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Get Ready for Fire Prevention Week with NFPA

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CPSC Forum Focuses on Lithium-Ion Battery, E-Mobility Safety

Addressing the stark reality of hazards related to a rapidly growing e-mobility industry, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) hosted a forum yesterday to spotlight growing concerns surrounding lithium-ion battery safety, especially fires occurring in e-bikes and other micro-mobility devices.In 2019, 13 injuries in New York City were caused by fires linked to e-mobility devices powered by lithium-ion batteries. By 2022, that number had risen to 147, a tally expected to be eclipsed this year with 87 injuries already logged in 2023.Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, whose testimony kicked off the forum, said that “lithium-ion batteries are now a top cause of fatal fires in New York,” killing 13 residents this year so far.Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy, was a key voice at CPSC forum, along with elected leaders and representatives from manufacturer associations, voluntary standards organizations, and consumer groups.In her comments to the Commission, Carli acknowledged the increasing challenges of fire and electrical hazards in our rapidly evolving, technology-reliant communities and urged a comprehensive approach to deal with this emerging fire threat.She said the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem offers a framework to address this multi-dimensional challenge, specifically focusing on four crucial areas: The regulatory environment The use and enforcement of current codes and standards Trained and equipped first responders, and A well-informed publicThere was broad agreement among panelists for more robust regulations to address the safety of e-mobility devices, including mandatory safety standards, enforcement of existing rules, and closing loopholes that allow dangerous, untested batteries and devices to be imported into the U.S.Carli stressed that storage guidelines, requiring tested batteries and components, and restrictions on device quantities in buildings can all improve safety She noted that NFPA 1®, Fire Code, has been updated with criteria for protecting areas where such devices are stored, charged, or used.Several panelists spoke strikingly about the explosive characteristics of lithium-ion battery fires, which one industry panelist said was analogous to a gasoline fire. FDNY Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn compared the fires to those started by incendiary devices. “These fires are large from the start,” he said.Carli emphasized that first responder preparedness for lithium-ion battery fires is crucial for their safety and must be prioritized. She cited last fall's symposium titled "Lithium-Ion Batteries: Challenges for the Fire Service," co-sponsored by NFPA, FDNY Foundation, and U.L., as a significant resource to provide guidance for the fire service.Several panelists promoted the role of the public in improving safety. While easily determining the safety of lithium-ion batteries can be difficult in e-mobility devices, individuals can prevent potentially catastrophic fires by educating themselves about the potential hazards of lithium-ion batteries and the correct usage and maintenance of related devices.Carli commended the efforts of Commissioner Kavanaugh and FDNY for their proactive and aggressive approach to public safety education. She also highlighted NFPA's efforts and those of other safety organizations that have created resources providing essential safety information for consumers and emergency responders.The CPSC forum provided a window on the complexity of this issue but also highlighted the sense of urgency to take action, which was best summed up by CPSC Commissioner Mary Boyle, who said in her closing statement: “Hearing from the stakeholders is an incredibly important part of the regulatory process and I think today’s hearing provided really useful and helpful information. I feel encouraged, like my colleagues, that there is broad consensus that we need to act and act quickly."For more safety information and resources, visit our lithium-ion battery safety page.

Code Compliant Electrical Installation the Key to Swimmer Safety and a Secure Electrical System in Pools

