National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

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 –...

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are over 354,000 residential fires a year, causing, on average, around 2,600 deaths and over 11,000 injuries. The majority of fire-related deaths occur at night while people sleep. The important role of well-placed, quality smoke alarms is easy to see. There are two main types of smoke alarms – ionization and photoelectric. Understanding the difference between the two can help users make the best decision, regarding installing t...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) has announced that their Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response Team will begin pre-incident planning in March 2020, in compliance with NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning. Funding from the Harris County Commissioners Court, to support additional HazMat team staffing, has allowed the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office to develop and pursue this progressive avenue of pre-incident planning of businesses and facilities in the unincorporated...

At this year’s NFPA Conference & Expo 2020, FFE Ltd. is slated to launch their new innovative Fireray One, Optical Beam Smoke Detector. It is the perfect fire protection and detection solution for wide open spaces. Visitors at FFE Ltd’s stand at the NFPA Conference can get hands on with the new product and experience how quick and easy the solution’s intelligent auto-alignment process is. Visitors can get immersed in this new technology, and talk to company executives at th...

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is the first fire service in North America to purchase a pre-series vehicle based on the Concept Fire Truck (CFT). The electric fire truck from Rosenbauer will be delivered in the first quarter 2021 and put into practice as part of a comprehensive test operation. CFT Technology In addition to its driving characteristics and safety features, the truck made an impression with its ergonomics and high functionality during the initial demonstrations last Decem...

As part of the review of Building Regulations (Approved Document B), and in response to emerging evidence on long-term firefighter health issues, the government is investigating whether the effects of fire toxicity should be a legal requirement when choosing materials for high risk buildings. To assist in this research, the Fire Protection Association is bringing together global fire toxicity experts to share their knowledge at an inaugural conference in London on 30th March. The day will be su...

For anyone starting a new restaurant, navigating the complex maze of fire protection regulations can seem like a daunting task. In this post, Koorsen Fire & Security will provide an overview of the basic requirements that anyone needs to be aware of along with the relevant codes in which they can be found. To simplify the topic, on the basis of the requirements for restaurants, they will be grouped into two main categories, life safety and fire protection. Life safety requirements apply to...

Registration is now open for the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2020 Training Summit, which will take place June 26-27 in Orlando, FL. The conference is open to all volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, department leadership, and other fire department personnel from across the United States. Travel stipends are available to help more people attend. 2020 NVFC Training Summit This two-day classroom-based training event is an opportunity to learn from leading subject matter exper...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that the state of Massachusetts’ recent update of the Massachusetts Electrical Code to contain the requirements of the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) (plus MA-specific amendments) represents the first state to implement the latest version of the code. The NEC continues to be the most widely used code in the built environment in the world, and sets the standard for safe electrical installation and inspection to pr...

AAR MRO Services supports airline operators with everything from maintenance inspections and equipment upgrades to airframe painting and heavy maintenance for all major aircraft in service. The largest MRO operator of its type in the Americas, AAR recently opened the company’s largest facility, located at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. Here, each of two 10-story hangar bays can accommodate hundreds of ‘small’ aircraft, two Boeing 787s or even an Airbus A380, the l...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will have a local representative who will oversee the overall regional planning, direction, coordination and support of international development functions in the Middle East and North Africa. NFPA rep in the Middle East Anas Alzaid, an electrical engineering consultant with more than 30 years of experience working with facilities management and safety professionals, is charged with assessing local safety concerns, cultivating strong alliances th...

Two new Rosenbauer PANTHER 6x6 HRET were put into service on January 13, at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in an event featuring a traditional push-back ceremony. In the future, these vehicles will act as the flagships of the airport fire brigade. The performance, safety, and ergonomics of the high-end devices exceed the requirements of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). This makes the PANTHER...

With more than 200 countries agreeing to usher in a new class of refrigerants, effective this year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and its research affiliate, the Fire Protection Research Foundation (Research Foundation), have released free online training for the fire service, as well as an instructor-led training module to educate firefighters about the potential hazards associated with new refrigeration and cooling units. Calls for low GWP refrigerants The new accord calls...

Home improvement projects that resist flames and embers. Teaching neighbors about wildfire risks and how to reduce them. Removing flammable debris that could fuel a wildfire. These and other related activities are being actively supported by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm via the National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign.  The seventh annual Wildfire Community Preparedness Day will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Since 2014, community groups...

Nearly one-third (29 percent) of U.S. home fires that begin with Christmas trees occurs in January. With this potential fire hazard in mind, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) strongly encourages everyone to remove Christmas trees from their homes promptly after the holiday season. “Christmas trees are combustible items that become increasingly flammable as they continue to dry out,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy. recycling p...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is accepting nominations for the 2020 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal, which recognises outstanding advocacy efforts aimed at reducing losses associated with fire, electrical, or other hazards. The advocacy medal honours an individual or group that shares the values of former NFPA President James Shannon. During his 12-year tenure as president, Shannon had an exceptional record of advocacy efforts tied to life safety issues. Under his leadership,...

