – All elevator cars are classified as critical areas for radio coverage and will require 99% coverage. This class will discuss this new requirement and the new provisions in ASME A17.1-2022 to allow leaky coaxial cables and RRUs inside elevator hoistways. This class will also discuss the latest IBC/CBC Chapter 30 requirement for live communication inside elevator cars and CA Group 4/5 Regulations. After attending this class, participants should be able to understand and define the different type of elevators in low and high-rise buildings such as Hydraulic, Traction, Machine-Room-Less (MRL), Passenger, Freight, Service, Destination-Dispatch, and Limited-Use-Limited-Application Elevators (LULAs). Participants should be able to identify all building and life safety codes, NFPA 13, 72 and 1225 standards and ASME A17.1 elevator code, associated with elevator emergency operation and the cross references between these codes and standards. Understand basic Fire Emergency Operation (FEO) terms such as, Phase-I emergency recall operations and Phase -II in-car emergency operation, elevator power shunt trip, Fire Emergency Operation (FEO), dedicated function fire alarm system for elevator recall and supervisory, Designated and Alternate Recall Levels, Firefighters' Flashing Helmet, and other Fire-Elevator associated terms

Technical Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

ERCES for the Inspector

Kenneth Barnard

This class provides fire inspectors, plans examiners, fire code officials, and authority-having-jurisdiction personnel with a practical understanding of the requirements governing in-building Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems, commonly called ERCES, ERRCS, BDA, or public-safety DAS systems. The class focuses on the inspector’s responsibilities during: Plan review and permitting Rough and final installation inspections Acceptance testing Annual inspection and testing Review of system modifications Investigation of reported interference or system failures Documentation of deficiencies and enforcement actions The course is not intended to make the fire inspector an RF system designer or signal-booster technician. Its purpose is to help the inspector determine whether the required documentation, installation, testing, and continuing maintenance demonstrate compliance. At the conclusion of the class, participants should be able to: Explain how IFC Section 510, NFPA 1225, NFPA 70, and FCC regulations work together. Identify the documents that must be reviewed before installation or system activation. Recognize common physical, electrical, RF, and fire-protection installation deficiencies. Explain the difference between coverage measurements, signal strength, signal quality, and usable communications. Witness or evaluate an acceptance test without assuming the duties of the RF designer or testing contractor. Verify that a signal booster has the required frequency-license-holder authorization and FCC documentation. Review annual inspection reports and identify incomplete, inconsistent, or unsupported test results. Write clear correction notices that identify the condition, applicable requirement, required correction, and supporting evidence.

Technical Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

High Piled Combustible Storage: Part 1 What Is It and How Do We Regulate It?

Todd LaBerge

This class is Part 1 of a two-part series on High-Piled Combustible Storage. Part 1 of this two-part series will cover the foundational concepts of what combustible storage is, how to classify commodities in storage and how to regulate them. The continued evolution of storage has grown to include hazards previously unknown or not encountered, such as lithium-ion batteries, flammable and combustible liquids, aerosols, expanded foam packaging, and complex automated storage configurations. When combined with the deeply technical issues of storage itself, high-piled combustible storage warehouses have become high challenge environments for fire sprinklers and responding fire departments. Attendees will learn and/ or refresh when combustible storage is considered high-piled, low-piled, miscellaneous, etc., and what that means in the eyes of the California Fire Code and NFPA 13 for fire sprinkler protection. We will review what concepts and design features require evaluation during plan review, and specific areas for consideration while in the field performing fire prevention inspections. We will discuss how high-piled combustible storage has evolved in hazards and challenges, and what we see in the field and on paper. The class will assist fire protection system designers, plans reviewers, and field inspectors to understand where and how fire hazards change, and how plans and drawings don’t always fully capture the hazards of storage. Numerous real-world photographs and videos will be presented, that will challenge our understanding of what adequate fire protection is for this storge.

Technical Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Plug-In Solar & the Changing Code Landscape: UL 3700 and SB 868 for the Field

Gage Schlice, Pete Jackson, Greg Rogers

Plug-in solar compact panel systems that connect directly to a standard outlet are moving from niche DIY project to mainstream product category, and the regulatory and safety framework is racing to catch up. Long popular in Germany under the "Balkonkraftwerk" model, these systems are now entering the U.S. market through a patchwork of state legislation, evolving UL standards, and gaps in the National Electrical Code that were never written for consumer-installed solar. This session gives fire service and code professionals a practical grounding in where things stand today. We'll cover the safety concerns unique to plug-in solar backfeed risk, overcurrent protection, and unqualified installation, and how NEC Article 690 falls short of addressing them. We'll walk through the emerging UL 3700 standard, what "certified" actually means for a product on the market right now, and how to evaluate compliance claims. We'll also examine California's SB 868, the first state law to explicitly authorize plug-in solar, and what it signals for permitting, inspection, and enforcement as other states consider similar legislation. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of the current regulatory landscape, the questions to ask when plug-in solar shows up in a residential inspection or complaint, and where the standards are headed next. This is a fast-moving space; what's true about product compliance today may shift within the year, and this class is designed to help fire and code professionals stay ahead rather than react after the fact.

Technical Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Threats to ICC’s Model Codes and Standards and Maximizing Participation in ICC’s Code Development Process

Karl Fippinger, Christine Reed, Karyn Beebe

Across the country, states and localities are facing multiple threats and challenges to code and standards, including the use of the legislative process to sidestep and override the national consensus process for model codes and standards. This presentation will include the explanation and discussion of emerging issues and trends such as affordable housing, single-stair buildings, and emerging technologies such as batteries, energy capture, and energy storage systems. Attendees will learn about tools and resources they can use to effectively engage and advocate for codes and standards that are under assault in their communities. The ICC model code development process involves submission of code proposals, attendance and participation in committee action hearings, final action hearings, and participation in governmental consensus voting by eligible members. Attendees will learn about this multi-faceted process, step-by-step through code proposal submission, committee action hearings, public comment submission, final action hearings, and online governmental consensus voting. ICC’s cdpACCESS online tool is the code proposal repository for users to review current and historical proposals in code development process, including committee decisions, public comment status, consensus voting results and video testimony from code hearings. Through this interactive session, attendees will understand how to move through the components of the cdpACCESS program using real-life code proposal examples as references for discussion.

CRR Monday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Youth Firesetting Through the Ages

Kathi Osmonson

Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention has evolved significantly since the 1980s, when it was called "Juvenile Firesetter Intervention", and this session will examine where the field began, how it has progressed, where we are now and what challenges remain. Participants will explore practical strategies that communities can use to prevent youth firesetting and respond effectively when intervention is needed. This session will also highlight resources available through Vision 2020, including the new mobile YFPI Go app. The app launched in September 2026 and starts with a video overview of the app. Included all the forms a practitioner will need for an effective intervention. Intake forms, actuarial screening tool, pre and post tests, Data collection and case management tools including YFIRES (Youth Firesetting Intervention Repository and Evaluation System). There are information sheets on the app for fire chiefs, state fire marshals, operations personnel, teachers and caregivers. One section in YFPI Go outlines how to handle an initial response and another section includes links to myriad educational intervention resources. The YFPI filed guide walks through all the steps of an intervention as a review for trained practitioners. Finally you will meet Spark, the AI component that draws information from credible sources including the National Fire Academy YFPI curriculum.

WUI Monday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Engagement Strategies for Meaningful Community Participation in Community Wildfire Resilience Planning

Alison Sells, Rob Hazard

Effective community engagement is essential for developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPS) that reflect the needs, priorities, and lived experiences of residents. This presentation explores a practical framework for community engagement that showcases the variety of techniques to obtain meaningful, actionable community input and how to tailor the community engagement approach to the specific community. The session will examine a variety of engagement tools, including community mapping of areas of concerns and potential projects, surveys, focus groups, neighborhood meetings, targeted interviews, digital engagement platforms, and partnerships with community-based organizations. Emphasis will be placed on selecting the appropriate engagement methods based on project goals, audience demographics, project timeline, and available resources. Using real-world examples and lessons learned, the presentation will demonstrate how effective outreach can improve risk assessments, support policy development, strengthen emergency preparedness initiatives, and enhance public trust in the fire service. By integrating intentional engagement practices into planning and decision-making processes, fire service professionals can develop more equitable, data-informed, and community-supported outcomes. This session will provide attendees with practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied to future projects, helping agencies create stronger partnerships and foster a culture of collaboration that ultimately enhances community resilience and public safety.

