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Michael J. Slifka, PE
‹ Areas of Practice

Healthcare

Healthcare Life Safety and JCAHO Fire Safety Consultation

Healthcare FSES Consultation

Healthcare Design & Renovation Consultation

Healthcare

Michael is a Licensed Professional Fire Protection Engineer and former Chief of Safety, Occupational Health and Fire Protection for the Veterans Administration (VA). He is an active fire protection engineering consultant on new hospital and renovation designs. He also has consulted on pre JCAHO inspections and has, as a member of the original development team, used the FSES (NFPA 101A) Standard to develop alternate fire safety design solutions to building/physical plant deficiencies found by the JCAHO.

Before you commit your new hospital design to construction or your existing hospital to renovation for Life Safety Code and/or JCAHO requirements Michael Slifka can guide you to the most efficient and effective design that meets the various codes and standards that apply to your project. And, if you are concerned that your health care facility may not be in compliance to the Life Safety Code and JCAHO criteria, Michael is available to perform a pre JCAHO review of your facility and advise you of any needed corrections needed for full compliance. If you are looking for alternate design solutions to your existing Hospital Life Safety Code or JCAHO deficiencies, Mr. Slifka can consult using the FSES to assist in determining the optimal solution.

Healthcare Design,  Life Safety and JCAHO Fire Safety Consultation

Currently consulting on proposed designs/projects for:

  • VAMC Salt Lake City, UT
  • VAMC St. Cloud, MN
  • VAMC Detroit, MI
  • VAMC West Palm Beach, FL
  • VAMC Indianapolis, IN
  • Expert Consultant to over 50 hospitals using the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) to develop solutions to correct building deficiencies threatening JCAHO Accreditation.
  • Expert consultant to over 50 hospitals on pre-JCAHO physical plant safety assessments.
  • Principal instructor for 33 years (1977-2010) to the Veterans Administration Engineering Training Center in North Little Rock, AR, on Life Safety Code hospital design and JCAHO Physical Plant Safety issues
  • Presentations have been recorded on video and are used throughout the VA system

As former Chief of Safety, Occupational Health and Fire Protection, oversaw the employee, patient and facility safety and fire protection for the world’s largest health-care organization, protecting more than 228,000 employees and more than 1.287 million patients each year in 100 million sq ft of office space, including:

  • 172 hospital complexes
  • 215 outpatient clinics
  • Seven regional office buildings
  • 25 centralized, high-piled rack storage warehouses
  • 85 national cemeteries
  • Department of Veterans Benefits computer centers

Saved an estimated $100 million through correcting design errors at 52 VA hospitals.

 

Healthcare Qualifications

One of the principal developers of the Fire Safety Evaluation System for Health Care Occupancies (FSES-NFPA 101A)

Principal instructor for 33 years to the VA Engineering Training Center for Health Care Life Safety Code and JCAHO compliance anddesign issues.

Michael has consulted on both new hospital and existing hospital designs throughout the United States.

Received an award from the Veterans Administration for innovative use of the FSES to save over $100 million in unneeded hospital design and construction due to improper interpretation of Life Safety Code and JCAHO requirements.

Michael J. Slifka, P.E.

Professional Qualifications
Illinois Institute of Technology – B.S. in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering
Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer (FP 479) – California
Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE)
Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Examiners (ABFE)
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
Professional Affiliations
Member for Life, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Member, (Current or Past) Various NFPA Committees on: Safety to Life, Health Care Occupancies, Building Construction, Manufactured Housing and Recreational Vehicles, and National 1-2 Family Electrical Code
Member, Manufactured Housing Institute – Previous Member of: MHI Consensus Committee for the Manufactured Housing Standard, MHI-IPIA Technical Advisory Committee, MHI-DAPIA Technical Advisory committee, MHI/HUD Technical Exchange Group, MHI-Technical Activities Committee.
Member, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and various ASTM committees
Member, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and various ANSI committees
Member, National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and various NIBS committees
Member, International Fire Code Institute
Illinois Institute of Technology – B.S. in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering
Registered Professional Fire Protection Engineer (FP 479) – California
Fellow, American College of Forensic Examiners (ACFE)
Diplomat, American Board of Forensic Examiners (ABFE)
Member, Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)

Professional Affiliations content

Publications
Slifka, Michael J. et al, “A Study of the Fire Problem in Residential High‐Rise Buildings”, Chicago: Rolf Jensen and Associates/Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (1972).
Slifka, Michael J. (author and assistant technical editor, First Edition; author, selected chapters, Second and Third Editions), Life Safety Code Handbook, National Fire Protection Association (1977, 1980, 1983).
Slifka, Michael J. “For Architects and Builders” column, Fire Journal (magazine of the NFPA) (1974‐1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Building Inspectors Handbook, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (author or coauthor of six technical chapters) (1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Life Safety Code Handbook – 1st Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of six technical chapters) (1977).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 14th Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of four technical chapters) (1975).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 15th Edition , NFPA (author or co‐author of four technical chapters) (1978).
Slifka, Michael J. et al., Fire Protection Handbook – 16th Edition, NFPA (author or co‐author of two technical chapters) (1981).
Slifka, Michael J., “Building/Fire Code for Health Care Design” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1985).
Slifka, Michael J., “Fire Protection Engineering Considerations for Engineered Wood Products,” PFS Research Foundation (1999).

Download CV (PDF)

Contact Michael Slifka

Michael J. Slifka, PE
3221 Conservancy Lane
Middleton, WI 53562
t.
(608) 827-5241
m.
(608) 692-3096
f.
(608) 827-5243

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Michael J. Slifka, PE

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