Fire Sprinkler Podcast

Data centres are being built at an unprecedented pace, but protecting these highly specialized facilities from fire presents challenges that go well beyond a typical commercial building. In this episode of the Fire Sprinkler Podcast, I sit down with Johnson Controls (JCI) to discuss fire protection in the rapidly expanding data centre market and how these facilities are changing the way fire protection systems are designed, installed, and maintained. We get into the unique risks found inside data centres, the importance of protecting mission-critical infrastructure, and the different layers of fire protection required to keep these facilities operational. We also discuss sprinkler protection, detection and suppression strategies, system reliability, coordination between fire protection disciplines, and the consequences that even a relatively small fire event can have when downtime is measured in millions of dollars. As data centre construction continues to accelerate across North America, fire protection contractors, designers, engineers, inspectors, and facility operators are going to encounter these projects more frequently. This conversation provides a practical look at what makes data centre fire protection different and what the industry needs to be thinking about as this market continues to grow. If you work in fire sprinklers, fire alarm, special hazards, engineering, inspection, or data centre construction, this is a conversation worth hearing.

In this episode of the Fire Sprinkler Podcast, we put fire protection systems under the microscope with Dyne Labs and explore the testing and science that happens behind the scenes. We dig into why laboratory testing matters, what samples taken from fire protection systems can tell us about system condition and performance, and how proper testing can help contractors, inspectors, and building owners make better decisions about the systems they maintain. The conversation covers topics including fire sprinkler testing, antifreeze solutions, firefighting foam, laboratory analysis, system maintenance, and the importance of understanding what is actually happening inside a fire protection system—not just what we can see during an inspection. Whether you're a sprinkler fitter, designer, inspector, service technician, AHJ, engineer, or building owner, this episode provides a different look at fire protection: from the laboratory side of the industry.

This episode of the Fire Sprinkler Podcast is my conversation with Sean Tracey from the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition of Canada. Sean is a retired Canadian Forces Fire Marshal, and was the first ever appointed regional director for NFPA. We discuss the recent Home Fire Sprinkler Week, how people can get more involved in sprinkler awareness, and how he has championed sprinklers for over 25 years! Enjoy!

Step inside fire protection history as I’m joined by Johnson Controls Senior Engineering Director Manny Silva for a walkthrough of the Frederick Grinnell Museum in Cranston, Rhode Island. We dive into how Frederick Grinnell improved upon Henry S. Parmalee’s original practical sprinkler design—ultimately creating the more sensitive, fully automatic sprinkler in 1881. Manny traces the evolution of sprinkler technology and Johnson Controls’ R&D contributions from the late 1800s to today—plus, you’ll learn how none other than Thomas Edison has an unexpected connection to Frederick Grinnell.

This episode of the fire sprinkler podcast is my conversation poolside with Daniel Wake. We recorded this in Maui at the NFSA business and leadership conference in 2023, we talk about his history in the fire protection industry, how he got into the position he is in now, and how much the industry has changed over the past 20 years Enjoy!