Tuesday, March 2

Technical Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Batteries: Other than BESS

Robert Davidson, Michael O’Brian, Kara Gerczynski

This program provides fire service, code enforcement, and other public safety professionals with a comprehensive overview of battery-related hazards and the rapidly evolving codes and standards addressing these technologies. Participants will examine the new 2027 International Fire Code (IFC) Chapter 43, where non-ESS battery provisions have been consolidated and expanded, along with a new 2027 International Building Code (IBC) article coordinating battery-related construction requirements with the IFC. The program will address battery applications and associated hazards across a variety of environments, including electric vehicle (EV) charging, battery manufacturing and recycling facilities, storage awaiting use, collection of used or damaged batteries, and batteries in active use. Applications discussed will include energy storage systems (ESS), personal mobility devices, industrial trucks, and portable equipment. Participants will explore emerging hazards, current code requirements, and proposed code solutions addressing appropriate levels of protection. The course will review existing language in the California Fire Code (CFC) and proposed changes to the IFC, IBC, and International Residential Code (IRC), with emphasis on practical considerations for plan review, inspection, and enforcement. Electronic handouts will be provided. Documents referenced throughout the program will include the CFC, California Building Code (CBC), National Electrical Code (NEC), IFC, IBC, and IRC. Submission

WUI Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

CWUI Part 7 Overview with Intervening Updates

Crystal Sujeski

As wildfires increasingly challenge California communities, the fire service plays a critical role in shaping how the built environment withstands wildfire exposure. California’s new Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Title 24, Part 7 (CWUI) establishes a dedicated framework for building standards designed to reduce structure ignition, limit fire spread, and strengthen community resilience. This session provides fire marshals, prevention officers, inspectors, plan reviewers, and fire service leaders with a practical overview of Part 7 and the latest intervening code cycle updates. Participants will examine where and when the CWUI requirements apply, key provisions affecting ignition-resistant construction and exterior building components, and the relationship between Part 7 and California’s broader wildfire mitigation framework. Beyond simply reviewing code language, this course will focus on what the changes mean for the fire service. Attendees will explore implementation and enforcement considerations, lessons emerging from the transition to Part 7, and significant intervening updates affecting local jurisdictions and the regulated community. Participants will leave better equipped to interpret and apply California’s evolving WUI requirements, communicate them to stakeholders, and use the CWUI Code as an important component of a comprehensive community wildfire risk-reduction strategy. Attendees will also gain insight into future code development priorities and opportunities for fire service engagement in advancing California’s wildfire resilience.

CFSTES Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Rocque Yballa, Ian Hardage, Jessica Power, Robert Marshall

Technical Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire Sprinkler Plan Review Basics

Craig Hanson

Fire Suppression Systems – Start to Finish: This course will address a variety of fire suppression systems, discussing not only wet and dry fire sprinkler systems, but also other types of fire suppression systems. We will look at how these systems are designed, how shop drawings should be reviewed, how field inspections should be performed, and finally, how final acceptance testing should be conducted. This course will not only cover the basic principles, but will also discuss unique items to look for throughout the system design review, installation and commissioning process for these various systems. At the completion of this course, the student will have a better understanding of how fire protection and suppression systems operate and the major items to verify during the shop drawing review, inspection, and acceptance testing for these systems. TEST TESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTESTTEST TEST TESTTESTTESTTEST TEST TESTTEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TESTv TEST TEST TESTTESTTESTTEST TEST TESTTEST TEST Course note-This class was designed by myself to due to a brain injury which requires me to look at plans in very systematic fashion that starts the review process from the city supply alla the way to the inspectors test. As a former sprinkler fitter and fire marshal, I have a unique look at what is really important to look at and what gets missed the most. This is an interactive course designed for fire reviewers, inspectors, architects and FPE’s.

CFSTES Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Justin Beal

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for a Fire and Life Safety Educator to safely, effectively, and competently coordinate and deliver existing educational programs and information.

CRR Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

From Outbreak to Outcomes: Can your CRR Strategy Save the City?

Karen Berard-Reed, Colleen Potton

A mysterious NP-Z outbreak is approaching the fictional community of Greyhaven. Warning signs are mounting, resources are limited, and risk varies across neighborhoods. Can your team use Community Risk Reduction to keep Greyhaven standing or is the city headed for a dead end? In this interactive, full-day workshop, NFPA CRR Director Karen Berard-Reed and South Metro Fire Rescue CRR Specialist Colleen Potton will guide participants through the process outlined in NFPA 1300. Using a fictional zombie-apocalypse scenario, participants will analyze community characteristics and incident data, identify populations and places at elevated risk, assess local capacity, establish priorities, and design a coordinated risk-reduction strategy. After all, when the stakes are this high, there is no time for brainless planning. The fictional setting creates a lively, low-stakes laboratory for tackling very real CRR challenges. Teams will connect strategy with implementation, distinguish outcomes from outputs, develop actionable objectives, identify meaningful performance measures, and adapt as conditions change. Along the way, they may discover that a few long-standing assumptions are ready to be put to rest. Greyhaven’s zombie problem may be fictional, but the planning skills are dead serious. Participants will leave with practical tools and experience applying NFPA 1300 to wildfire, home fires, falls, emerging hazards, and other risks facing California communities. Come prepared to dig into the data, make grave decisions, and develop a CRR strategy with a fighting chance of stopping the outbreak. Your community is counting on you. The stakes are life and undeath.

Technical Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hazardous Materials Identification, Classification and MAQs – California Fire Code Chapter 50 and beyond

Brian Scholl, Nicole Pesqueira

The Hazardous Materials Identification, Classification and MAQs – California Fire Code Chapter 50 and beyond class provides an overview of hazardous materials requirements under California Fire Code Chapter 50, with an emphasis on identifying, classifying, and evaluating hazardous materials within an occupancy. Participants will learn how to identify locations where hazardous materials may be used or stored, recognize the distinction between physical and health hazards, and understand how these hazards affect fire and life safety. Topics include hazardous materials identification and classification, examples of common physical and health hazards, and the application of Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs). The course also introduces control areas and explains how MAQs and control-area requirements help regulate the amount and location of hazardous materials permitted within a building. Participants will review examples of hazardous materials, including flammable/combustible liquids, oxidizers, organic peroxides, corrosives, toxics, and highly toxic materials, and discuss how their properties influence storage and handling requirements. The course also emphasizes recognizing hazardous material information in Safety Data Sheets (SDS), labels, containers, and facility operations to support accurate identification and code compliance. Upon completion, participants will have a practical understanding of how to identify hazardous materials, determine their hazard characteristics, recognize applicable storage or use considerations, and apply the basic concepts of MAQs and control areas under the California Fire Code.

Technical Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

High-Piled Combustible Storage – Part 2: Modern Challenges and Special Hazards

Todd LaBerge

This is Part 2 of a two-part series on High Piled Combustible Storage. Part 1 covers the foundational principals of all types of storage, commodity classification, and evaluating adequacy of fire protection systems, This Part 2 is intended for those seeking a deep technical dive into the 2025 CFC and NFPA 13, to identify and review the applicable requirements for various storage configurations. The continued evolution of high-piled combustible storage has resulted in several significant changes in the past three cycles of NFPA 13 and other Standards, which may impact changes to existing facilities. This technical focus is ideal for plans reviewers and field inspectors who encounter basic and modern warehousing challenges. We will review changes in the CFC and NFPA 13 for rack storage, as well as the application of Alternative Designs and Performance Based Designs. A review of FM Data Sheets on Alternative Protection measures of special hazards will also be included. This course will also review changes to hazardous materials storage requirements, with specific attention to lithium-ion batteries, flammable and combustible liquids, and aerosols. For attendees who do not perform plan review, this class will provide a foundational basis for field-evaluating various high-challenge storage configurations and when to seek support from other technical professionals. Additionally, this Part 2 technical session will review various Technical Assistance Reports, and how to distinguish reasonable application of the CFC vs. analyses where proper background and engineering judgment may be insufficient.

Management Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Managing Large Outdoor Events for the Fire Service Workshop

Bryan Frieders, Karl Fippinger, Randy Metz

Outdoor events are prevalent in all jurisdiction today. Whether it is a Farmers Market, Concert in the Park , 5K Race, local parade or a massive music festival, these events bring unique issues that affect community safety. It is important the the Fire Service into the planning and managing these events to ensure that risk that is predictable can be prevented. It is vital that the fire department work with other city departments and event organizers to ensure that all potential risks have been addressed and that the city is ready for anything. This class will provide students technical training regarding crowd management, occupant egress, site safety & security, and communications. Students will work in groups to evaluate their own city events, select one that is scalable and unique to their group and then have the opportunity to present to the class for feedback and critique. This class has been presented the past two years and has grown every year, from a two hour technical session to a four hour session that included a mini workshop. This course offering plans to build on last year's workshop by providing more time to review real life events that are happening within jurisdictions.

Technical Tuesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Fire Inspector Perspective

Ryan McGraw, Orlando Aguon

Being an effective fire inspector requires more than knowing the fire code. The Fire Inspector Perspective explores the mindset, judgment, communication, and field practices that turn code knowledge into effective fire prevention. This course focuses on how inspectors approach their work, including attitude, expectations, purpose, and understanding the appropriate scope of an inspection. Students will discuss the difference between exercising authority and becoming “badge heavy,” how attitude can influence an inspection, and how effective communication can improve cooperation and compliance. The course will also examine accuracy, consistency, documentation, and efficiency in the field. Inspectors will explore the importance of recognizing the difference between a code requirement and personal preference, focusing on meaningful fire and life-safety concerns, and being able to clearly explain and defend inspection decisions. The Fire Inspector Perspective challenges inspectors to look beyond simply identifying violations and issuing corrections. The goal is to develop inspectors who are knowledgeable, approachable, consistent, accurate, and efficient while maintaining the authority necessary to perform their responsibilities. Ultimately, a successful inspection is not measured by how many violations are written, it is measured by whether the inspector effectively identifies hazards, communicates expectations, gains compliance, and improves fire and life safety within the community. This is an interactive course. Participation is mandatory.

