National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

To help provide answers to different stakeholders interested in energy storage system (ESS) technologies, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) releases NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems, the first comprehensive collection of criteria for the fire protection of ESS installations. The standard provides requirements based on the technology used in ESS, the setting where the technology is being installed, the size and separation of ESS installations...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that after passing technical committee ballot, the NFPA Standards Council issued a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA), or emergency amendment, to allow for a second type of lock, enabling schools to employ a potentially more cost-effective door locking solution while delivering a higher level of safety to students, staff and visitors. The TIA is aimed at better protecting students and staff against targeted acts of violence. Schools were,...

Between 2013-2018, the distilleries industry has grown more than four percent each year. Much of this growth has been driven by the rise in micro-distilleries, which are now popping up in cities all across the United States. Micro-distilleries are small, often craft-style facilities that produce beverage-grade spirit alcohol in small quantities, usually in single batches. In contrast to large facilities that are typically located in rural areas, these operations – their barrel warehouses,...

As the condition of aging bridges, roadways, transportation resources, and grids across the U.S. has increasingly become the focus of discussion, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued Renovations Needs of the U.S. Fire Service, a new report on the fire service’s aging infrastructure. Two key findings within the report show that more than 21,000 firehouses across the country are beyond 40 years of age with total replacement costs estimated to be in the $70-$100 billion...

Mark W. Earley, former National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) chief electrical engineer and NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) staff liaison, has been presented the Richard G. Biermann National Electrical Code Outstanding Volunteer Award. Earley has worked for NFPA since 1986 and served as staff liaison and secretary to the NEC Correlating Committee from 1989 until his retirement in August 2019. He has co-authored NFPA’s reference book, Electrical Installations in Hazardous Loca...

NFPA and The Center for Campus Fire Safety are partnering up to help ensure those living spaces are as safe as possible through their Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign. The campaign raises awareness about the threat of fire among college students in both on- and off-campus housing, and puts relevant information in the hands of parents, staff, and students, who are encouraged to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their peers against fire. Many of the resources offered are d...

Correctional facilities in California, Iowa, and Pennsylvania are implementing aspirating smoke-detection technology for fire protection. This advanced technology not only provides faster, more sophisticated smoke detection, but eliminates several costly and troublesome operational issues associated with traditional induct smoke detectors. In-duct smoke detectors are prone to accumulate dirt and dust, particularly in inmate housing areas. Because these particles can be mistakenly interpreted as...

Det-Tronics has introduced a new high-speed deluge module (HSDM) for the Det-Tronics Eagle Quantum Premier (EQP) fire and gas safety controller. The HSDM expands the capability of the EQP so it can activate ultra-highspeed suppression systems for high-hazard applications such as, but not limited to, munitions manufacturing. Det-Tronics, a provider of fire- and gas-safety systems, is a part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeratio...

E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group and a global provider of emergency response vehicles, is proud to announce the new TITAN 4×4 Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle has met or exceeded expectations in all categories of third-party advanced product testing. In accordance with NFPA 414 (Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Vehicles), all newly-designed vehicles must undergo a series of (34) prototype tests followed by (13) operational tests for each production unit to val...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed a training bundle to help facility managers, building owners, engineers, designers, and code officials address essential safety and security features in the buildings that they are charged with keeping safe and functional. The Balancing Safety and Security with Fire Doors, Dampers and Door Locking Online Training Series provides an introduction to NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives (2016), and delves into...

The National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED) recently honored longtime Amerex team member and industry icon, Craig Voelkert, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Craig exemplified this significant honor through his dedication to progressing the fire suppression industry. His commitment to innovation and industry engagement led to product advancements that are critical elements of life safety. In the early 1990s, Amerex founder Ned Paine discovered Craig at a Nevada fire schoo...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its annual “U.S. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States” report, which showed a total of 64 U.S. firefighter fatalities while on duty in 2018. This continues a five-year trend of fewer than 70 deaths per year. It is also the eighth time in the last 10 years that fewer than 70 on-duty deaths have occurred; the death toll is half what it was in the first five years that NFPA conducted this study. Of the 64 fatalit...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development. This new standard helps a broad range of authorities determine what kind of emergencies are occurring in their community, where, and to whom. Community Risk Assessment Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a process that helps identify and prioritize all types of risks, and emphasizes the integrated and strategic investment of resources to red...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced Roger Allard, Robert G. Bill, Gunnar Heskestad, and Hsiang-Cheng Kung as the winners of 2019 Phillip J. DiNenno Prize. The award and $50,000 in prize money were presented at NFPA’s Conference & Expo in San Antonio. The prestigious DiNenno Prize recognizes groundbreaking innovations that have had a significant impact in the building, fire and electrical safety fields. The prize is named for the late Philip J. DiNenno, the greatl...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) elected Patrick J. Morrison to its board of directors at the association’s annual Conference & Expo in San Antonio. The three-year term for each member takes effect upon the close of the conference. Three existing board members, Hatem Kheir, Teresa L. Deloach Reed, and Stacy N. Welch were re-elected to a second three-year term. General President At IAFF Morrison serves as assistant to the general president for occupational health, safet...