Dry fire sprinkler systems have been around for a long time and are used to protect unheated warehouses and structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in a wet pipe sprinkler system to burst. They are also increasingly being used in areas containing sensitive or very expensive contents due to the fears that leaking fire sprinkler pipes could cause. As the use of dry pipe systems has become more widespread, concerns regarding the impact of corrosion common in dry pipe systems...

Green Builder Media and NFPA announce the publication of a new e-book on wildfire mitigation, Enough is Enough. The follow-up to NFPA’s popular 2015 e-book, Design With Fire In Mind: Three Steps to a Safer New Home, Enough is Enough details what needs to be done to help prevent loss of property and lives to fire. Between the publications  of both e-books, wildfires have continued to make headline news across the country, including back-to-back record-setting wildfire seasons in Calif...

In the fire industry, standards across the world are constantly updated and changed. It is Apollo’s duty, as leading fire detection manufacturers, to adapt to these revised standards and develop smart devices that keep people safe from fire, every second of every day. Soteria UL range of detectors In response to the UL 268 7th edition update, Apollo has developed the new Soteria UL range of detectors, culminating in over 30,000 hours in research and development, 186 hours in UL fire labs...

Thanksgiving is a time for friendship, sharing, and busy kitchens. Big Bear Fire Department reminds everyone that crowded kitchens and busy cooks can lead to serious burns and tragic fires. Thanksgiving is one of the leading days of the year for home fires involving cooking equipment. That’s why it’s important to know what users can do to help keep friends and family safe while entertaining for the holidays. Safety Tips To avoid dangerous incidents, the National Fire Protection As...

An article entitled, ‘Brazil Burning’ in the November/December 2019 issue of the NFPA Journal gives examples of the breakdown in what the National Fire Protection Association is now terming the country’s ‘fire and life safety ecosystem’. Recent fire incidents in Brazil In the NFPA Journal article, Angelo Verzoni, of the writing staff at the National Fire Protection Association, lists the September 12, 2019 Badim Hospital fire in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that killed...

Amanda Kimball, an eight-year veteran of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (Research Foundation), was named Executive Director of the independent, non-profit research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association. She replaces Casey Grant who is retiring in December after 16 years with NFPA, followed by 15 years directing Research Foundation efforts that support the NFPA mission of eliminating loss from fire, electrical and related hazards. Kimball is well-known in research circle...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has received just shy of a million dollars in Fire Prevention and Safety Grant money from FEMA to develop a free public safety drone compliance program that includes educational training and a searchable knowledgebase that tracks fire service drone programs and usage. Fire departments have rapidly expanded the use of drones as more communities have realized the lifesaving impact that aerial technology can have in response to structural fires, wild...

Micro-distilleries are a rapidly emerging industry that is creating a lot of concern among fire safety officials due to the unique fire risks they bring to the communities in which they are located. The potential causes of fire and explosion at a micro-distillery are no different than those associated with a large distillery. However, unlike large distilleries, which are typically located in rural areas, micro-distilleries pose additional safety risks due to their proximity to populated areas an...

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (Research Foundation), the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), has received nearly $200,000 in Fire Prevention and Safety Grant money from FEMA to study the Economic and Emotional Impact of an Active Shooter/Hostile Event. The Research Foundation will oversee the two-year project working closely with NFPA and, in particular, the technical committee for NFPA 3000, Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASH...

Across the world, fire and rescue services vary greatly, and each will have their own unique circumstances and challenges to deal with. Firefighters in the USA and Australia are more likely to face wildland fires, whilst in the Middle East, firefighters deal more regularly with transport related fires involving hazardous materials. In many European countries, less than 10% of call-outs are fire related at all, with firefighters much more likely to attend traffic accidents, medical emergencies o...

From engineering solutions to help solve the BP Oil Spill to protecting a museum’s irreplaceable artifacts from fire, Fike’s industrial safety solutions can vary greatly. But what’s consistent in their wide array of capabilities is the personable customer service for which Fike is known. Building an allegiance of happy, loyal customers comes from the relationship they experience through every touchpoint within an organization. And while customer service falls on every person i...

LION is looking forward to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition 2019, slated to take place in Chicago, at the McCormick Place West, on October 27th and 28th, 2019. CBRN products on display LION will be exhibiting in Booth #2306 at the IACP Conference 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. They will be showcasing their state-of-the-art CBRN products. The fire safety solutions company stated that they are looking forward to meeting many new visitors of t...

Today’s home fires burn faster than ever, making escape planning all the more critical to home fire safety. Studies show that in the past, people had approximately 17 minutes to escape a typical home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds. Now they may have as little as two minutes to get out safely. NFPA Fire Prevention Week With these concerns in mind, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced ‘Not Every Hero Wears a Cape, Plan and Practice Your Escape!&rsq...

Fire chiefs endorse position papers on hot work safety, the economic impact of firefighter injuries, suicide prevention, the National Firefighter Registry, data analyst/chief information officer, and the Centre for Homeland Defence and Security Fire chiefs from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) last week at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed...