DOPE and TAPE ep164 Jacqueline Wilmot

This episode of the Dope and Tape show features Jacqueline Wilkowski, a project manager at the NFPA Research Foundation. She discusses her career path, the role of the Research Foundation, and various research projects related to fire protection and firefighter safety. The NFPA Research Foundation conducts unbiased research to inform NFPA codes and standards. It's funded by federal grants and industry sponsors. Research projects cover a wide range of topics, including sprinkler systems, fire detection, firefighter safety, and emerging technologies like electric vehicles and energy storage.The foundation collaborates with other organizations like UL and NIST to avoid duplicating research efforts. Jacqueline's work involves managing and communicating research projects, as well as identifying future research needs. The show also touches on topics like the importance of getting young people interested in STEM, the challenges of balancing work and family life, and the fun side of attending industry conferences like AFSA. Jacqueline's mom was a firefighter, which sparked her early interest in fire protection.The Research Foundation has no research facilities of its own and relies on partnerships with other organizations. A recent research project led to changes in NFPA 13 regarding obstructions around ESFR sprinklers. The foundation is currently working on research related to automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) and the challenges they pose for fire protection. There is ongoing research into the health effects of firefighting and the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE). Overall, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of fire protection research and the important work being done to improve safety for both firefighters and the public.