WUI Tuesday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

A Practical Framework for Ranking Wildfire Mitigation Projects in California

Scott Eckardt, Andrew Johnson

With Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), Regional Priority Plans (RPPs), and other local planning efforts identifying more wildfire risk mitigation needs than can be implemented at once, fire agencies, fire safe councils, and resource managers need transparent and consistent methods for prioritizing projects. This class explores practical approaches for ranking wildfire risk mitigation projects in California using numeric scoring, locally driven weighting, and both spatial and non-spatial data. Attendees will learn how project prioritization can guide limited funding and staff resources and help communities focus on implementing projects with the greatest potential benefit. The class will outline how planners can integrate datasets covering wildfire hazard, wildfire risk, social vulnerability, community impact, treatment effectiveness, and project feasibility into a repeatable decision-making framework. It will also discuss the importance of tailoring variable weights to reflect local values, agency priorities, community needs, and funding requirements. By combining GIS-based analysis with practical implementation criteria, decision-makers can move from broad project lists to prioritized portfolios that are easier to explain, fund, and deliver. Rather than presenting a single prescribed model, this class will give attendees a framework for thinking through project prioritization, including how to select evaluation criteria, assign meaningful weights, compare project benefits, and document the rationale behind final rankings. Attendees will leave with ideas they can adapt to local planning efforts, grant applications, and implementation programs.

Technical Tuesday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

B, L, or H? Decoding California Laboratory Occupancies

Ian Hardage, Gale Bate

California laboratory projects can quickly become complicated when occupancy classification, hazardous-material quantities, laboratory-suite provisions, and fire-code requirements begin to overlap. Determining whether a laboratory should be classified as a Group B occupancy, a Group L laboratory suite, or a Group H occupancy is not simply a matter of identifying the chemicals present, it requires an understanding of how the California Building Code and California Fire Code work together. This session examines the evolution and practical application of California's laboratory occupancy provisions, including the transition from the former Group H-8 concept to today's Group L laboratory-suite provisions. Participants will work through the decision-making process used to evaluate laboratory uses, hazardous-material quantities, control areas, Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs), laboratory suites, and Group H thresholds. Using practical examples, the course will focus on how these provisions affect design, permitting, plan review, construction, inspection, and ultimately occupancy. Particular attention will be given to common misunderstandings that arise when laboratory flexibility, tenant improvements, speculative laboratory construction, and hazardous-material inventories intersect. The goal is to provide fire prevention personnel, building officials, designers, consultants, and facility representatives with a repeatable framework for answering the fundamental question: Is this laboratory Group B, Group L, or Group H, and what does that classification mean for the project?

Management Tuesday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Surviving Your Worst Career Moments: Don’t Apply Technical Solutions to Adaptive Problems.

Ray Reynolds

Anyone in public service is likely to experience a bump in the road to an otherwise stellar career. The worst career moments can often be traced to applying the wrongly timed or wrong solution to a complex problem. Learn through a real case example when you have been morally injured to survive the crisis. You control your own comeback story. Understand how to make your organization unfearful to change. Using the EFO course text Leadership On The Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading, you will understand the pitfalls that stand in front of you. People generally want to do a good job. Sometimes those career speed bump moments pop up unannounced, but more so, they are brought on by change. Learn the correct way to solve adaptive problems and avoid using simple technical solutions for complex problems. Heifetz and Linsky's Productive Range of Stress Model will help participants know how to properly manage the heat to push needed change without causing a mutiny within the ranks. Leaders are the first to be targeted when change is not successful. How you react will set the course for a successful come back. Emotional responses are a land mine for a long career. Participants directly involved in leading change will learn how to stand on the balcony to avoid those worst career moments. You will walk away changed and charged to step around the crisis moments.

Wednesday, March 3

Forums Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Alarm Forum

Jon Kapis, Kevin Green, Joseph R. Cervantes, Frank Alvarez

An update on current topics led by the California Automatic Fire Alarm Association (CAFAA) for the first half, followed by a Q&A session.

Technical Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Battery Events, Planning, Response, and Post Event Mitigation

Michael O’Brian, Larry Cocco

As battery technology continues to expand across residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation applications, fire and emergency response personnel will increasingly encounter incidents involving energy storage systems (ESS), electric vehicle (EV) charging, battery manufacturing, storage, collection, and various battery-powered equipment. This program provides a practical framework for preparing for and responding to battery-related incidents. Participants will examine how to assess battery-related risks within their response area and identify considerations for pre-incident planning, operational readiness, training, and resource allocation. The program will address response activities for incidents involving batteries in storage awaiting use, used or damaged batteries awaiting collection, ESS installations, personal mobility devices, industrial trucks, and portable equipment. Discussion will focus on incident assessment, responder safety, tactical considerations, communication, scene management, and coordination with other agencies and stakeholders. The course will also address post-event mitigation, including continued hazards, monitoring, property considerations, and appropriate actions following an incident. Participants will be introduced to resources and guidance from organizations and authorities including the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), UL Fire Research Institute (UL FRI), Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), and California Fire Code (CFC). Electronic resources and handouts will support continued reference and application following the program.

CFSTES Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Rocque Yballa, Ian Hardage, Jessica Power, Robert Marshall

CFSTES Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Justin Beal

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for a Fire and Life Safety Educator to safely, effectively, and competently coordinate and deliver existing educational programs and information.

Forums Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

NFA Forum

Lester Rich

Description coming soon.

Forums Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

OSFM Forum

Wendy Collins, Daniel Berlant, others TBD

An update on current topics led by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for the first half, followed by a Q&A session.

Technical Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Residential BESS Large Scale Fire Test – A Panel Discussion

William Koffel

Through multiple perspectives from code development, testing, analysis, and manufacturing, attendees will gain a better understanding of how large-scale fire test information can support informed decision-making for residential BESS installations.

Technical Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Single Exit Stair Legislative Report 2026

Crystal Sujeski, Joe Cavin

This four-hour course examines the California State Fire Marshal’s Single Exit Stair Legislative Report, including AB835’s legislative direction, stakeholder process, technical analysis, and policy considerations. Participants will review the history and evolution of California’s multifamily residential egress requirements and explore the relationship among building design, fire and life safety, emergency response, and occupant evacuation. The course addresses key factors considered in evaluating single-exit stair configurations, including building height, dwelling-unit count, travel distance, stair and corridor protection, automatic fire sprinklers, fire alarm and detection systems, smoke control, emergency access, and other mitigation measures. Participants will also examine California’s building standards framework and the State Fire Marshal’s role in developing fire and life safety regulations. Through presentation, case studies, facilitated discussion, and application exercises, participants will review the report’s findings and recommendations and consider their potential effects on building design, fire department operations, occupant safety, and future regulatory development. Emphasis will be placed on the risk-based evaluation of alternative egress configurations and the safeguards necessary to maintain an acceptable level of life safety. By the end of the course, participants will be able to explain the report’s legislative purpose, summarize its findings and recommendations, identify key risks and mitigation measures, evaluate single-exit stair proposals, and discuss the balance among housing needs, affordability, accessibility, development flexibility, and fire and life safety.

Forums Wednesday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sprinkler & Sprinkler Trailer

Steve Fox, Derek Miles, Shawn Arballo, Andrew Marino

An update on current topics led by the Sprinkler Fitters and partners for the first half, followed by a Q&A session.

Forums Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

California Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

Kevin Reinertson, Greg Rogers

This is an open meeting of the California Fire Sprinkler Coalition, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. The purpose is to bring stakeholders and fire prevention officers together to discuss issues and related information affecting fire sprinklers in California and throughout the nation. Topics will include California sprinkler legislation and stakeholder reports. The membership meets regularly throughout the year, and this is the annual in-person meeting. This is an open meeting of the California Fire Sprinkler Coalition, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. The purpose is to bring stakeholders and fire prevention officers together to discuss issues and related information affecting fire sprinklers in California and throughout the nation. Topics will include California sprinkler legislation and stakeholder reports. The membership meets regularly throughout the year, and this is the annual in-person meeting. This is an open meeting of the California Fire Sprinkler Coalition, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. The purpose is to bring stakeholders and fire prevention officers together to discuss issues and related information affecting fire sprinklers in California and throughout the nation. Topics will include California sprinkler legislation and stakeholder reports. The membership meets regularly throughout the year, and this is the annual in-person meeting.

