Congratulations to Mike Klemenz, PE, FSFPE, on his recent elevation to the prestigious grade of Fellow by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)! This honor recognizes Mike’s significant contributions to our field.
In this Q&A, Mike shares his personal reflections on this achievement, the importance of SFPE’s role, and the valuable lessons he’s learned throughout his career.
What does it mean to you personally to be recognized and elevated to the prestigious grade of SFPE Fellow?
I am absolutely honored to join the rank of SFPE Fellow. It will take a bit for this to “sink in,” but it is a fantastic culmination of my professional career. God has set me up for this moment because, honestly, I wasn’t smart or good enough to do it on my own.
In your opinion, what are the most valuable contributions SFPE makes to the advancement of fire protection engineering?
The discipline exists in its current, respected form due to the persistence of SFPE and advancing it internationally. There is no “FPE” without the “S.”
Given your extensive years in the fire service, how has that experience shaped your approach as a fire protection engineer?
The lead-up to a destructive fire sometimes requires years of systemic bad decisions, inadequate funding, faulty risk management, etc. The fire service, whether career or volunteer, is expected to solve a BIG problem in a very short period of time, on very short notice and under less-than-favorable conditions (aka, something is already on fire). My fire service experiences allows me to offer a holistic approach to fire protection by recognizing all aspects of the failure chain including plain old human behavior.
What were some of the key lessons you learned in the early stages of your career that shaped your approach to fire protection?
One day during a particularly tense meeting with a Project Development Team, I was asked a specific fire protection-related question. My answer was an under-appreciated, “No, you can’t do it that way. It’s not allowed by code.” That was a mistake. I was subsequently escorted out of the meeting and asked not to return until I had a more suitable answer. It was at that moment I realized that a fire protection engineer must be prepared to solve unique problems that reside outside of static prescriptive regulations. The embarrassment was fleeting, but it was a career-lasting key lesson for which I am grateful.
What advice would you give to aspiring fire protection engineers entering the field today?
Fill your ‘toolbox’ with as much industry knowledge as possible. Talk to many folks in the fire protection industry (sprinkler fitters, technicians, inspectors, code enforcers, manufacturer’s reps, etc.) because they are experts in their field and will impart their knowledge to you. And vice versa.
What do you find most rewarding about being a fire protection engineer?
I personally enjoy the company of other folks, learning about them, their industries and the problems they face to safeguard their livelihood from a destructive fire. There are some really fascinating and innovative business sectors for which “cookbook” fire safety solutions do not yet exist.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?
You might find me traveling to visit my children and grandchildren, having dinner with my wife, scoping out fire stations or riding my Indian motorcycle around town.