National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

Most clean agents used for fire suppression systems are very eco-friendly. However, halon is not. Halon substances, which are still in use in many older systems, have been found to have very high ozone depletion properties. The use of halon for fire protection systems was first introduced into the market in the mid-1960s and quickly became the industry standard for protecting high value-assets from fire. And, by the 1970s, halon-based systems were one of the most prevalent types of fire suppres...

Download the new TFT SHO-FLOW® app as this dual function application can be used with or without a SHO-FLOW Bluetooth® flow meter. As a stand-alone water flow calculator, many of these functions can be performed using established fire flow formulas. Water flow education videos The app also includes our H2knOw water flow education videos and recommendations for target fire flows when using water or foam. Head over to the APP store or Google Play to download. When used with a SHO-FLOW,...

TFT’s new SHO-FLOW app is the fire service’s first dual-featured application that operates as either a fully functional stand-alone water flow calculator or in conjunction with TFT’s SHO-FLOW Bluetooth® Flow Meter. In stand-alone mode, crews are able to independently calculate everything related to getting water to the fire using established fire flow formulas. Functions include Flow Rate, Nozzle Reaction, Pump Discharge Pressure, Hose Friction Loss, and establishing Targe...

Every year, 500,000 pets suffer from smoke inhalation and 40,000 die due to home fires. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association estimates that nearly 1,000 home fires each year are started by family pets. With pet fostering and adoption up 48% in the wake of COVID-19, it's more important than ever to teach pet owners simple ways to keep their pets safe in the event of an emergency. Awareness campaign As a committed advocate of fire safety and prevention in communities across the coun...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to partner with TargetSolutions to provide additional operational training and education opportunities to the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue community at no cost. TargetSolutions is offering a cadre of 10 online firefighter continuing education courses to all members of the NVFC. TargetSolutions features more than 450 hours of fire department training based on NFPA codes and standards. The training catalog includes awareness and refresher l...

The cancellation of Independence Day professional fireworks programs in 2020 could raise the risk of wildfires as more amateurs undertake their own pyrotechnic shows, according to four organizations who focus on risk mitigation. "Leave fireworks to the professionals. Sparklers alone generally cause about one-fourth of all injuries during each year's Fourth of July celebrations," said Michele Steinberg, Wildfire Division Director, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), who noted amateurs w...

Among other impacts on the fire industry, the COVID-19 global pandemic has played havoc with the industry’s trade show schedule, with some major events canceled and other delayed. There are still several events planned for later in 2020 – fingers crossed! UPDATE: The United Fire Conference, Firehouse Expo and Intershutz USA, three fire industry events mentioned in this article, have also been cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. After canceling the FDIC International...

A Shurgard self-storage warehouse in Croydon has almost been completely rebuilt after it was burned down in a huge fire on New Year's Eve in 2018. The devastating blaze ripped through the entire warehouse, located on Purley Way, destroying all 1,198 units on its site. It sadly saw families lose valuable and sentimental items that were locked inside the units. At the worst point of the fire, 20 fire engines and around 125 firefighters were on the scene trying to tackle the flames. But in the end...

High-performance equipment manufacturer, Avon Protection, announces Venari Group as its new distributor of thermal imaging cameras (TICs) for the UK fire market. The agreement will see Venari commence distributorship of Avon’s ‘argus’ range of TICs with immediate effect. The British-manufactured argus technology has been a pioneer within the British fire and rescue industry for three decades, having continually invested in R&D and product innovation. Its evolved ‘Mi-...

In a typical year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages the public to only attend public fireworks displays put on by trained professionals, reflecting its’ long-standing position against consumer use of fireworks. However, with public fireworks events around the country being canceled in the year 2020, NFPA is vigorously discouraging individuals’ use of consumer fireworks, recognizing that the likelihood of such activities may increase in the absence of public...

3M Novec 1230 fluid is a waterless, non-conductive, clean agent fire suppression solution that is stored as a liquid but discharges as a gas. But with so many clean agents on the market, what makes 3M Novec 1230 fluid different and what potential benefits, or downsides, does it have? In 2004, the 3M Company introduced Novec 1230 fluid as a next-generation halon replacement with a low environmental impact and a high margin of safety. Their goal was to create a compound with such environmental su...

On the heels of expanding its industry-renowned eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line and attaining NFPA 1936 2020 certification for it, HURST Jaws of Life announced that it has earned NFPA 1936 2020 compliant status for all of its current low-pressure and high-pressure tools, as well as its StrongArm multi-tool, completing the company’s certification for all pressure rescue products available today. HURST Jaws of Life attains NFPA 1936 2020 compliance “HURST Jaws of Lif...

Beyond keeping the industry updated on the latest updates on the most important topics, the FIA is actively involved in these topics through its work with Government, councils and committees. The section aims to serve as a collection of the FIA’s involvement with a variety of topics and will be continuously updated moving forward with links to the relevant news story where available. This will allow one to see what FIA have done and are doing to improve the industry for the members. COVID...

In its most recent five-year report on structure fires in U.S. schools, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that from 2013-2017, school fires resulted in a total of 212 injuries – a 32 percent drop from the previous five year period. These are remarkable numbers when one considers that during that time, there were more than 16,500 school fires reported. On average, school fires cause $42 million in direct property damage each year. While the schools are clearly doing an...

The industry’s first watertight battery-powered extrication tool line is expanding, as HURST Jaws of Life introduces nine new tools that will give first responders a full selection of extrication solutions that are completely operational underwater. HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT line The company that has revolutionized the rescue industry time and again, HURST Jaws of Life, introduced its innovative eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line, with water-resistant casing, in 2019....

