National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) are accepting nominations for its Bringing Safety Home Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts by a safety advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers. The award honors members of the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates in North America who use HFSC educational information, NFPA data, and NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to educate decision mak...

Halloween is a fun, festive holiday for kids and adults alike, but it does present potential fire hazards. As the holiday fast-approaches, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages everyone to keep fire safety in mind, and to take simple safety precautions that can help ensure a safe, fire-free day. "Halloween is an exciting day for trick-or-treating, costume-wearing and creative home decorating,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy....

Just in time for National Fire Prevention Week, the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) is reminding people across the U.S. to take one simple action in their homes that could potentially save lives: Close Before You Doze. This vital public safety campaign encourages everyone to close all the doors in their homes each night before bed, following a study conducted by UL FSRI, showing that in a home fire, a closed door can be an effective barrier against deadly levels of carbon monoxid...

In recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, Allstate has released Escape Route, a new Allstate Mobile app feature, to help families create and practice fire escape plans using augmented reality (AR). According to the National Fire Protection Association, U.S. fire departments respond to a home fire every 90 seconds. Yet only one- third of American households have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan: something Allstate hopes to change through this new smartphone experience. Rea...

October 7-13 is National Fire Prevention Week and Andersen Windows is encouraging homeowners to familiarize themselves with ways to prevent and prepare for home fires. As part of its LookOut For Kids window safety program, Andersen offers materials and tips to help educate homeowners and caregivers on window safety and home-related accidents. "People tend to feel safest in their home, however, it is also the place that poses the greatest risk to fire, with four out of five U.S. fire deaths occu...

Just weeks after winning a coveted gold award for hot work safety training, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released the content in Spanish to educate Hispanic trade workers throughout Massachusetts. After a nine-alarm fire in a Boston brownstone initiated by hot work activity killed Lieutenant Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy in March 2014, the Boston Fire Department, Boston Inspectional Services, the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan...

HAAS Alert -- Fighting fires is a dangerous job. Firefighters don't just face smoke and flames, though. In fact, traffic collisions en-route and on-scene is one of the causes of death and injury to Firefighters and First Responders. Between ever-quieter cars and ever more distracted drivers, collisions are at an all-time high. The fire industry has tried to address this by making lights brighter and sirens louder. Now, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) is considering requiring mobi...

Johnson Controls recently received Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Verification for its ANSUL® Acoustic Nozzle, making it the first fire protection product to earn a marketing claim verification for performance. This independent, science-based assessment confirms the accuracy of a manufacturer's marketing claims, allowing customers to be confident in their product selection. The acoustic nozzle earned the verification for this claim: "1/3 octave sound power is less than 110 dB for regulated...

For the 11th consecutive year, Domino's Pizza, the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are teaming up to deliver fire safety messages to homes across the country. During Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 7-13), participating Domino's stores throughout the U.S. will reinforce this year's campaign theme, ‘Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere’, with flyers on top of pizza boxes. The flyers will...

Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated announces that its new jet-style fire helmet, called the Cairns® XF1, has received third-party certification as compliant to the 2018 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1971 performance standards for structural firefighting. It is also certified as compliant to the 2013 edition of the NFPA’s 1951 performance standards for technical rescue. With this certification, MSA can begin shipping orders...

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), if one is have a reported home fire in 2018, one is more likely to die than one was in 1980. This startling fact is attributed to several factors, including the way homes are built and the contents in them. “Open floor plans and a prevalence of modern synthetic furnishings make homes burn faster and the fires produce deadly smoke and gases within moments,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy....

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Mass. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed the chiefs and provided an overview of the association’s Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem, reinforcing the critical role urban fire chiefs play in ensuring safe communities. Special guests at the Forum included the President of the Canadian Associ...

In response to reports that 24,000 portable space heaters and 7,000 hotplates will be delivered to customers impacted by the recent Merrimack Valley gas explosion, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding the public to keep fire safety in mind. “Everyone should always be vigilant about fire safety. As Governor Baker and Columbia Gas work to proactively meet the needs of Massachusetts residents, we want to make sure portable space heaters and hotplates are used with the...

During the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, the gunman activated a manual fire alarm and shot at students as they left the building. The alarm promoted confusion during the calamity, in part because there had been a fire drill earlier in the day. It's not the first time a fire alarm has played a role in an active shooter scenario. Twenty years ago, a similar tactic was used at the Westside Middle School shooting in Jonesborough, Ark.  A fire alarm als...

First Alert, the most trusted brand in home safety, Campus Firewatch and the Michael H. Minger Foundation have selected 25 organisations to participate in the second annual Town/Gown Fire Safety Community Service Project to raise awareness about fire safety. The initiative pairs firefighters with local colleges and universities to raise awareness among students and community members across the country about the importance of working smoke alarms and help to improve fire safety in homes. The cho...

A recent decision by the U. S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit clearly demonstrates the importance of issues raised by unauthorized publishing of codes and standards. The Court issued its decision in a copyright and trademark infringement case brought by three standard development organizations (SDOs), namely - the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), along with ASTM International (ASTM) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)...