Thursday, March 4

Technical Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

2025 California Fire Code Chapter 24 Flammable Finishes

Brian Scholl

This 2025 California Fire Code Chapter 24 Flammable Finishes class provides a comprehensive review of the fire and life safety requirements associated with spray application of flammable finishes, powder coating operations, and the manufacture of reinforced plastics. Participants will examine the different types of flammable finishes and gain an understanding of the unique fire, explosion, and health hazards associated with each process. The course will focus on applying the requirements of the 2025 California Fire Code, Chapter 24, to help ensure these operations are conducted safely, consistently, and in compliance with applicable code requirements. The class will address safe handling, storage, application, and processing practices, with an emphasis on identifying hazards and implementing appropriate fire prevention measures. Participants will also review spray booth design and operation, including applicable construction and installation requirements, ventilation, fire protection systems, and other required safety features. Through practical discussion and code-based examples, attendees will learn how to evaluate these operations, identify potential deficiencies, and determine appropriate corrective measures. The goal is to provide participants with practical knowledge they can use to recognize hazards, apply code requirements, and promote safe, compliant flammable finishing and manufacturing operations. The overall emphasis is on giving participants practical, field-applicable knowledge for evaluating flammable finishing and manufacturing operations for safety and compliance with the 2025 California Fire Code.

Technical Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Alternative Means & Methods

Joe McElvaney

This course introduces students to the concept and application of Alternative Means and Methods (AMM) . AMM provides a pathway for code compliance when innovative designs, materials, or construction methods fall outside the prescriptive provisions of the code. The course will explore: Purpose and Scope of AMM: Understanding the flexibility built into the codes to accommodate innovation and unique project conditions. Code Intent vs. Prescriptive Requirements: How performance-based approaches can meet or exceed the intent of the code. Application Process: Step-by-step guidance on submitting an AMM, including documentation, analysis of code intent, and justification of equivalency in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, and safety. Role of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): Understanding the decision-making power of local code officials. Evaluation Tools: Use of research reports, evaluations, and testing standards to support AMM. Case Studies: Real-world examples of successful AMM and lessons learned from complex projects. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to navigate the AM process confidently, advocate for innovative solutions, and ensure compliance with building safety standards. Please note that i taught this class last year and it request the some other may want to attend that could not attend, it is ok if this is not accept.

Technical Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

ERCES for the Code Official – From Model Code to Local Enforcement

Kenneth Barnard

This course is intended for fire code officials, fire inspectors, plans examiners, building officials, electrical inspectors, public-safety radio system administrators, and other authority-having-jurisdiction personnel responsible for Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems, commonly referred to as ERCES, ERRCS, BDA, or public-safety distributed antenna systems. The course explains how a jurisdiction moves from nationally published model codes and referenced standards to a complete, enforceable, and locally appropriate ERCES program. Emphasis is placed on IFC Section 510, NFPA 1225, NFPA 70, and the federal requirements contained in 47 CFR Part 90.219. Participants will examine the relationship between adopted codes, referenced standards, local amendments, administrative policies, frequency-license-holder requirements, approved plans, equipment listings, and manufacturer instructions. Because national codes cannot define the operating characteristics of every public-safety radio network, the course addresses the code official’s responsibility to develop jurisdiction-specific design, installation, testing, acceptance, monitoring, maintenance, and reporting criteria. Topics include code adoption, delegated authority, contractor qualifications, plan review, permitting, interdepartmental coordination, acceptance testing, annual inspections, system impairments, interference response, documentation, and enforcement. The course is not intended to train inspectors to design or tune RF systems. Its purpose is to help officials establish a consistent regulatory process, recognize incomplete or unsupported compliance documentation, coordinate with qualified technical personnel, and issue clear, accurate, and defensible correction notices.

WUI Thursday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

FPO’s Guide to Understanding Wildfire Evacuation Studies and Modeling

Austin Ott, Aaron Murg

Wildfire Evacuation Studies (WESs) have become essential tools for evaluating development proposals, understanding community evacuation constraints, supporting CEQA wildfire impact analyses, and informing defensible fire agency reviews. Yet many FPOs still encounter WESs without a clear framework for understanding how they’re built, what they mean, and how to confidently evaluate them. This two‑hour course provides FPOs a practical, working understanding of WESs and their role in the development review process. Drawing on experience leading and authoring dozens of municipal and project‑specific WESs, instructor Austin Ott will walk participants through the origins and purpose of these studies, what they typically include, how evacuation traffic models function, and how to interpret results without overstating model precision. Attendees will also learn to identify and contextualize common methodological limitations, including assumptions about evacuation demand, roadway capacity, background traffic, human behavior, and emergency response actions. Instructor Aaron Murg will focus on how FPOs can effectively review, guide, and influence WESs. Topics include key review objectives, red flags to watch for, and practical strategies for working with applicants, consultants, and developers to ensure the study reflects real‑world conditions. Participants will leave with clear, actionable skills they can immediately apply, improving the accuracy of WESs, strengthening CEQA documentation, and contributing to more informed, defensible evacuation planning decisions for their jurisdictions.

Management Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fee Studies for the Fire Marshal

Randy Metz

This course is directed towards Fire Marshals and aspiring Fire Marshals that are interested in learning about the process of managing a fee study process. Many Fire Marshals are responsible for determining what their fees should be, how they should be presented and what options exist to how those fees are collected. This course will explore the requirements to conduct a fee study that can be validated by a third part source to present to City Council, that have met the legal burden that government entities must follow. The class will focus on what constitutes a fully burdened hourly rate, determining direct costs costs, including staff salaries and employee benefits. Indirect overhead costs, including administrative support, technology, utilities and office space will also be explained. We will discuss the use of time studies multiplied by the fully burdened rate to develop the baseline cost of service. We will then explore cost recovery options to determine if market rate recovery of true cost of service is the best option for your jurisdiction versus proposing a subsidized fee for the agency to propose for Council consideration. We will then walk through the adoption process with elected officials and the legal process to implement the adopted fees within your organization. Class will be presented with a financial expert from Willdan Financial Services in conjunction with a Fire Marshal that has extensive experience conducting fee and time studies.

Technical Thursday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire Alarm Systems and Compliance Methodologies

Todd Laeger

This full-day session provides fire inspectors, fire investigators, fire officers, and other public safety professionals with a comprehensive, practical framework for understanding, evaluating, and applying fire alarm system compliance methodologies. Participants will explore the roles and responsibilities of personnel who interact with fire alarm systems and examine the relationship between adopted codes, referenced technical standards, and accepted compliance processes. The session will address key aspects of fire alarm system oversight, including submittal and plan review, inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM), monitoring and system supervision, existing system compliance, and integrated or peripheral fire protection systems monitored through fire alarm systems. Additional discussion will focus on common and complex target hazard occupancies, special events, fire investigations, and the operational use of fire alarm systems by responding firefighters and fire officers. Throughout the session, participants will apply a structured “what, where, how, why, when, and who” approach to evaluating fire alarm systems and addressing compliance and non-compliance issues. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, effective communication, thorough documentation, and interagency coordination as essential components of consistent decision-making. By examining real-world challenges and practical compliance considerations, attendees will gain tools and strategies to strengthen collaboration among inspectors, investigators, fire officers, system professionals, property representatives, and other stakeholders. The session is designed to support more consistent enforcement, improve system reliability and accountability, and contribute to a safer, more compliant built environment.

CFSTES Thursday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Justin Beal

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for a Fire and Life Safety Educator to safely, effectively, and competently coordinate and deliver existing educational programs and information.

Management Thursday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

From Code Official to Consultant: Building Effective Fire Prevention Partnerships

Janice Cheung, Todd LaBerge

Fire code officials and consultants may review the same project, but their responsibilities, authority, and obligations differ significantly. This two-hour session examines the transition from code enforcement to consulting and the practical use of consultants by fire prevention agencies. Drawing on two fire protection engineering careers spanning property-loss prevention, corporate fire protection, private consulting, federal and laboratory facilities, campus fire safety, and municipal code enforcement, the presenters will discuss what changes when enforcement authority is replaced by an advisory role. Topics include career pathways, transferable skills, proposals, scope development, client communication, ethics, conflicts of interest, professional independence, and the realities of consulting practice. The session then shifts to the agency perspective: when outside expertise adds value, what services consultants can provide, how to select and manage them, and how fire code officials can maintain consistent decision-making and public accountability. Technical examples involving high-piled storage, energy storage systems, hazardous materials, combustible dust, and plant extraction will illustrate both the benefits and limitations of specialty assistance. Attendees will leave with practical guidance for evaluating a consulting career, defining professional responsibilities, communicating effectively with clients and agencies, and establishing productive consultant relationships. The session emphasizes that successful consulting requires more than technical knowledge; it also depends on sound judgment, clear documentation, ethical conduct, and an understanding of the public-safety mission that guides fire prevention work.