At the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Conference & Expo in San Antonio on Sunday, the association presented a series of awards that recognize outstanding achievements in fire and life safety. Harry C. Bigglestone Award The Harry C. Bigglestone Award is given annually to a paper appearing in Fire Technology that best represents excellence in the communication of fire protection concepts. This award honors the memory of Harry C. Bigglestone, who served as a trustee of th...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced Jon Nisja, fire safety supervisor with the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division (SFMD), as the winner of the 2019 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal. Nisja has been awarded the 2019 medal for his passion and career-long commitment to fire safety. In particular, Nisja played a key role in changing model codes and strengthening Minnesota’s fire code. Promoting fire safety The James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal was established in hono...

Kochek Company, LLC, a premier manufacturer of quality fire equipment and water movement solutions headquartered in Putnam, CT, reports that its 10-foot and 20-foot PVC suction hose was rigorously tested and found to perform without leaks, depressurization, or decoupling, and demonstrated excellent coil memory even after 12 hours of pressure. Kochek's PVC suction hose is specifically designed for the firefighting market and meets the company's proprietary fire grade specifications. All Kochek P...

From students to policymakers, safety professionals at all levels will gather at the NFPA Conference & Expo, June 17-20, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. The multi-faceted event will include a technical session addressing standards development, a product and services exhibition, and education sessions about a range of topics, some of them relating to the fire service. The NFPA Technical Meeting, also known as ‘Tech Session,’ is an important eleme...

Oliver Holmes, Sr. once said, “It is the province of knowledge to speak and the privilege of wisdom to listen.” Each year, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) conducts the National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner program to provide opportunities for fire service leaders across the nation to both speak and listen. And, it was for this reason that the theme selected is ‘Exchanging Knowledge to Advance Our Mission’. There is much to learn about...

mySidewalk is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the renowned information and knowledge resource on fire, electrical, and related hazards. This collaboration project will combine industry-renowned NFPA codes and standards, including NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development and related information, with mySidewalk’s innovative Community Intelligence Platform to create a us...

Often considered the unofficial kick-off to summer, Memorial Day weekend includes lots of celebrations featuring cookouts and barbeques. As the holiday and warmer months near, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reminds everyone to follow some basic precautions for safely grilling outdoors. Basic precautions for safe grilling According to NFPA’s statistics, in 2013-2017, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 10,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis, or b...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is hosting a free active shooter/hostile event program for emergency managers, policymakers, fire, police, emergency medical services (EMS), school officials and facility managers in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Active shooter program Attendees will benefit from a half-day public session that will feature keynote speaker Michele Gay, Co-Founder of Safe & Sound Schools, who lost her daughter during the Sandy Hook Elementary S...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will host its annual Conference & Expo at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, from June 17 – June 20, 2019. This comprehensive event brings together thousands of the industry’s renowned professionals who will attend more than 120 educational sessions and special events addressing the latest issues, challenges and trends in the world of fire, electrical, and life safety. NFPA Conference & Expo...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards Council approved a plan to consolidate the information currently contained in 114 NFPA Emergency Response and Responder Safety (ERRS) standards, guides, and recommended practices into 38 overarching standards. The move will not only provide emergency responders with easier access to well-rounded safety information, but also improve the standards development experience for more than 2,000 principle and alternative NFPA Technical Committee...

Home fires claim the lives of seven people every day in the United States of America. Home fire sprinklers can help eliminate these tragedies, but legislative barriers and a general unawareness of this technology have prevented its widespread use in new homes. America’s fire service and safety advocates should be able to take action in unison, so as to raise national awareness of a fire sprinkler’s life-saving ability. Fire Sprinkler Initiative Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a collabo...

It’s been three years since the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published the most recent edition of the wide-ranging standard that spans 'the application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems, fire warning equipment and emergency warning equipment, and their components'. Since then, thousands of volunteers have contributed ideas and recommendations, the technical committee has debated the changes, and the final text h...

HURST Jaws of Life® has expanded its battery-powered eDRAULIC® rescue tool line with the addition of the R 422E2 Ram, whose 59.1-inch extended length gives first responders the longest extension in the industry. The R 422E2 Ram debuts at 2019 FDIC International in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 11–13, where first responders will have a chance to see the rescue tool’s full reach and innovative details such as the sharp claws at both ends. Most complicated rescues The claws, a...

To help first responders handle the potential challenges aligned with energy storage systems (ESS) and solar energy, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has updated its first-of-its-kind ESS safety training for the fire service with new technology insights, relevant research, and expanded solar considerations. The surging popularity of ESS and photovoltaic systems (PV) in both commercial and residential settings underscores the need for clear, current fire protection and suppression...

To raise awareness of occupational cancer risks and firefighter contamination, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety Health & Survival Section, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have launched the ‘Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz’ Sweepstakes. The informative and interactive online quiz emphasizes the importance of the 2019 Safety Stand Down theme, ‘Reduce Your Exposure: It’s Everyone&r...