IEP Technologies is pleased to announce the official release of the new Isolation Flap Valve, the "IsoFlap-M". The IEP Technologies Passive Isolation Flap Valve is a NFPA 654, 69 and EU ATEX Directive compliant, low cost, reliable explosion isolation solution which mitigates explosion propagation risks to upstream equipment. The Product Information Sheet and press release are available on the company’s website for the user’s review.  IEP Technologies Regional Manager are availa...

Hurricane Florence is expected to make landfall along the southern East Coast of the U.S. in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, bringing with it extensive rain and wind, and prompting extensive evacuations. The National Hurricane Center has also issued advisories for other tropical storms and hurricanes, and is asking communities to prepare ahead as these storms move closer to land. Electrical safety tips To help navigate these storms and prepare throughout hurricane season, NFPA enc...

September is Campus Fire Safety Month, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and The Center for Campus Fire Safety (The Center) are working together to promote their national Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign. The campaign, which raises awareness about the dangers of fires among college-aged students who live in on- and off-campus college housing, serves as an important reminder for students, parents, fire safety professionals, and safety educat...

The legislative Regulation Review Committee in Connecticut has formally approved new safety codes, including a State Building Code, Fire Safety Code and Fire Prevention Code that will fall short of nationally recognized standards and fire safety requirements. The Connecticut codes all go into effect by October 2018, but none will include requirements for fire sprinklers that are part of nationally recognized safety codes – including the International Residential Code and the Life Safety Co...

HURST Jaws of Life®, a manufacturer of rescue tools, is raising the bar in cutter performance standards with the launch of the S 799E2 / S 799. The new cutter has earned the highest rating available for cutters in the rescue tool industry and offers an 8.03-inch blade opening to get around tougher metals and newer designs in the posts. Highest rating possible “The new HURST Jaws of Life 799 cutter over delivers on their promise to provide first responders with rescue tools that can...

NFPA releases energy storage system training for the fire service The number of residential battery energy storage system (ESS) installs during the first quarter of 2018 increased nine-fold over 2017 Q1 figures, and equaled totals from the previous three quarters according to PV Magazine. To address potential fire and life safety hazards that may occur with solar and ESS technology in both housing and business settings, NFPA has updated and expanded its Energy Storage and Sola...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) appointed Andrea Vastis as Senior Director of Public Education. Vastis will oversee NFPA’s well-respected wildfire and home fire education programs. The Seekonk, Massachusetts resident has held various roles in public health education, and has a long history of innovating education programs and fostering rewarding partnerships. Her ability to oversee strategic, purposeful planning, and management of interdisciplinary teams makes he...

NFPA hires new public education leader to oversee fire and life safety education The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) appointed Andrea Vastis as senior director of Public Education. Vastis will oversee NFPA’s well-respected wildfire and home fire education programs. NFPA’s public and fire education programs The Seekonk, Massachusetts resident has held various roles in public health education, and has a long history of innovating education programs and...

NFPA’s fire safety recommendations for revelers for the 4th of July celebrations With the Fourth of July fast approaching and the summer months upon us, indulging in barbecues, holiday parties and swimming often top the list of activities to enjoy during the summer season. To help everyone do so safely, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding people about potential summer fire and electrical hazards and providing tips and recommendations to minimise...

NFPA-IAFC-NVFC unveil joint fire service safety initiative The “Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz” Sweepstakes is back as part of the annual Safety Stand Down campaign. Hosted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety Health & Survival Section and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the interactive online quiz emphasises the importance of the 2018 Safety Stand Down...

NFPA 720 CO detection and warning system to be inducted into 2019 edition of NFPA 72 Upon adjournment of the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Technical Meeting in Las Vegas, the requirements of NFPA 720, Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detection and Warning Equipment are one step closer to issuance by the Standards Council as incorporated into the 2019 edition of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. NFPA 720, which has worked to...

Every year the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Standards Council recognizes individuals for outstanding service to the organization in the development of codes and standards. Awards will be presented to 17 individuals at the NFPA Conference & Expo taking place in Las Vegas. 2018 Recipients for Special Achievement Award. Russell B. Leavitt Telgian Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona Automatic Sprinkler Systems Technical Committees on: Sprinkler System Installati...

NFPA introduces CodeFinder tool to reference international codes and standards The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released CodeFinder, a new interactive online tool that identifies the NFPA codes and standards that are in effect in U.S. municipalities or counties, as well as in regions of Canada, South America, Latin America and the Middle East. Keeping up with new hazards, changing technologies and best practices is essential when it comes to optimising safe...

NFPA unveils new additions to its board of directors at the annual Conference & Expo 2018 The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) elected Brion Callori, Martha Connors, Reginald D. Freeman, William J. Fries, and Louis Paulson, to its board of directors at the association’s annual Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. The three-year term for each member takes effect upon the close of the conference. Three board members, John D. Bonney, R. David Paulison, and Mic...