Management Thursday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Honoring the Expiration Date

Hayley Carson

In the fire service, we teach people to check expiration dates. We know that equipment can look perfectly fine and still be past its useful or safe service life. We check the date, evaluate the risk, and make the call. But what about the other things we use every day? Programs expire. Policies expire. Strategies expire. Leadership approaches expire. And sometimes, so do jobs, roles, relationships, expectations, and the versions of ourselves we've been carrying for too long. Honoring the Expiration Date takes a familiar fire and life safety principle and applies it far beyond equipment. This interactive session introduces a practical framework for recognizing when something has simply lost quality, when it has become a safety concern, and when it has fulfilled its purpose and needs to be replaced, renewed, or released. Through real-world examples, interactive scenarios, and guided reflection, participants will examine expiration dates in their professional and personal lives, from community risk reduction programs and public education strategies to leadership practices, career decisions, and relationships. The goal isn't to throw everything away when it gets difficult. It's to develop the discernment to recognize what still serves its purpose, what needs attention, and what we may be continuing simply because we're accustomed to it. Participants will leave with a memorable framework they can immediately apply to their work, their leadership, their programs, and their lives.

Technical Thursday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Temporary Fire Notification & Detection for Construction Sites (NFPA 72 Ch. 28)

Joseph Cervantes

NFPA 72's new Chapter 28 establishes, for the first time, dedicated requirements for temporary fire alarm and detection systems on active construction, alteration, and demolition sites, a gap that has long left inspectors and plan reviewers without clear code guidance during a building's most vulnerable phase. This session walks Fire Inspectors, Fire Marshals, and Plan Reviewers through the chapter's scope, applicability triggers, system design minimums, and enforcement touchpoints, with particular attention to how requirements shift as a project moves through phased construction and occupancy milestones. Drawing on the presenter's direct work developing the ICC code change proposal (F225-24) that helped establish the case for this requirement, along with current committee-level development of the chapter itself, attendees gain first-hand insight into the reasoning behind the code language, why it was written the way it was, and how it is likely to be enforced, not just the final text. The session also addresses how Chapter 28 requirements interact with NFPA 241 construction fire safety provisions, since the two documents are frequently applied together on the same job site. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to identify when Chapter 28 applies, evaluate submittals for compliance, and coordinate enforcement decisions across both NFPA 72 and NFPA 241 requirements.

Management Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Data Alone Doesn’t Change Outcomes: People Do. Know the Source, Shape the Message, Drive Action

Jill Cotton, Nate Rice

Fire departments are data rich and action poor. The numbers sit in reports while budgets stay flat and behavior stays the same. The missing piece is not better analytics. It is a leader willing to carry the number to someone who can act. This session gives leaders a repeatable method. It starts with where the data came from and what it actually says, because a leader who cannot explain how a number was built will lose it in the first hard question. It moves to the harder discipline of reading what the data reveals about who can fix the problem. Numbers do not just locate risk. They identify the housing authority, the elected official, the social service agency, and the crew who hold the solution. From there the work is influence. Attendees will learn four strategies for converting conversations into commitments, three truths about people that explain why authority alone changes nothing, and a method for turning one data set into four distinct asks. Budget efficiency, constituent safety, liability, and crew workload are different arguments built from identical facts. The session is anchored in a real case. A cooking fire trend was traced to a single property and resolved through a partnership that did not exist a year earlier. The presenters met that way, which makes this session its own proof of concept. Attendees open by naming a risk that keeps them up at night and a person whose buy in they have not earned, and close with a plan for both.

WUI Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Implement Zone 0 Ordinance: Berkeley’s Real-Time Case Study

Jason Brooks

Berkeley is one of the first cities in California to implement Zone 0 as a locally enforced ordinance, with roughly 1,400 hillside homes now maintaining a five-foot ember-resistant perimeter. Central to this initiative is a commitment to working in strong partnership with the community, ensuring that the transition is rooted in education and a collaborative enforcement inspection program. This session provides a detailed overview of the operational roadmap required to introduce, educate on, and enforce this mandate while maintaining community trust. Attendees will explore practical strategies for segmenting hillside parcels for systematic tracking and structuring strategic resident outreach prior to enforcement. We will discuss targeted vegetation-mitigation notices that achieved a 75% open rate among Grizzly Peak residents by framing wildfire resilience as a shared goal, offering clear, supportive guidance for sustainable vegetation management. Recognizing that Zone 0 can be a challenging transition for residents, Berkeley has prioritized a supportive approach to address these difficulties together. Despite strong overall community support, implementation has generated constructive debate; drawing from this ongoing experience, this case study offers actionable insights into balancing rigorous safety standards with the vital need to preserve partnership and trust within the community. Learning Objectives: Following the session, participants will be equipped to: 1. Categorize and monitor priority parcels using a framework that prioritizes intervention while respecting individual property components, ensuring maximum community buy in. 2. Coordinate strategic resident engagement that emphasizes partnership and progress over heavy enforcement. Learn to leverage precise, supportive messaging that encourages voluntary compliance and reinforces a shared responsibility for collective safety. 3. Establish collaborative protocols that maintain the integrity of ember-resistant standards while remaining responsive to resident feedback, addressing challenges together to create a safer, more resilient community.

Technical Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

What The Fire Code Cycle is Addressing for the 2030 Codes: Predicting a Safer Future

Ray Reynolds, Gage Schlice

Fire codes must evolve as quickly as the technologies reshaping our communities. This presentation offers a fast-paced look at emerging hazards and the code changes being considered to address them. The presenters serve on the Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC), where proposals from the public, special interests, industry representatives, and government officials are evaluated to update existing fire codes or develop new requirements for evolving risks. Attendees will gain insight into the issues likely to influence future fire prevention, inspections, emergency response, and community risk reduction. Topics include flammable refrigerants, rapidly expanding data centers, balcony solar systems, photovoltaic installations, electric vehicles, energy storage systems, smart buildings, green energy technologies, and the critical challenge of providing adequate fire protection water supplies for energy storage facilities. Designed for fire service leaders, code officials, inspectors, plans examiners, and emergency responders, this session connects emerging technology with practical code concerns. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what is on the horizon, why these developments matter, and how today’s code decisions will shape tomorrow’s fire and life safety environment. The session also highlights the value of proactive collaboration before innovation outpaces established safeguards, training, operational readiness, and public understanding within every changing community.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Auxiliary Service Providers for Fire Alarm System Transmission

Christopher Creamer, Richard Roberts

A review of the NFPA 72 2025 requirements for ASPs. The path to compliance and use using review of Code requirements, equipment standard compliance, CAL Fire Information Bulletin, and future Code language. Class starts with new definition, code requirements. A deep dive into how the technology works, which components are used in the pathways are code and equipment compliant. An understanding of the newly developed UL 8555 and look into the future with Codes and Standard development. The class will navigate for the fire plans reviewer, and fire inspectors, what to look for in terms of code compliance. The class will review the landscape of the components of the ASP platform, the on-premises equipment connected to the fire alarm control unit, the location types of ASPs, and the certification needed to satisfy the Code and provide assurance to the Authorities having jurisdictions that the equipment is safe and compliant for use in their jurisdiction. During the class, the presenters will off time for comments, questions from the attendees. The presentation will review NFPA 72 2025, UL 8555, certification of the platform, and the California State Fire Marshal's published information bulletin, and a glimpse into NFPA 72, 2028 Edition changes and edits.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fire Alarm System Testing and Inspection 101: ITM Fundamentals for Code Officials

Joseph Cervantes

Fire alarm systems are only as reliable as the testing, inspection, and maintenance (ITM) program behind them, yet many Fire Inspectors and AHJ staff are never given formal training in how to evaluate ITM compliance in the field. This session closes that gap. Attendees will build a working knowledge of NFPA 72 Chapter 14 ITM requirements, what must be tested, how often, by whom, and what documentation is required to demonstrate compliance, without needing to become alarm technicians themselves or hold a fire alarm license of their own. The course emphasizes practical, transferable inspection skills: how to read an ITM report critically, how to spot red flags that suggest a system is not being properly maintained, and how to determine when an issue warrants escalation. Built from the presenter's ITM testing plan product, currently used across the industry by contractors and AHJs alike, this session translates a dense, technical chapter of NFPA 72 into a clear, field-ready framework that inspectors can apply immediately. By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped to confidently evaluate ITM documentation, distinguish inspector responsibilities from contractor responsibilities, and apply consistent enforcement standards across the systems they oversee, regardless of manufacturer or system age.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Liquid CO2 Systems – 2025 California Fire Code Chapter 53

Brian Scholl

This course provides an overview of California Fire Code Chapter 53 requirements for liquid carbon dioxide (CO₂) systems, with an emphasis on safe installation, operation, and permitting. Participants will learn what liquid CO₂ is, its properties, and how it differs from gaseous CO₂. The course examines common applications, including beverage dispensing and agricultural enrichment systems, and explains how these systems operate from storage through delivery. Students will review the major components of liquid CO₂ systems, including storage containers, piping, valves, pressure-regulating equipment, controls, and safety devices. The course also addresses applicable code requirements for beverage and CO₂ enrichment systems, including considerations for system design, installation, ventilation, detection, safety controls, and protection of occupants. Finally, participants will learn about permitting requirements and the role of the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), including when permits may be required and what information may be needed for plan review and approval. The course is designed to help fire marshals, inspectors, and other safety professionals better understand the code provisions governing liquid CO₂ systems and apply them to real-world projects. Through practical examples and code-focused discussion, participants will identify common hazards, recognize compliance issues, and understand key responsibilities for maintaining safe, properly permitted liquid CO₂ installations in occupied facilities.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Smoke Control – History, Methods, Code Requirements, Plan Checking, Testing & Inspecting