Now that summer has arrived, many of us will be taking advantage of the nice weather to jump into swimming pools to cool off. But what many people don’t realize, there’s a lot to keeping us safe from electrical hazards in these wet environments. Much of this depends on the initial electrical installation. Something that is often overlooked after the pool has been installed and inspected, is maintenance of the pool and associated pool equipment. As we all know, Father Time is not always kind to electrical installations, which may require re-inspections for safety. With the changes that occurred in the 2020 National Electrical Code® (NEC®) the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is permitted to periodically inspect and test pools. If municipalities so choose, they can implement a procedure to periodically inspect and test pools, associated pool equipment, and the equipotential bonding after the initial installation inspection to help ensure reliability and continued safety.A code compliant electrical installation for a pool, completed by a licensed qualified electrician, is vital to the overall performance of the electrical system and the swimmer’s ability to cool off safely. The conductive pool shell, a reconstructed conductive pool shell, perimeter surfaces, metal forming shell for underwater luminaires, ladder cups, diving board bracket, the pool water, and other metal surfaces are where the equipotential bonding system is found. This equipotential bonding system surrounds the pool with connections to a #8 AWG solid copper conductor. This solid copper conductor is terminated to all the above points then routed underground or within the concrete, back to the pool pump motor and terminated on the grounding lug located on pump motor. The 2023 NEC, in Section 680.26(B)(6)(a) requires sufficient length in the equipotential bonding conductor for future pump replacement. Best practice would be to provide enough additional conductor to terminate it anywhere on the motor in the event the lug is not in the same location. These connections are crucial to equalizing the electrical potential of all conductive surfaces, ladders, diving boards, underwater luminaries, and water that are all found with pools. Because pools are subject to corrosion and use corrosive chemicals, terminations, many of which are underground or within concrete, must be listed and labeled for the environment they are being installed in.  People often think that once a pool is installed, all they need to do is add chemicals to the water and clean the pool. This myth is where problems arise as maintenance and periodic inspection and testing of the pool equipment is a very important part of the overall electrical safety of the pool. Maintenance requirements for public pools, fountains, and similar installations, excluding one- and two-family dwellings, can be found in NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, chapter 34. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) need to be tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions, which is typically monthly. Also, as a part of periodic maintenance procedures found in section 34.3 of NFPA 70B, the grounding connections should be checked for corrosion, loose connections, or rust, all of these can inhibit the functioning of the equipotential bond, which could result in an electrical shock or an electric shock drowning (ESD). If corrosion is visible on any terminations, those points should be cleaned and or replaced by a qualified person as these connections are crucial to the safety of the people who use the pool. Pool pump motors do not last forever and therefore must be replaced, which requires the disconnection and reconnection of the equipotential bonding conductor from the motor. As previously mentioned, additional slack in the solid copper conductor is required at the motor location for motor replacement because consideration was taken for bonding lug location. When a state chooses to incorporate by reference the 2023 NEC, which makes it enforceable by an AHJ, Section 680.4 permits the periodic inspection and testing by the AHJ of the pool system. This may help encourage the maintenance and repair of the pool system and equipotential bond. Maintenance on pools, associated pool equipment, and the equipotential bonding system is no different than maintaining a car by getting the oil changed. It is not difficult to do; the 2023 NEC along with NFPA 70B provide this direction and are instrumental in helping prevent a fun day at the pool from turning into a tragedy.NFPA 70 the National Electrical Code® (NEC®), and NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, is available in NFPA LiNK®, the association’s information delivery platform with NFPA codes and standards, supplementary content, and visual aids for building, electrical, and life safety professionals and practitioners. Learn more at nfpa.org/LiNK.

A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Part III - The Electrical Components Causing Fatalities in the Workplace.

