Fire Protection Podcast

Inspect Point, Drew Slocum
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

The Fire Protection Podcast dives deep into topics of the fire protection industry. Fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, extinguishers and other life safety systems are discussed. Leaders from all over the world talk about new technologies and processes that are helping improve the fire safety community.

  1. The Code Committee Insider: Fire Alarms, CO Detection & What’s Coming Next

    APR 15

    The Code Committee Insider: Fire Alarms, CO Detection & What’s Coming Next

    Dr. Roger Reiswig, Industry Liaison at Johnson Controls, joins Drew for a conversation spanning nearly 40 years of fire alarm industry experience. Roger started as a Simplex technician in 1986 and now represents JCI across NFPA, UL, FM, and international organizations including the European Alarm Association (Uralarm). Topics include how countries outside the US often adopt NFPA codes faster than US states, the differences between European EN standards and NFPA/UL requirements, Europe's mandatory smoke detector replacement cycles, the new 40-foot ceiling allowance for smoke detectors in NFPA 72, remote and automated inspection technology and its UL listing challenges, how UL and NFPA standards push each other forward, the birth of NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 for integrated testing (now showing up in building codes), Canada's ULC certification model, and the history of carbon monoxide detection moving from NFPA 720 into NFPA 72.   Timestamps: 0:00 - Cold open 0:27 - Episode intro 1:36 - Drew and Roger connect 2:14 - Global adoption of NFPA codes 3:39 - How aggressively other countries adopt new editions 5:03 - Why US states are slow to adopt 7:51 - Roger's career: Simplex technician to JCI liaison 10:15 - European standards (EN) vs NFPA 11:39 - Europe's smoke detector replacement requirements 14:15 - Smoke detector placement at 40-foot ceilings 17:08 - Remote and automated inspection technology 20:34 - UL listing challenges for remote testing 23:45 - Mass notification: UL 864 to UL 2572 24:34 - The 2010 NFPA 72 scope change 26:00 - NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 for integrated testing 29:49 - Canada's ULC standards vs US 32:13 - Carbon monoxide detection in NFPA 72 36:52 - How CO detectors are tested 39:11 - Wrap-up   Learn more about Inspect Point: https://www.inspectpoint.com Request a demo: https://www.inspectpoint.com/get-a-demo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inspect-point YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@inspectpoint

    40 min
  2. Behind the Scenes with IoT Monitoring: What Homeowners Miss About Electrical Fires

    MAR 25

    Behind the Scenes with IoT Monitoring: What Homeowners Miss About Electrical Fires

    Bob Marshall, CEO of Whisker Labs, joins Drew Slocum on Episode 92 to discuss Ting, the IoT sensor that monitors home electrical systems for arcing hazards before they become fires. In this episode: How Ting takes 30 million electrical measurements per second from a single outlet The on-device and cloud AI that detects electrical arcing using image recognition 26,000+ hazards identified (and growing at 30 per day) Real data from Hurricane Helene, the LA wildfires, and Winter Storm Fern Why outlets, extension cords, and holiday lights are the most common hazards How 35+ insurance partners provide Ting to homeowners for free The 1.3 million sensor network monitoring the entire U.S. utility grid What this means for the fire protection industry and commercial applications  Bob also shares the personal story behind founding Whisker Labs and how their fire safety team works directly with homeowners and electricians to find and fix problems before they cause fires.

    44 min
  3. The Voice of the Sprinkler Trade: A Conversation with Chris Logan

    JAN 22

    The Voice of the Sprinkler Trade: A Conversation with Chris Logan

    0:00 - Paper documents, hydrant flow testing, and lost inspection data 04:59 - Deficiencies are not a gotcha game 8:47 - Ontario Fire Code limits and NFPA 25 enforcement gaps 15:23 - Strategic planning and involving Al 20:20 - 2025 highlights, consistency, and "what I'd do differently" 24:05 - Current state of the fire protection industry 40:27 - Notable fire incidents & what we learned from real sprinkler activations 46:20 - Closing thoughts and Chris's podcast

    48 min
  4. 2025 Fire & Life Safety Trends, Data, & What’s Next with John Mackey

    2025-12-18

    2025 Fire & Life Safety Trends, Data, & What’s Next with John Mackey

    Timestamps: 00:00 Why 2025 fire protection data matters 02:47 2025 fire protection industry report preview 06:28 Why fire protection businesses need a tech stack 08:42 Inspection dollars vs service proposals 11:46 Deficiency approvals and compliance platforms 17:05 Common fire inspection deficiencies 24:53 NFPA questions and inspection data quality 29:42 Growth of regional fire protection companies 36:40 2026 outlook and Al in fire inspection

