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Society of Fire Protection Engineers
Engineering a Fire Safe World
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Online Technical Session: March 11, 2026 1:00 pm-2:00 pm ET
Fire Protection in High Places – Code vs. Reality
Presenter: Matt Jardine, SFPE NCR President
Free for members and students. $10 for non-members
Fire Protection in High Places – Code vs. Reality
Where a building is required to be sprinklered, Canadian Codes and referenced standards require that that sprinkler protection be provided throughout, including high volume spaces with very high ceilings. Furthermore, if pre-action systems are installed, detection is also typically required to be installed at the same height. But will these systems ever activate? If they do, will they be effective in suppressing a fire that is far below? This presentation delves into the requirements of the Canadian codes and referenced standards, explores how other jurisdictions and codes handle these situations, the physical phenomena involved, and the results of numerical simulations used to model a fire in these high-volume spaces.
Matt Jardine, P.Eng
I’m excited to introduce myself as the new President of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers National Capital Region Chapter.
I’m a Fire Protection Engineer with 20 years of experience in consulting and fire protection system design for a wide range of building and facility types, with a particular focus on industrial facilities. My work has taken me through the full project lifecycle — from investigation and reporting through design, tender, construction, and acceptance testing. I have a particular interest in fire protection challenges involving flammable liquids (including distilled beverage alcohol), lithium-ion battery storage and manufacturing, and electric vehicle maintenance facilities. I’ve also been involved in fire modelling, fire and explosion hazard assessments, fire and life safety audits, integrated test coordination, and have spent over a decade in project and department management roles.
I also want to acknowledge that I have some big shoes to fill. Our past president, Lindsay Ranger, did an incredible job raising the profile of our chapter, growing membership, and organizing many fantastic events (including our best AGM ever). I’m very grateful for the strong foundation she’s built and for her leadership over the past term.
Looking ahead to 2026, I’m hoping to bring even more technical presentations and learning opportunities to our members, along with more chances to connect with each other outside of formal events. And if there’s enough interest, I’d love to see us out on the ice for a fall bonspiel as well.
I’m really looking forward to meeting more of you this year and continuing to grow a strong, active, and engaged SFPE NCR community together.
SFPE NCR STARS
We are currently looking for nominations for our next SFPE NCR STARS recipient. The award recognizes fire safety professionals for their contribution to our chapter or our industry. The intent of the award is to recognize individuals who volunteer their time or have done great work on a recent project. Nominate your colleagues today! Email sfpencr@gmail.com.
Remember to renew your SFPE NCR membership for free access to our techincal sessions.