Last month’s blog revealed the top four locations for exposure to electricity fatalities to be a home, an industrial facility, a construction site, and a street. The next thing being investigated is which electrical components are the major cause of those fatalities. Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) database is being used to assist employers in decreasing these workplace fatalities. The following chart shows the top four components attributed to these fatalities since 2011. Source: BLSPowerline fatalities average 79 per year. The percent of all electrical fatalities due to powerlines, transformers and converters has consistently been 53% (average of 54% since 1992.) Enough information is available from the last 30 years for employers to find ways to prevent these fatalities. Investigation reports show that accidental contact or human error are major factors in these fatalities. A May 1998 NIOSH report (Worker Deaths by Electrocution) listed frequent causes of death as boomed vehicle or conductive equipment contact with an energized powerline. These same two contact methods are causing fatalities twenty-five years later. These fatalities could be one reason why streets are ranked fourth in location of all electric fatalities. Instilling awareness in employees and providing the training required by NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® could aid in deceasing these fatalities. Decreasing these fatalities appears to the be the simplest way to substantially improve electrical safety in the workplace whether the work task being conducted is covered under NFPA 70E or not.Building wiring fatalities average 21 per year. There was a sudden drop in these fatalities in 2010 after several decades of being flat at an average of 24% of all electrical fatalities. Unfortunately, these fatalities have leveled off at 16% of all electrical fatalities since that decrease. Investigating what occurred in the workplace prior to 2010 could provide employers with the knowledge necessary to further decrease these fatalities. BLS data reveals that these fatalities are equally associated with both in-house and contract employees. Proper installation and maintenance of the building wiring plays a role in preventing these fatalities, as does properly establishing an electrically safe work condition when interacting with building wiring.Power cord fatalities average 14 per year. Power cords, electrical cords, and extension cords account for 10% of all electrical fatalities. Every employee interacts with cord-connected equipment daily. Fatalities due to cord use are typically associated with damage, misuse, and improper storage. Compared to the other components on the chart, this is perhaps the easiest to remove from the fatality list. Both NFPA 70E and OSHA standards require inspection of cords prior to use. From fatality investigation reports, inspection of a cord prior to energizing it, as well as training how to properly inspect a cord then tag and isolate damaged cords, can prevent these fatalities.Switchboard fatalities average 11 per year. The percentage of switchboard, switch and fuse fatalities was nearly level (3.8% of all electrical fatalities) for decades prior to 2000. It is disheartening that these fatalities began to trend upwards to an average of 7% of since the end of the 20st century. Of the four discussed components, this is likely where NFPA 70E is mostly associated. These components are where NFPA 70E and an electrically safe work condition can be applied to reduce the number of fatalities. Proper installation and maintenance of electrical systems and components, awareness of electric hazards, inspection of portable equipment and cords, and establishing an electrically safe work condition can help employers minimize exposure to electrical hazards. A well-established electrical safety program along with proper training is crucial in lowering the number of electrical fatalities. Electricity has been relied on since the last decades of the 19th century. Surely something can be done to prevent these fatalities now that we have entered the third decade of the 21st century.

Fire Protection Research Foundation will host a free webinar on “Smoke Detector Spacing on High Ceilings

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, on “Smoke Detector Spacing on High Ceilings Spaces.”NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, does not address spacing consideration for smoke detection based on ceiling heights. However, there is a table that allows for reduction of spacing for heat detection. There has been confusion in design and code enforcement on what to do when smoke detectors are installed on ceilings higher than 10 ft. A previous literature review and gap analysis study on smoke detectors in high ceiling spaces was published by the Fire Protection Research Foundation in 2017. The outcomes of this study indicated that there was limited context and significant knowledge gaps that preclude the formulation of scientifically justified prescriptive requirements regarding smoke detector spacing relative to ceiling height. This study outlined a path forward to better characterize smoke detector spacing in high ceilings, such as by establishing a performance metric for smoke detectors that can be applied to high ceilings. The fire protection industry needs additional information on the impact of ceiling height and detector spacing on smoke detection performance. Mishuk Datta, Lead Engineer at Jensen Hughes, Inc., will discuss considerations for smoke detection based on ceiling heights and necessary areas of additional knowledge.Webinar registration is free and required to attend live; register for this webinar, or by visiting www.nfpa.org/webinars and watch on-demand archived FPRF webinars. This webinar is supported by the FPRF 2023 Webinar Series Sponsors: AXA XL Risk Consulting Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. Telgian Engineering and Consulting The Zurich Services Corporation Worcester Polytechnic Institute Fire Protection Engineering Program

NFPA Webinar, Other Resources Aim to Help Professionals Gather Knowledge to Improve Electrical Safety in the Workplace

