March Meeting: Consultants and Contractors - Bridging the Gap on Sprinklers

When
March 12, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location
In Person: Merrick & Co (8051 E Maplewood Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111); Remote Viewing Parties: Check your registration.

Registration

1 Members Registration Rate - Denver – $25.00
This is the rate for SFPE-RMC "Full" and "Chapter" members to attend this meeting.
2a Member Remote Viewing Event - Fort Collins – $25.00
Registration includes in-person lunch and remote viewing of the presentation topic from Fort Collins.

This is the rate for SFPE-RMC "Full" and "Chapter" members to attend this meeting.
2b Remote Viewing Event - Colorado Springs
Registration includes in-person lunch and remote viewing of the presentation topic from Colorado Springs.

For the inaugural event, this remote viewing party is FREE!! But limited to 15 registrants.
3 Non-Member Registration Rate - Denver – $30.00
This is the rate for attendees who are not members of SFPE-RMC. [Note that membership in the Chapter is only $25 for the year ($15 for SFPE Society members). If you plan to attend more than one Chapter meeting, Chapter Membership pays for itself quickly!]
4 Non-Member Remote Viewing Event - Fort Collins – $30.00
Registration includes in-person lunch and remote viewing of the presentation topic from Fort Collins.

This is the rate for attendees whoa re not members of SFPE RMC. [Note that membership in the Chapter is only $25 for the year ($15 for SFPE Society Members). If you plan to attend more than one Chapter Meeting, Chapter Membership pays for itself quickly!]
Members-prepaid (for RSVP count)
This registration type is for pre-paid "Chapter Friends" or "Chapter Members" who prepaid for all meetings with their membership payment for the year.
Presenter (In Person)
Student
College-aged students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelors or Masters degree program, who are interested in the profession of Fire Protection Engineering.

Please request a registration code from admin@sfpe-rockymountain.org from your student.edu email address. Thanks!
Virtual Attendee Registration Rate – $10.00

Presentation: Consultants and Contractors - Bridging the Gap on Sprinklers

Description:

Effective fire protection relies not only on sound engineering principles, but also on clear, timely, and accurate communication between those who design systems and those who install them. Yet across the industry, disconnects between engineers/consultants and contractors remain one of the most common and costly sources of project delays, change orders, rework, and field-level frustration.

This presentation explores these communication gaps and provides practical strategies for improving collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. We will examine how assumptions made during design translate (or fail to translate) into constructable solutions, why design intent is often misinterpreted in the field, and how differing expectations around codes, standards, submittals, and scope drive conflict. Real-world examples from fire sprinkler system installations will highlight recurring pain points from both perspectives.

Attendees will come away with points of discussion to enhance clarity in design documents, foster healthier engineer–contractor dialogue, and reduce avoidable project friction. The session emphasizes actionable communication techniques, documentation best practices, and mindset shifts that strengthen partnerships and ultimately lead to better fire protection outcomes for owners, AHJs, and end users.

Guest Presenters: Paul Seifert, PE and Steven Fenton, EIT

Paul Seifert is a registered Fire Protection Engineer in Colorado with 7 years of experience in the industry. He is a Regional Practice Leader of Fire Protection Engineering for Telgian Engineering and Consulting’s (TEC) Denver region. Prior to becoming a fire protection consultant, Mr. Seifert was a fire sprinkler designer and project manager for a local contractor. His technical experience includes designing various fire sprinkler systems, from schematic to shop-level, evaluating numerous hazardous materials, high-piled storage arrangements, and sprinkler systems, as well as providing third-party inspections and plan reviews for various AHJs and stakeholders. Mr. Seifert is an active member of CFPA/NFSA, NFPA, and SFPE.

Steven Fenton is a Fire Protection Engineer In Training in Colorado with 4 years in the industry. Prior to becoming a Fire Protection Consultant with Incandescence Life Safety, Inc., Mr. Fenton was a fire sprinkler designer for a contractor in Madison, Wisconsin. His technical experience includes designing fire sprinkler systems, performing hydraulic calculations, evaluating high-piled storage arrangements, and providing third-party plan reviews. Mr. Fenton is an active member of NFSA and SFPE.