    39 min
  5. AI & Fire Codes in Practice with Scott Reynolds from UpCodes

    2025-12-11

    AI & Fire Codes in Practice with Scott Reynolds from UpCodes

    In Episode 89, Drew Slocum welcomes Scott Reynolds, Co-Founder and CEO of UpCodes, for a deep dive into the future of building codes, AI-driven code research, and the growing need for accessible, reliable, and continually updated code information across the built environment. Scott shares the origin story of UpCodes, starting with his early career in architecture—working internationally in Hong Kong and later in New York City—where he experienced firsthand how difficult it is to navigate complex, fragmented, and frequently changing building and fire codes. That frustration eventually led Scott and his brother (a software engineer) to create UpCodes—a platform designed to unify, structure, and simplify access to codes and amendments across all 50 states and hundreds of local jurisdictions. Episode 89 provides an insightful look at how technology, transparency, and collaboration can reshape fire protection, design, and construction for the better.

    45 min
  6. Smarter Workflows with AI in Fire Protection

    2025-11-20

    Smarter Workflows with AI in Fire Protection

    Timestamps: 00:00 - Introducing today's guest 01:57 - Launching the first Al agent 04:19 - How AI adoption changes business processes 06:58 - Code complexity in fire protection 09:30 - Generative Al vs agentic Al explained 12:10 - How data supports better decisions 14:39 - FireCAD design assistant and design workflow gains 18:56 - Passion, innovation, and industry growth 19:49 - OEMs, contractors, and AI-enabled data flow 25:24 - Using AI for simple tasks and avoiding hallucinations 29:45 - The rapid shift toward AI in fire protection 32:02- Favorite Al-themed films 34:35 - Closing thoughts and future direction

    37 min
  7. Tragedy, Testing, & Change: How Data Drives Fire Safety Reform

    2025-10-23

    Tragedy, Testing, & Change: How Data Drives Fire Safety Reform

    In this episode of The Fire Protection Podcast, host Drew Slocum sits down with Grant Lobdell, President of Dyne Fire Protection Labs, to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing the fire protection industry today—sprinkler testing and system maintenance. Grant shares insights on Dyne’s acquisition by NFPA Global Solutions and how this new initiative supports NFPA’s life safety mission. The conversation takes a serious turn as Drew and Grant unpack the tragic Fall River, Massachusetts fire, where recalled O-ring sprinkler heads failed to activate—an incident underscoring the critical importance of regular inspection, testing, and maintenance under NFPA 25. They also dive into the new partnership between Inspect Point and Dyne, designed to streamline how contractors and building owners identify, test, and replace aging or defective sprinklers. The episode closes with updates from Dyne’s lab on the transition from fluorinated foams to fluorine-free alternatives, and what that means for contractors navigating environmental regulations and system performance.   Timestamps 00:00 Intro and Episode Overview 02:21 Meet Grant Lobdell and Dyne Labs 07:32 O-Ring Recalls and Failure Rates 11:15 NFPA 25 Testing Requirements 18:00 Simplifying Inspections Through Partnerships 21:07 Testing Cycles and Code Changes 23:42 Interpreting Results and Owner Duties 27:21 Foam Systems and Regulatory Updates 34:48 Closing Remarks

    36 min
  8. How JEM Systems is Powering the Next Generation of Fire Integrators

    2025-10-08

    How JEM Systems is Powering the Next Generation of Fire Integrators

    00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:15 Jason’s Background and GEM Systems 03:40 Integrating Design, Engineering, and Distribution 07:47 Navigating COVID-19 and Supply Chain Shifts 12:06 Expanding into Sprinkler Design 15:20 AI, Data Centers & Code Shifts 17:44 Connectivity, Safety & Working Together 22:17 Codes, Compliance, and Public Safety 23:58 Efficiency, Software, and Real-Time Solutions 26:22 From Soccer Fields to Fire Systems 28:05 Business Growth, ERP, and Integration Challenges 32:10 Training, Partnerships, and Future Initiatives 34:25 Where to Find GEM Systems and Closing Remarks

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Fire Protection Podcast dives deep into topics of the fire protection industry. Fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, extinguishers and other life safety systems are discussed. Leaders from all over the world talk about new technologies and processes that are helping improve the fire safety community.

Information

  • Creator
    Inspect Point, Drew Slocum
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 - Inspect Point - Fire Protection Podcast
  • Show Website
    Fire Protection Podcast

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