Electrical safety was at the forefront of conversations at last week’s NFPA Conference & Expo® in Las Vegas, Nevada. There were great sessions on topics such as preventing electrical fatalities and meeting OSHA’s electrical safety requirements in the workplace. We also heard an extremely moving presentation from electrical arc flash survivor Brandon Schroeder on how a devastating arc flash incident changed his life, as well as the lives of his wife and children. RELATED: Read more about how electrical safety was featured at C&EWhile the passion around electrical safety was shared by both electrical session speakers and attendees, we all left with one takeaway as well: We must all continue to grow and share our knowledge with others in order to move the needle on electrical safety in a positive direction. As an initial effort, NFPA® has recently taken a couple of steps to share more information around electrical safety with those who are interested. Having a well-designed, functional, and usable electrical safety program (ESP) is a key component for keeping the workplace free of electrical safety incidents. NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, requires that all employers implement and document an overall ESP that directs activity appropriate to the risk associated with electrical hazards. While ESPs should be tailored to the individual needs of the specific company and the risks associated with their line of business, there are some key components that NFPA 70E requires to be addressed and considered, including:·      Awareness and safety planning·      Principles·      Procedures·      Lockout/tagout·      Inspections and equipment condition·      ESP evaluation Recently, NFPA put together a free, downloadable fact sheet that discusses these key ESP components more in depth and also provides information on safety program controls. This includes information on training qualified persons, as well as identifying and eliminating electrical hazards. In addition to the new ESP fact sheet, NFPA has also opened registration for a webinar on Tuesday, July 11, titled “How to Enhance Workplace Electrical Safety at Your Company.” This free webinar will provide more insight on how to positively impact electrical safety within your facility or on the jobsite. Daniel Majano, with Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), will be sharing the latest electrical fatality data and discussing what the numbers tell us and how we can look to improve them. Attendees will also hear the story of arc flash survivor Don Johnson and his wife, Kelly, about how Don thinking, “I know what I am doing, this isn’t going to happen to me” as an electrical professional resulted in a two-month coma, two years of rehabilitation and recovery, and “putting everybody’s life on hold.” Lastly, Ryan Grimes, senior engineering manager at Toyota North America, will share how Toyota has focused on electrical safety and the steps the company continually takes in order to achieve optimal results. I will be one of the presenters of the webinar as well, and we will highlight the critical concept of the Electrical Cycle of Safety, which stresses the importance of using NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®), NFPA 70B, Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance, and NFPA 70E® in conjunction with one another in order to produce the best possible results in workplace electrical safety. For management and employees alike, continually growing knowledge around electrical safety is one of the best ways of actually achieving it. Even those knowledgeable in the area, such as electrical safety trainers, must remain up to date on changes of requirements and safe work practices for mitigating electrical safety hazards. By taking just one hour of your valuable time to attend this webinar, we hope to help you, your company, and your employees create a safer work environment. I look forward to seeing you there!   Visit the Electrical Safety Solutions for the Workplace webpage from NFPA to see more ways in which NFPA can help you to achieve electrical safety ion the workplace.

Women in STEM session covers broad range of issues, from the impact of climate change and SMART buildings to today’s workplace challenges

