November SFPE RMC Board Meeting (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Board meetings are open to the public and held both in-person and virtually. If you are interested in learning more about the SFPE RMC board, or you're interested in volunteering to help, please register for this meeting. A Teams meeting invite will be provided to those who register.

November Meeting: Defend-in-Place: When Evacuation is the Last Option (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

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.

SFPE Rocky Mountain Chapter upcoming events

November SFPE RMC Board Meeting (November 12, 2026)

November Meeting: Defend-in-Place: When Evacuation is the Last Option (November 12, 2026)