Armando Herrera

Developing a comprehensive presentation on smoke control systems requires balancing technical depth with practical code application to help AHJ's navigate the complexities of a smoke control system. The resources I may offer are structured guidance, technical standards, and training videos that have been integrated into my presentation to address the challenges faced by plan checkers, supervisors, and inspectors. Establishing best practices for smoke control systems involves a disciplined approach to plan reviews, rigorous on-site testing procedures, meetings and a clear communication between design, construction and ownership teams with the AHJ's. By leveraging my extensive experience of over 20 years, I can help jurisdictions bridge the gap between complex smoke control requirements and practical field implementation. I would be able to offer the guidance to City Officials so they may determine what is considered best practice for their jurisdiction. I have led training for multiple locations in California as well as multiple locations throughout the United States and I have been providing smoke control third party special inspection services in areas such as New York, Nevada, Texas, Arizona, Mexico City, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, Virginia, and Macau. As a 2002 graduate of the Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Oklahoma State University, topics that deal with life safety are important to me and any continued knowledge I may be able to offer, is always welcomed.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

UL Standards 9540 and 9540A

Alexandra Schraiber, Randi Myers, Robert Marshall

UL 9540 & UL 9540A: Current Requirements, Emerging Issues, and Future Directions for Energy Storage Systems Have you ever wanted to speak directly with the experts involved in developing the standards that govern the safety and fire performance of energy storage systems (ESS)? This course provides a unique opportunity to gain insight into the latest developments in UL 9540, Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, and UL 9540A, Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems. This four-hour session will provide an overview of the purpose, scope, and application of these critical safety standards and explain how they are used by manufacturers, testing laboratories, fire officials, code authorities, and design professionals. Attendees will learn about recent changes in the standards, current technical challenges facing the industry, and key topics under discussion for future editions. Special emphasis will be placed on the new requirements contained in Chapter 10 of the 2026 edition of UL 9540A, including the large-scale fire testing provisions used to evaluate fire propagation and mitigation strategies in battery energy storage systems. The course will also examine the recently added Annex C guidance on deflagration testing and discuss its role in evaluating explosion hazards associated with combustible gas generation during thermal runaway events. In addition to the technical requirements, participants will gain valuable insight into how standards are developed, revised, and maintained through the consensus-based standards development process. The session will explain how stakeholders, including regulators, fire service personnel, manufacturers, consultants, and end users, can participate in standards technical panels and contribute to future revisions. Whether you are an inspector, fire marshal, or an interested party, this course will provide practical knowledge of today's requirements while offering a firsthand look at the future direction of battery energy storage system safety standards.

Technical Thursday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Using NFPA 3 and 4 for Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems.

Joseph McElvaney

Using NFPA 3 and 4 for Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. This class provides a review of NFPA 3, "Guide for the Development of a Fire Protection Program," and NFPA 4, "Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems Testing." Participants will gain an understanding of the key principles and practices outlined in both standards, on the integration of fire protection/life safety systems and their testing protocols. The class with examines key roles and responsibilities, documentation requirements, testing methodologies, and coordination practices essential for achieving code compliance and maintaining system performance in complex buildings. Key topics include: •Overview of NFPA 3: Understanding the commission •Overview of NFPA 4: Learning the requirements for testing and maintaining integrated fire protection and life safety systems, emphasizing the importance of coordination among various systems. •Practical Applications: Real-world scenarios to illustrate the implementation of these standards in different environments, enhancing participants' ability to apply knowledge in their professional settings. •Regulatory Compliance: Discussion on how adherence to NFPA 3 and 4 can help organizations meet today's and tomorrow's requirements.This class is ideal for fire protection professionals, safety officers, and facility managers looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in fire safety program development and system integration testing. Participants will leave equipped with the tools necessary to improve fire safety measures within their organizations.

CRR Thursday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

What 61,000 Systems Taught Us About Data, Services, and CRR

Jill Cotton

Two metro agencies. Both with no previous processes and no real idea which systems in their jurisdictions actually worked. But someone is already inside those buildings every day, every year, by code: the contractor. Connecting those people to the AHJ brought more than 61,000 fire protection systems under active tracking in year one, locating 6,447 premises and 8,801 systems no department knew existed. Neither agency added an inspector. Discovery is the easy half. This session covers the harder one. Somebody has to read 46,397 reports and judge them. Somebody has to reach the owners, which took more than 13,400 calls. Somebody has to escalate when a deficiency sits open for a year. Without that service layer, a jurisdiction that finds 8,801 unknown systems has produced a longer list, not a safer community. The resolution data shows why enforcement design matters. In one city, fire alarm deficiencies closed at 71 percent while five-year sprinkler deficiencies closed at 31 percent. Same code, same authority, forty-point spread. Reading that correctly tells you where effort will move compliance and where it will only generate paper. The result is not a compliance statistic. It is a risk picture the whole department can use: operations entering buildings whose protection status nobody verified, prevention working a real target list, and administration defending a budget with evidence.

CRR Thursday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

When Operations and Risk Reduction Collide: Stop Drawing the Line in your Fire Department

Ray Reynolds, Mitch Brodsack

Fire department operations and community risk reduction (CRR) are often treated as separate functions competing for personnel, funding, and attention. In reality, they collide every day, and that intersection creates powerful opportunities to improve public safety, strengthen trust, and demonstrate organizational competence. This presentation explores how departments can intentionally integrate CRR into emergency operations without diminishing operational readiness and vice versa. Every apparatus response, training exercise, inspection, public event, and interaction with residents communicates something about the department. The “big red trucks” are more than emergency vehicles; they are highly visible public-relations platforms and mobile billboards representing preparedness, professionalism, and community investment. When apparatus is clean, personnel are courteous, and operations are performed competently, the department is already practicing community risk reduction. Participants will learn how operational personnel can identify hazards, share prevention messages, collect meaningful risk data, and build relationships during routine calls, training, and public contacts. The session will also examine how CRR staff can use operational experience, incident trends, and firefighter credibility to strengthen prevention initiatives. By eliminating organizational silos and recognizing operations as a vital CRR partner, departments can turn every response into an opportunity to prevent the next emergency while reinforcing public confidence and support for their fire department. Tear down the wall between operations and CRR.

Management Thursday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

CRA/SOC Ready: Building the Foundation Before the Analysis Begins

Frank Blackley

A successful Community Risk Assessment and Standards of Cover (CRA/SOC) starts well before calculating response times, creating risk maps, or making recommendations. Fire and emergency services need to ensure that their data, resources, policies, and analytical methods are collected and dependable. Poor preparation can cause incomplete or inconsistent data, flawed performance metrics, and conclusions that don't accurately represent the community's risks or the organization's capacity. This session offers a practical guide for preparing a fire and emergency service organization to conduct a CRA/SOC. Attendees will explore project scope, governance, CAD and RMS data needs, response-time factors, staffing, apparatus deployment, workload and reliability, response force effectiveness, mutual and automatic aid, GIS functions, planning zones, community demographics, hazard targets, prevention activities, and future planning. Special focus will be on data quality, consistent definitions, 90th-percentile performance metrics, risk classification, and differentiating external industry benchmarks from locally set performance goals. The session will also examine how community risk, service demand, deployment, workload, reliability, and response performance combine to provide a comprehensive view of emergency service delivery. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what should be assembled, evaluated, and resolved before the formal CRA/SOC process begins, enabling their organizations to develop a more accurate, defensible, and useful assessment for operational planning and community decision-making.

Management Thursday, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

The True Cost of Fire: Making the Financial Case for Community Risk Reduction.

Brent Faulkner

Community Risk Reduction has a marketing problem: it competes for funding against staffing, apparatus, and facilities, and loses quietly, because avoided incidents don't show up in a budget hearing the way a new engine does. This session makes the financial case for CRR using evidence any fire chief or prevention officer can carry into a budget meeting tomorrow. Presented by a 28-year operations veteran turned CRR advocate, the session reframes what CRR actually delivers. CRR doesn't eliminate the emergency, it decides what kind of emergency you get. Equipment, code compliance, sprinklers, and public education don't stop every incident, they change its severity: a potential fatality becomes a close call, a total loss becomes a contained one. Attendees build a portable evidence stack by combining national frameworks, federal mitigation ROI data (NIBS, $6 return per $1 invested), the federal 95/5 suppression-to-prevention funding split, litigation exposure, and insurance rating (PPC/ISO) impacts, with local risk data, current CRA findings, and documented mitigation activity. That combined evidence is then translated into language for four distinct audiences: operations staff, city managers, fire boards, and county commissions, each needing a different opening argument. The session closes with a live demonstration of a free, publicly available calculator that applies these national frameworks to local inputs, producing a defensible, jurisdiction-specific funding request at no cost. Attendees leave with a repeatable framework for building and defending their own CRR budget case.