For the past several years, NFPA has hosted a Women in STEM session at the NFPA Conference & Expo, highlighting the professional accomplishments, learnings, and successes of women in the world of fire and life safety. With a focus on diversity in the fire protection industry, this year’s Women in STEM event, A Glimpse into the Impact of Climate Change, SMART Buildings, and Modern Workplace Challenges, was held on Wednesday, June 20, addressing the impact of climate change on fire protection projects and emerging technologies in fire protection and life safety for SMART buildings, along with changes in workplace culture in a post-pandemic world. TED-style talks were presented by three featured speakers, followed by an open, engaging panel discussion moderated by Shelby Hall, fire analysis research manager at NFPA.The event kicked off with Dr. Virginia Charter from Oklahoma State University, who spoke to changes in global climate change patterns over the long term and their impact on fire protection, highlighting that available water supply clearly present serious implications for effectively fighting fires in the future. According to Dr. Charter, the water stress projection for the U.S. in 2040 is “medium to high,” representing the midpoint of the range, while there’s potential for significant concern in Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and countries in the middle east. To reinforce this point, she showed two images of the Hoover Damn side by side, one in 2001 and another in 2018; the draught’s impact on available water is sizeable.Dr. Charter was clear to point out that it’s not that there won’t be any water in years to come, but if there is no available water to draw upon, what happens when fire breaks out? This issue prompts questions around codes and standards as well. For example, the first question in designing a fire sprinkler system is, “What is the water supply?” If the answer is that it’s insufficient, how can sprinkler systems be designed to adequately protect people and property? With these concerns in mind, Dr. Charter says we need to find ways to mitigate water security issues. As of now, there appears to be more questions than answers.Next, Dr. Nalini Venkatasubramanian with University of California Irvine covered the evolution of technology in fire protection and life safety systems installed in SMART buildings, and the tremendous improvements that technology has made on all our systems, including their interoperability and ability to generate more current information. In particular, she discussed her work on the E-knox Space Box study, which involved the development of open platforms for fire situational awareness (SA), featuring a range of new technologies and tools (i.e., semantic web, IoT) that provide dynamic SA at the fire site. She explained that a traditional “knox box” remove barriers to entry, so that information is available and accessible as a fire engine approaches the scene. As an integration platform, the knox box combines existing and live information to create and maintain a common operating picture for fire personnel, with whom they maintain a close collaboration.Dr. Venkatasubramanian noted, however, that while capturing critical data strengthens the ability to mitigate crises, it does come with resource challenges, such as limited bandwidth and high deployment costs.She also pointed out that there are new opportunities and trends for mixing building data with individual centric data, with examples of this already in play, such as drone-assisted monitoring for high-rise fires and WUI communities that conduct wildfire monitoring and fire-tracking.Last but certainly not least, Chris Dubay, chief engineer and VP of engineering at NFPA, discussed changes in workplace culture in our post-pandemic world, focusing on what’s happened since the pandemic struck, why diversity matters, and how to lead in today’s working environment.Dubay said that the way we work has shifted and accelerated since the pandemic hit – when it did, we all reconfigured how we work. Employees supported organizations and organizations supported their employees and it worked. Now we’ve seen that many employees prefer working from home and some organizations are pushing back. Dubay believes that leaders should help find a balance between implementing in-office connections while supporting the flexibility that working remotely offers.But Dubay said he believes something bigger happened that fundamentally changed how we operate as a society and COVID accelerated that change. Every minute of every day is booked, often down to the minute. We’ve trained ourselves to be consumed at all times, and we have accepted and even set for ourselves an expectation that we are and will always be available.       At the core, Dubay said, if we as leaders are not willing to understand the new landscape and personally adjust – and adjust how we lead and support our teams - we won’t need to worry about diversity or leadership because quite simply we won’t be leading.On that note, when it comes to diversity, if we only focus on numbers, maybe we can be diverse on paper, but it doesn’t ensure that we have a truly inclusive environment. Dubay said he believes that diversity starts and is driven by recruiting and promoting with inclusivity of all ethnicities, cultures, and genders. “Recruit the best people you can and don’t settle, invest in the team professionally and emotionally. Set clear expectations of performance, hold people accountable, retain exceptional people, and let them be amazing,” said Dubay.Dubay added that if people on our teams are different from us, they will work differently, they will be motivated differently – by focusing on the outcomes versus the rules we can use that energy to focus on knowing the person and who they are and what they are facing. When people are known by us, the outcomes will be better, the team will be stronger and more impactful. Agreement will not always come as easy, but we need to embrace and encourage that tension and process.Dubay also spoke to knowing your team to better understand what is important to each of them as a person and as a team member.  Our true self’s fundamentally shape what we value and how we see the world around us. It shapes how we operate, interact, and respond to each other.  Do we assume positive intentions, or do we assume malice?  Dubay said that leaders need to be the first to share as much as we can of ourselves and jump off the edge a bit – this builds trust and openness – then ask and provide opportunities for team members to bring their full self to the team.“When we know our team members and they feel known, we can better adjust to meet their needs and expectations – which will allow them to perform at their best,” said Dubay.

