November Meeting: Defend-in-Place: When Evacuation is the Last Option

When
November 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

1a Members Registration Rate - Greenwood Village – $25.00
This is the rate for SFPE-RMC "Full" and "Chapter" members to attend this meeting.
1b Non-Member Registration Rate - Greenwood Village – $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!]
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 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!]
3a Member Remote Viewing Event - Colorado Springs – $25.00
Registration includes in-person lunch and remote viewing of the presentation topic from Colorado Springs. This is the rate for SFPE-RMC "Full" and "Chapter" members to attend this meeting.
3b Non-Member Remote Viewing Event - Colorado Springs – $30.00
Registration includes in-person lunch and remote viewing of the presentation topic from Colorado Springs.

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!]
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.
PFA Registrations ONLY - Fort Collins
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: Defend-in-Place: When Evacuation is the Last Option

Description:

Total evacuation is not always the safest—or even viable—egress strategy. In high-rises, healthcare facilities, and detention centers, life safety design depends on defending occupants in place. This presentation examines the technical framework governing protect-in-place strategies under the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code).

We will explore how passive fire barriers, smoke compartmentation, horizontal exits, active suppression, and survivable voice communication (EVACS) integrate to maintain tenable environments. Attendees will gain practical insight into smoke barrier integrity, refuge sizing calculations, and the operational coordination required to satisfy code intent while safeguarding vulnerable populations. Join us for a deep dive into moving beyond traditional evacuation modeling to compartmented defense.

Guest Presenter: Sean S. Donohue, PE, FSFPE

Sean S. Donohue, PE, FSFPE, is the president of Peregrine Fire with over 30 years of code consulting, regulatory, and engineering experience. A former plans examiner licensed across 13 US states and a Fellow of SFPE, Sean specializes in complex life safety strategies—including passive compartmentation, smoke control, and defend-in-place design for critical facilities such as healthcare, psychiatric centers, and high-rises. He holds an MS in Fire Protection Engineering from WPI.