Friday, March 5

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Beyond the MAQ: Permitting Hazardous Materials from Paper to Practice

Ian Hardage

Maximum Allowable Quantities are often treated as the starting, and sometimes the ending, point of hazardous-material review. In practice, determining that a facility is below the MAQ is only one part of a much larger hazardous-material permitting process. Beyond the MAQ takes participants through the complete hazardous-material review process, beginning with the chemical inventory and continuing through occupancy classification, control-area evaluation, permit documentation, plan review, inspection, and final approval. The course places particular emphasis on the Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP), a frequently misunderstood document that should serve as a central communication tool between the applicant, design team, facility operator, and Authority Having Jurisdiction. Participants will examine how chemical inventories must be organized and evaluated by hazard classification, physical state, storage and use condition, and applicable code thresholds. The session will explore the relationship between hazardous-material inventories, MAQs, control areas, Group L laboratory suites, Group H occupancies, operational permits, construction permits, and facility operating conditions. Practical examples will demonstrate why simply submitting a chemical spreadsheet or stating that quantities are "below MAQ" may be insufficient to establish compliance. Participants will leave with a structured approach for reviewing hazardous-material submittals from initial inventory through final inspection and approval. Lets go beyond the MAQ…

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Evolution of Large-Scale Fire Testing for Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Todd LaBerge, Nick Bartlett

This course will review the changes to, and the evolution of, the Large-Scale Fire Testing (LSFT) of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems and battery chemistries that behave similarly. The requirements for LSFT have undergone dramatic changes in the past code and standard cycles, with more changes to come. We will review the legacy interpretation of LSFT and the sweeping changes promulgated in the recently published 6th Edition of UL9540A. The new 6th Edition of UL9540A provides precise, prescriptive guidance on LSFT for indoor and outdoor systems. We will also review the changes in the 2026 Edition of NFPA 855 as they pertain to intentional ignition of thermal runaway gases in LSFT testing and the required supplemental reporting requirements. We will also review what changes are on the horizon with the Public Inputs to the 2029 Edition of NFPA 855. We will review experiences and lessons learned from full scale burns of lithium-ion battery systems across the globe, and what to look for when reviewing test data and reports. Challenges facing the equipment OEMs, regulators, and insurance companies will be discussed, including a review of concerns over existing and legacy regulatory infrastructure, and changes to tested equipment. Special attention will be dedicated to how to interpret the data from a large-scale fire testing report, and how various entities use the data. Guidance will be provided on considerations for reasonable engineering judgment, and when to engage outside support.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Fire Resistive Doors, Dampers and Opening Protectives of the CBC

William Moss, Nanci Timmins

Updated course to the current 2025 Title 24 Codes in effect January 1st, 2026. This class will detail the fire resistive door and opening protective requirements of 2025 CFC Sections 705, 706 & 909, 2025 CBC Sections 716, 717, 1007 and 1010, 2025 CMC Sections 606 & 608, 2025 NFPA 80 and 2025 NFPA 105 from plan review and installation to maintenance and recordkeeping. A Chief Fire/Life Safety Officer and a Field Fire Marshal are presenting this year with detailed review of the use, installation, operation and maintenance of Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware, Horizontal Sliding, Vertical Sliding and Rolling Doors, Special-Purpose Horizontally Sliding Accordion or Folding Doors and Fire Doors with Fire Door Hardware. Presentation will also detail the use, operation and maintenance of Fire Dampers, Smoke Dampers and Combination Smoke/Fire Dampers. This presentation will provide the attendees with the tools necessary to ensure that compliance with minimum code provisions is achieved from plan review, installation, inspection, allowable alterations of fire resistive assemblies and maintenance of the fire-resistance-rated assemblies and opening protectives, as well as the documentation requirements from annual inspections and testing to be maintained by the building owners and/or building operators and available upon request to the AHJ and Fire Authority.

CFSTES Friday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Justin Beal

This course provides the skills and knowledge needed for a Fire and Life Safety Educator to safely, effectively, and competently coordinate and deliver existing educational programs and information.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Navigating Fire & Life Safety and CDSS Licensing for California Child Care Facilities

Crystal Sujeski

Child care facilities present unique fire and life safety challenges that require effective coordination among California’s fire service, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), the Division of the State Architect (DSA), and other regulatory authorities. Protecting some of California’s most vulnerable occupants requires more than applying the fire code, it requires understanding how building and fire regulations, licensing requirements, occupancy classifications, jurisdictional responsibilities, and agency processes intersect. This four-hour course provides fire inspectors, plan reviewers, fire marshals, and code professionals with a practical understanding of fire and life safety requirements applicable to California child care facilities. Participants will explore the roles and responsibilities of local fire authorities, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, CDSS Community Care Licensing, and DSA, including how jurisdiction and facility type can influence plan review, inspection, approval, and licensing. Through real-world examples and scenario-based discussions, the course will address common challenges involving occupancy classification, occupant loads, exiting and egress, fire alarm and detection systems, automatic fire sprinklers, emergency planning, facility modifications, and inspection documentation. Special attention will be given to circumstances where fire code, building standards, DSA oversight, and licensing requirements intersect or create uncertainty. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of agency responsibilities, applicable requirements, and effective communication strategies. The course emphasizes early coordination, consistent interpretation, and collaborative problem-solving to streamline approvals while maintaining the highest level of fire and life safety for California’s children.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Residential Fire Sprinkler System Inspection and Plan Check

Joshua Rodriguez, George Apple

This course provides a practical overview of residential fire sprinkler plan checking and inspection in California, with an emphasis on the California Residential Code (CRC) and NFPA 13D. Participants will develop an understanding of the requirements governing the design, installation, inspection, testing, and approval of residential fire sprinkler systems. The course will include a detailed review of residential sprinkler plans, including system layouts, sprinkler locations, piping arrangements, water supply information, equipment, valves, alarms, and supporting documentation. Participants will work through sample plans to identify common design deficiencies, code compliance issues, and items that should be addressed during the plan review process. Hydraulic calculations will also be examined, with participants reviewing sample calculations and learning how to evaluate water supply data, required flow and pressure, pipe sizing, friction loss, elevation changes, and remote-area requirements. Emphasis will be placed on understanding what a plan reviewer or inspector should verify rather than simply accepting submitted calculations. The inspection portion of the course will address field verification of installed systems, including piping, sprinkler placement, valves, hangers, waterflow devices, and required testing. Participants will discuss common inspection deficiencies and how field conditions can differ from approved plans. Through hands-on examples, plan and calculation reviews, and inspection-focused discussions, this course will provide participants with practical tools for applying CRC and NFPA 13D requirements consistently and effectively.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Smoke Control Systems & the Authority Having Jurisdiction

Nathan Casebier, William Fletcher

The current edition of the California Building Code (CBC) requires smoke control systems for specific buildings and uses, including large stages, atriums, high-rises, underground buildings, and windowless buildings for group I-3 occupancies. Smoke control systems may also be provided as a mitigating measure for an alternate means and methods request. CBC and California Fire Code (CFC) Section 909.4 require a rational analysis to accompany construction documents and be submitted to the AHJ for approval. Once the project is permitted, the construction team will be responsible for commissioning the smoke control system, which must be witnessed and documented by a qualified smoke control special inspector. A final acceptance test with the AHJ is required to be performed and a final inspection report must be prepared by the special inspector. Certificate of Occupancy cannot be granted until the fire code official has received satisfactory instruction on the operation of the smoke control system, and a written maintenance program has been submitted and approved by the fire code official. Attendees will learn how as AHJ they can influence the design of smoke control systems including their role in the design, acceptance testing, and periodic testing stages of smoke control systems. Topics include covering the applicable code requirements for design, drawing review considerations, common noncompliances, and periodic testing. We will also briefly cover the recurring findings and lessons learned from the City of San Diego’s Standard C-2, which outlines that jurisdiction’s expectations for smoke control periodic testing.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Solar PV Requirements, Essentials for Fire Code Officials

Doug Smith

Electrocution and fire hazards are common concerns of fire fighters and first responders when it comes to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This half-day (4-hour) course will primarily focus on fire prevention and safety-related concepts/requirements pertaining to residential and commercial solar PV systems. Example diagrams and layouts of different types of common solar PV systems will be explained to the group with an emphasis on what first responders should be aware of concerning such systems. Images of different components and equipment of PV systems will be included and their functions clarified. An explanation of how systems can be shutdown (including explaining PV rapid shutdown California Fire Code and California Electrical Code requirements for PV systems), and what portions of systems cannot be shut down, will be presented. Operating voltages of different systems will also be explained since increased voltages can present higher levels of hazard to fire fighters. Lastly, a detailed explanation of solar PV requirements from Section 1205 from the 2025 California Fire Code will be presented, including: roof spacing clearances and pathways, roof ventilation, rapid shutdown of PV systems, explanation of building integrated PV (BIPV), and ground-mounted PV systems. This course will be beneficial for Fire Officials, Fire Marshals, Fire Inspectors, Fire Plan Reviewers, First Responders, and other associated industry personnel.