NFPA Technical Meeting Results

Below are the results of NFPA's Technical Meeting in Las Vegas, which took place on June 22. NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems   14-17 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 28 failed. 14-18 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 35 failed. 14-10 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 36 passed.NFPA 14 was passed with 1 amending motion. NFPA 14 COMPLETED.NFPA 45, Standard on Fire Protection for Laboratories Using Chemicals  45-1 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 5 failed.NFPA 45 was passed with 0 amending motions. NFPA 45 COMPLETED.NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 58-5/58-6/58-7 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 16 passed.NFPA 58 was passed with 1 amending motion. NFPA 58 COMPLETED.NFPA 140, Standard on Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Soundstages, Approved Production Facilities, and Production Locations  140-1 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 1 failed. NFPA 140 was passed with 0 amending motions. NFPA 140 COMPLETED.NFPA 260, Standard Methods of Tests and Classification System for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture 260-24 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Public Comment No. 9 removed from the agenda as no representation present. NFPA 260 COMPLETED.NFPA 286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth  286-14/286-15/286-16 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1 failed.NFPA 286 was passed with 0 amending motions. NFPA 286 COMPLETED.NFPA 505, Fire Safety Standard for Powered Industrial Trucks Including Type Designations, Areas of Use, Conversions, Maintenance, and Operations 505-1 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 4 passed.NFPA 505 was passed with 1 amending motion. NFPA 505 COMPLETED.NFPA 4, Standard for Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System Testing 4-1 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 2 passed.NFPA 4 was passed with 1 amending motion. NFPA 4 COMPLETED.NFPA 30A, Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages 30A-30 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 34 passed. 30A-5 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions was withdrawn. 30A-24 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions removed from agenda according to the Regulations as 30A-30 passed. 30A-8 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions removed from agenda according to the Regulations as 30A-30 passed. 30A-13 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No.8 and any related portions of First Revisions was withdrawn. 30A-15 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions removed from agenda according to the Regulations as 30A-30 passed. 30A-22 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions removed from agenda according to the Regulations as 30A-30 passed. 30A-23 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions was withdrawn. 30A-10 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions was withdrawn. 30A-14 Motion to Reject an Identifiable Part of Second Revision No. 8 and any related portions of First Revisions removed from agenda according to the Regulationsas 30A-30 passed.NFPA 30A was passed with 1 amending motion. NFPA 30A COMPLETED.NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code 99-11 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1071 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-12 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1073 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-13 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1074 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-14 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1075 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-15 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1076 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-16 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1077 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-17 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1054 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-18 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1079 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-19 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1080 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-21 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1081 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-22 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1082 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-23 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1083 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-24 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1084 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-25 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1085 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-26 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1086 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-27 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1088 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-28 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1089 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-29 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1090 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-30 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1091 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-31 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1092 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-32 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1093 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-33 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1094 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-34 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1095 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-35 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1096 removed from the agenda as no representation present.  99-36 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1097 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-37 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1099 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-38 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1102 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-40 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1055 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-41 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1118 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-42 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1119 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-44 Motion to Reject Second Revision No. 1109 removed from the agenda as no representation present. 99-47 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Public Comment No. 103 failed.NFPA 99 was passed with 0 amending motions. NFPA 99 COMPLETED.NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® 101-6 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 51 failed. 101-11 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 55 failed. 101-7 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Public Comment No. 55 failed. 101-8 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 52 failed. 101-12 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 56 failed. 101-9 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Public Comment No. 56 failed. 101-10 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 53 passed.NFPA 101 was passed with 1 amending motions. NFPA 101 COMPLETED.NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code® 5000-1 Motion to Accept Public Comment No. 32 failed. 5000-2 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Public Comment No. 30 was not pursed.NFPA 5000® was passed with 0 amending motions. NFPA 5000® COMPLETED. 

With E-Bike Fires on the Rise, an Expert Panel Takes a Deeper Look at Lithium-Ion Battery Safety at the NFPA Conference & Expo