Reno-based manufacturer, American Fire Wire, introduces AFW-2HFR-3, its 50-Ohm, two-hour fire rated coaxial cable for Distributed Antenna System (DAS) installations. Public Safety DAS systems enable wireless connectivity within their radiuses and, without the proper components, can fail to withstand emergency scenarios such as floods, fires and earthquakes, minimizing communications first-response teams can conduct when on site. American Fire Wire's addition to their family of American-made coa...

In the past two years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued several new reports that lend more in-depth insight into the top causes of residential fires. This post summarizes the top causes of home fires and some of the interesting trends identified in these reports. Drop in number of residential fires The number of residential fires and fire deaths has dropped by about half over the past 40 years. However, the data also shows that while there were fewer fires and fire de...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, in collaboration with Pierce dealer MacQueen Emergency Group, has delivered a Pierce® Velocity® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platform featuring innovative new idle reduction technology. The apparatus is the first of its kind and addresses the City of Rochester’s requirements to reduce emissions and its carbon footprint. The Pierce idle reduction technology incorporates high-performance lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batt...

The Dyersburg Fire Department in Tennessee is a full-paid agency with 50 sworn firefighters and three stations, providing EMS/Rescue coverage as well as primary fire response to a population of approximately 15,000 residents, with a 15.1 square mile service area which also encompasses part of an interstate, a regional airport, and a hospital. It is additionally an ISO Class 3 agency. As with many agencies across the country, Captain Rusty Hilliard says Dyersburg’s stations share common sp...

HURST Jaws of Life, an industry renowned global manufacturer of rescue tools, has earned the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1936 2020 compliant status for HURST’s two highest-performing product lines, eDRAULIC watertight extrication tools (EWXT) and eDRAULIC 2.0 (E2) battery-powered tools. The third-party test results also include HURST Jaws of Life earning high ratings in the NFPA’s new F Bar Cut testing for cutter performance, against the design and metal type...

Diesel exhaust emissions can spread toxic gases and soot particles throughout a firehouse anytime a diesel-fueled engine is operated. When diesel fuel is burned, it produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diesel soot. Both of these substances are classified as carcinogens. Ultrafine particulate can penetrate deep into the lung and is absorbed through the skin, carrying toxins into the bloodstream. Exposure to this type of pollution can increase the risk of developing cancer, and respirato...

PGI, the provider of technology-driven protective gear, develops and manufactures innovative clothing for firefighters and rescue workers. The American company has now enhanced its COBRA BarriAire Gold hoods to provide extremely effective particulate protection. Highly topical and causing considerable controversy right now, the issue of nose and mouth protection is one that firefighters and rescue workers have long been discussing given that they're often confronted with heavily contaminated ai...

The huge range and breadth of chemicals, minerals and other materials involved in the business of contract “toll” processing led a major custom processor in the Northeastern USA to explore various Explosion Protection options with IEP Technologies with the aim of building maximum flexibility and safety into their processing plants and operations. The problem of dust explosions is present in a surprising number of manufacturing processes whenever fine particulates, dispersed in air,...

When a prominent U.S. manufacturer of processing equipment for the dairy industries had concerns about mitigating the consequences of dust explosions for a recent project, they turned to IEP Technologies for assistance with specifying the optimum explosion protection system solution for their customer – a Toll Manufacturer of dried whey protein products. The process equipment manufacturer had previously collaborated with IEP on various projects in Europe, however this was the first opport...

A specialized manufacturer of Wood Products based in the North Eastern United States consulted IEP Technologies when installing a new process line which needed protection against the potentially dangerous and costly effects of industrial explosions. As part of the plant expansion, a new Dust Collector was to be installed in an outside location. Explosion venting panels The new equipment was already fitted with explosion venting panels from the dust collector manufacturer to protect against exp...

In recognition of National Volunteer Week in April, First Alert, the most trusted brand in fire safety, is teaming up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to show their gratitude and appreciation for volunteer fire departments across the country. With first responders facing unprecedented conditions nationwide, the donation of 1,000 First Alert rechargeable fire extinguishers will go to departments registered with the NVFC’s Fire Corps program to help fire service volunteers ma...

For businesses and organizations using unheated warehouses or other structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in an automatic sprinkler system to burst, chances are, the system is equipped with a dry-pipe fire sprinkler system. Dry-pipe sprinkler systems Dry-pipe sprinkler systems are used in settings where a temperature above 40°F (4°C) cannot be reliably maintained. Unlike wet-pipe systems in which the pipes are filled with water, the pipes in a dry-pipe system ar...

As the COVID-19 emergency continues to evolve, fire departments and fire protection contractors must ensure fire prevention and life safety systems and equipment are in working order at all times. These fire and life systems and products are essential functions in safeguarding the public, businesses, and institutions. CAL FIRE - OSFM regulations The CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE - OSFM) regulations continue to be in effect and relevant deadlines apply. The California Fi...

No one wants to dwell on the damage a fire can do and what the costs to the owner of a building might be. Depending on the industry and the kind of building one has, they might want to look into fire suppression systems outside of fire extinguishers or alarms. Liberty Fire Solutions can help install fire sprinkler systems in business. Fire sprinkler system The price of a fire sprinkler system varies based on the size and type of fire sprinklers one installs. In general, here are the costs one...

International Fire Suppression Alliance, Ltd. (IFSA) recognized that the emergence of the COVID-19 virus spread, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), has resulted in the postponement or cancellation of virtually all industry events over the next few months, as countries struggle to contain it.  Fire Industry events cancelled The list of international events and trade shows cancelled and postponed includes: 17-18 March 2020 - ABSpk conference in Sao Paulo –...