Technical Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Tenting Anchoring Methods

Kevin Vasquez

Proper tent anchoring is essential to public safety and preventing tent failures. This class explores tent anchoring methods, including staking and ballasting, and examines how ground conditions, stake size and placement, and anchoring practices affect stability. Through demonstrations and real-world examples of tent failures, participants will learn about common anchoring deficiencies, proper ballasting techniques, and the importance of evaluating site conditions and underground utilities to promote safe tent installations.

Technical Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Deflagration Protection for Energy Storage Systems with NFPA 68 and NFPA 69

Todd LaBerge, Nick Bartlett

This class will review the requirements in NFPA 855 and the IFC/CFC for explosion protection of battery energy storage systems (ESS). NFPA 855 and the IFC/ CFC require compliance with NFPA 68 and NFPA 69 for these systems, with additional options for "Engineered Systems" which require testing in accordance with Annex C of the recently published 6th Edition of UL9540A. The new 6th Edition of UL9540A has prescribed testing methods for deflagration testing, which are also undergoing reviews and potential changes in their requirements. Although the testing and success requirements are well prescribed, the implementation and interpretation of these Standards can be difficult, specifically with performance-based designs and systems that undergo specific testing protocols. This class will provide a detailed discussion the most common methods of explosion protection systems for energy storage systems to deflagration venting and combustible concentration reduction (CCR) to and how to interpret the required design and testing reports. NFPA 855 requires a specific "supplemental engineering reports" and technical analysis by qualified professionals with specific experience in the fire and explosion testing of lithium-ion based battery energy storage systems. These reports can vary widely in quality and thoroughness of analysis. This class will provide design engineers, authors of Hazard Mitigation Analyses (HMAs), plans reviewers, and others with the tools necessary to understand and interpret the explosion designs for adequacy and fire safety, and will provide real-world examples of successes and failures.

Technical Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Explaining the Seismic Report & changes based on 2025 NFPA 13 – 2025 CFC

John Deutsch

Class will cover the following topics: Explain all the boxes in the NFPA seismic report. This will include the “Zone of Influence”, the maximum allowable stress on a main, the maximum allowable stress on a Riser Nipple, the load reduction based on angle, load reduction based on Prying Factor when anchoring to concrete, the maximum length of sway brace pipe based on l/r=100 or 200 or 300 The 9 major changes to seismic requirements based on the 2025 NFPA 13 / 2025 CFC. The evolution of the Seismic Coefficient Cp with an in-depth explanation of the ASCE7 source formula which may be used to calculate different Cp values. How this has changed in the 2025 edition of NFPA 13. This will include discussion about the different structural variables addressing building construction and build usage, what they are, where to find them, and how they affect the Seismic Coefficient Cp. We will explain how the height of the building compared to the height of the sway brace attachment effects the Seismic Coefficient. Requirements for support and bracing of “Risers” as required by the 2025 edition of NFPA 13 Discussion about the soon to be released NFPA 200 Hanging and Bracing Standard and it broader scope than that of NFPA 13.

Technical Friday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Fire and Smoke Protection Features of CBC Sections 718-722

William Moss, Nanci Timmins

This course provides an applied review of California Building Code Sections 718 through 722, addressing concealed spaces, fire-resistance requirements for plaster, thermal and sound-insulating materials, prescriptive fire resistance, and calculated fire resistance. Participants will examine fire-blocking and draft-stopping requirements intended to limit the concealed spread of fire and smoke, including requirements for walls, floors, ceilings, attics, and other concealed spaces. The course will review requirements for plaster and insulating materials, including permitted materials, installation, protection, facings, and applications within concealed and exposed locations. Participants will also explore prescriptive methods for establishing fire resistance through protective coverings and assemblies, including masonry, concrete, plaster, and other protection systems. The course will, also explain and discuss the specific differences between CBC Section 1901.2/ACI 318 and the fire resistive requirements of CBC Section 722/ACI 216.1 with an emphasis on the insulating values of aggregate used in concrete construction. Calculated fire-resistance provisions will be examined for concrete, masonry, structural steel, gypsum wallboard, sprayed fire-resistant materials (SFRM), beams, girders, columns, and related structural assemblies. Emphasis will be placed on identifying applicable code provisions, evaluating protection methods, and applying prescriptive and calculated approaches to determine required fire-resistance performance. Closing with the owner's responsibility to inspect and maintain fire-resistance-rated materials, systems and assemblies in accordance with the CFC.

2027 Class Descriptions

2027 Class Descriptions

Monday, March 1

Bridging the gap between Prevention (CRR) and Suppression (Operations)

Energy Storage Systems CFC/CRC

FCSN Doing It Right: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service for Arson Investigators

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

From Entitlement to Occupancy: Integrating Wildfire Prepared Home and Neighborhood Programs into New Development

Houston, We Have a Data Center: NFPA Standards for the Next Generation of Fire Protection

Residential Care Facilities in California: Understanding the Fire Service’s Role

Safeguarding Buildings During Construction: Fire & Life Safety Best Practices

What Would You Say You Do Here? Exploring Roles & Programs of Community Risk Reduction

Beyond the Interface: How Community Characteristics Influence Wildfire Risk

Building, Fire, Elevator, and NFPA Code Update for Elevators That Interface with Fire Protection Systems

ERCES for the Inspector

High Piled Combustible Storage: Part 1 What Is It and How Do We Regulate It?

Plug-In Solar & the Changing Code Landscape: UL 3700 and SB 868 for the Field

Threats to ICC’s Model Codes and Standards and Maximizing Participation in ICC’s Code Development Process

Youth Firesetting Through the Ages

Engagement Strategies for Meaningful Community Participation in Community Wildfire Resilience Planning

Tuesday, March 2

Batteries: Other than BESS

CWUI Part 7 Overview with Intervening Updates

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Fire Sprinkler Plan Review Basics

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

From Outbreak to Outcomes: Can your CRR Strategy Save the City?

Hazardous Materials Identification, Classification and MAQs – California Fire Code Chapter 50 and beyond

High-Piled Combustible Storage – Part 2: Modern Challenges and Special Hazards

Managing Large Outdoor Events for the Fire Service Workshop

The Fire Inspector Perspective

A Practical Framework for Ranking Wildfire Mitigation Projects in California

B, L, or H? Decoding California Laboratory Occupancies

Surviving Your Worst Career Moments: Don’t Apply Technical Solutions to Adaptive Problems.

Wednesday, March 3

Alarm Forum

Battery Events, Planning, Response, and Post Event Mitigation

Fire Marshal 1B Community Risk Reduction Planning & Management (2024)

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

NFA Forum

OSFM Forum

Residential BESS Large Scale Fire Test – A Panel Discussion

Single Exit Stair Legislative Report 2026

Sprinkler & Sprinkler Trailer

California Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

Thursday, March 4

2025 California Fire Code Chapter 24 Flammable Finishes

Alternative Means & Methods

ERCES for the Code Official – From Model Code to Local Enforcement

FPO’s Guide to Understanding Wildfire Evacuation Studies and Modeling

Fee Studies for the Fire Marshal

Fire Alarm Systems and Compliance Methodologies

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

From Code Official to Consultant: Building Effective Fire Prevention Partnerships

Honoring the Expiration Date

Temporary Fire Notification & Detection for Construction Sites (NFPA 72 Ch. 28)

Data Alone Doesn’t Change Outcomes: People Do. Know the Source, Shape the Message, Drive Action

Implement Zone 0 Ordinance: Berkeley’s Real-Time Case Study

What The Fire Code Cycle is Addressing for the 2030 Codes: Predicting a Safer Future

Auxiliary Service Providers for Fire Alarm System Transmission

Fire Alarm System Testing and Inspection 101: ITM Fundamentals for Code Officials

Liquid CO2 Systems – 2025 California Fire Code Chapter 53

Smoke Control – History, Methods, Code Requirements, Plan Checking, Testing & Inspecting

UL Standards 9540 and 9540A

Using NFPA 3 and 4 for Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems.

What 61,000 Systems Taught Us About Data, Services, and CRR

When Operations and Risk Reduction Collide: Stop Drawing the Line in your Fire Department

CRA/SOC Ready: Building the Foundation Before the Analysis Begins

Motivating Mitigation in the WUI: Social Science Strategies That Strengthen CRR Programs and Inspire Action

The True Cost of Fire: Making the Financial Case for Community Risk Reduction.

Friday, March 5

Beyond the MAQ: Permitting Hazardous Materials from Paper to Practice

Evolution of Large-Scale Fire Testing for Lithium-Ion Battery Energy Storage Systems

Fire Resistive Doors, Dampers and Opening Protectives of the CBC

Fire and Life Safety Educator 1A

Navigating Fire & Life Safety and CDSS Licensing for California Child Care Facilities

Residential Fire Sprinkler System Inspection and Plan Check

Smoke Control Systems & the Authority Having Jurisdiction

Solar PV Requirements, Essentials for Fire Code Officials