The Burn: Beyond Firestop

Hosted by John Zalepka

Intro

Welcome to The Burn, Beyond Fire Stop. Our show is dedicated to life safety and code compliance in the built environment, which puts me on a mission to find the most interesting people in this space to get their unique perspective. Our hope is that our listening audience walks away with an understanding of how our guests and their businesses and organizations contribute to the promotion of life safety of whatever is being built. Our show is brought to you by Specified Technologies, Inc. Also known as STI Fire Stop. And since 1990 STI has been a leading global provider of innovative fire protective solutions that help stop the spread of fire, smoke and hot gases.

Today’s guest is Josh Brackett, a self proclaimed “Fire Geek”, Josh is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer (PE) Senior Status as ASHE (SASHE) and Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM) with specialized expertise in life safety compliance and energy management. 

Key Takeaways

Josh’s Background

Majored in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology at Oklahoma State University

Member of the Fire Protection Society

Wanted to be a Firefighter his whole life, grow into Fire Marshall or Chief role. 

Was told he was over-qualified to be a firefighter. Took a job with an engineering firm. Worked in healthcare engineering. Working with fire protection for hospitals. 

Applying skills to the healthcare industry

Took over for electrical engineers and handled automatic sprinkler side and fire alarm side. 

Led to building a business plan that got him the role as National Director of Business Development

Baptist Health contacted him to be their head of Life Safety

System Regulatory Director at Banner Health

Provides direction for codes and compliance program 

Networking plays a big role. Open communication leads to bringing everyone to the table for change. 

Legacy FM

Founded on premise of Legacy Project (how do you leave behind your legacy, how are we transferring knowledge to replace the technicians leaving the business)

Training and education company. From onboarding to continuing education 

Developing Code-Compliant Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety Inspection, Testing and Maintenance Programs

100 percent of the prophets go to ASHE

Got group together, wonderful authors and experts in the industry, to write book over 2 years. 

Teaching at ASHE

CHFM, CHC, Energy to care program, Working in healthcare, etc.

Fire in a healthcare facility 

Have not had a major incident in a hospital in a long time. 

Codes and procedures written because patients are unable defend themselves. 

Data and scientific evidence available now drives changes in codes

About Josh

I have been very blessed over my career to be surrounded by leaders in the healthcare industry. Each of which took me under their wings and mentored me.

I began my career at a national healthcare engineering firm as a fire sprinkler designer and quickly added on fire alarm and other low voltage work. A few years one of the executives saw something in me and gave me an opportunity to lead business development for the company.

While in business development I learned how to work with clients to figure out what their needs and how to stay on top of hot topics in the industry and work with our team to formulate solutions.

I left the company and joined a regional fire alarm/sprinkler/security contracting company. I was hired on to lead business development, marketing, and sales....