National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 104

The 2019 edition of the NFPA 20 and NFPA 14 Handbook is now available. Find out what’s new!

The 2019 edition of NFPA 20 and NFPA 14 Handbook is now available. To start, we changed the title of the NFPA 20 Handbook to Stationary Fire Pumps and Standpipe Systems Handbook to include NFPA 14. With the addition of NFPA 14 and commentary in one

Call for nominations: NFPA to honor key safety advocate at national event

We are now accepting nominations for the 2019 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal, which recognizes outstanding advocacy efforts aimed at reducing losses associated with fire, electrical, or other hazards. The advocacy medal honors an individual or

#TBT From The NFPA Archives: 1909 Theater Fire – Springfield, MO

From The NFPA Quarterly v. 3, no.1 (July 1909): This was an exposure fire set by burning the Baldwin Theater and office building adjacent. The fire attacked the building through unprotected window openings, damaging woodwork and furnishings in about 40

#TBT From The NFPA Archives: Scobey Hospital Fire, January 1925

On the afternoon of Sunday, January 4th in 1925, 1 patient died in fire at a private Boston hospital. The Scobey Hospital, located at 906-908 Beacon Street had been converted from two four-story residences into a hospital by cutting two doorways through

NFPA 1: A review of 2018 and looking ahead to 2019, #FireCodefridays

It’s hard to believe it’s already time to reflect on the end of another year. As a Staff Liaison at NFPA, my role is to facilitate the development of NFPA 1 while ensuring the NFPA standards development process is followed and that we

#TBT from the NFPA Archives: 1977 Grain Elevator Explosion

Pictured here: Head house and silos, as seen from southeast after the explosion. Grain Tank 1 collapsed, and contents of Grain Tank 2 are burning. Eighteen people were killed in a massive dust explosion on December 27, 1977 at the Farmers Export Grain

A better understanding of NFPA 70E: Host and contract employers

An employer using NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®can be either a host or contract employer. If an employer is using in-house workers it is obvious who has the responsibility for 130.2(A). When a contractor is working

NFPA 1: A summary of requirements for heating appliances, #FireCodeFridays

The winter is upon us. A major seasonal fire safety issue that impacts those of us in cold weather environments is the use of heating appliances, both in residential and non-residential type applications. The cold winter weather means a more frequent use

Journal NOW: Read NFPA Journal staff's favorite articles from 2018

As 2018 comes to a close, the NFPA Journal editorial staff has each chosen his favorite article from the past year. From a story covering a primetime cry-fest to one covering a groundbreaking new NFPA standard, here are our choices,

#TBT From The NFPA Archives: 1977 Smoke Alarm Save

  From Fire Journalv. 72, no. 3 (May 1978):  Early in the morning on December 21st, a family in Wakefield, MA was saved by an uninstalled smoke alarm. “The father of the family of four bought a battery-operated smoke detector. Intending