Electric bicycles and electric scooters—commonly known as e-bikes and e-scooters—are more popular now than ever. These micromobility devices give thousands of riders in metropolitan areas around the world a lower-cost and environmentally friendly way of getting around. But the presence of lithium-ion batteries in these devices introduces the risk of fires and explosions. Most notably, we’ve seen this issue rise to the forefront in New York City where e-bike and e-scooter fires are occurring weekly. On Tuesday morning, a fire in an e-bike repair shop in Chinatown killed four people and left two others critically injured, according to the New York Times. “It is very clear that this was caused by lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes,” New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said at a news conference. One day before this tragic incident, at one of the first education sessions of the 2023 NFPA Conference & Expo®, a panel of experts moderated by NFPA Technical Services Engineer Brian O’Connor discussed how lithium-ion batteries present a unique hazard to first responders, designers, and the public; where this new technology fits into the future of fire protection and fire prevention; and what is being done now to help advance safety.EDUCATING THE PUBLICOne of the key points raised during the discussion was the need for more diverse and nuanced messaging to help educate consumers about this growing hazard.“It’s a huge challenge,” said panel member Steve Kerber of the UL Fire Safety Research Institute. “What we’re seeing is people trying to modify these batteries to make the bikes faster or to go for longer periods of time without charging. They’re often using people not qualified to do maintenance on these bikes or they themselves don’t know how to fix them, and this creates a very dangerous situation. Public education is important.”RELATED: Read “Full Throttle,” an August 2022 NFPA Journal article about the rise in the popularity of e-bikes and the fire risks they pose“There is a level of expectation of safety of these devices on the part of consumers,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy, who also served as a panel member during the Monday morning session. “If people buy something new, they expect it to be safe. But we know that is not always the case. A more expensive device does not necessarily mean it is safer.” “If people buy something new, they expect it to be safe. But we know that is not always the case. “What I’m observing is a socio-economic issue,” added Nick Petrakis, an engineer with the Energy Storage Response Group, who joined Carli and Kerber on the stage. “Many people, like delivery workers for instance, rely on e-bikes for their livelihoods, taking advantage of this low-cost means of transportation to get them to their jobs that help support their family. But these people are the hardest to reach when it comes to safety messaging.”The panel then discussed how to socialize this information when traditional means are not the most effective direction. “These are real issues that need to be solved in simple terms,” Petrakis said, “and we need to meet people where they are.” Providing messaging that is digestible and easy to understand is the best way forward, he said.Carli agreed, saying it is going to require some new ways of thinking and delivering information. Ideas such as video messaging and partnering with more non-traditional community and local organizations are just a few of the ways to reach these audiences. She then pointed to the grassroots efforts of NFPA public safety educators in communities and research from UL that has helped inform the association’s safety messaging.BATTERY REGULATION & RESOURCES  As the session began to wind down, the panel touched on research and the use of data, which they say will be able to inform the decisions we make in the future, as well as the role regulations or stricter requirements can play in reducing fire incidents. Kerber pointed to the research UL is involved in which came about from hazmat discussions with the FDNY and their work with sprinklers.“The good news is this is where codes and standards can play a big role,” Kerber said. “Without requirements and only suggestions for safety, manufacturers don’t feel the need to follow the rules. Having stricter guidelines can lead to a more quality product and less incidents. While it’s slow, it does appear that more people seem to be following this trend of safety first.”Last fall, NFPA cosponsored a symposium with the FDNY Foundation and UL in New York titled “Lithium-Ion Batteries: Challenges for the Fire Service.” The symposium focused on the concerns fire officials have about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that are powering many of today’s electrical vehicles, in addition to smartphones, smoke alarms, toys, and power tools.In response, NFPA created a new webpage and tip sheet that provide important safety information for public educators, building and store owners, the fire service, and electricians on the hazards of lithium-ion batteries, most notably around why e-bikes and e-scooters catch fire, what some jurisdictions are doing to better regulate that risk, and what people can do to stay safe if they use, store, or charge e-bikes or e-scooters, and other products that use lithium-ion batteries. You can find this information and more at nfpa.org/ebikes.If you’re a member of the fire service, you’ll also want to check out our informative NFPA Podcast series, and in particular, a recent podcast devoted to the topic of e-bike and e-scooter safety. Host Angelo Verzoni interviews an FDNY chief about New York’s experience over the last few years with micromobility devices and digs deeper into the subject, talking to a technical advisor at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.Looking for additional information about lithium-ion battery safety? A new NFPA webpage, nfpa.org/lithiumionsafety, brings together several existing resources including code information, educational materials, and talking points that can help promote safer use of lithium-ion batteries across a wide range of applications from cellphones to vehicles to energy storage systems. Whether you’re a consumer, member of the fire service, or other fire safety industry professional, find the resources you can share to help educate your community. Stay tuned to this page over the next few weeks as new resources including a toolkit and instructive Q&A section will be added.With the topic of lithium-ion battery safety at the forefront of today’s news, you can stay on top of the very latest in research, safe practices, and trainings when you attend this week’s Conference & Expo. On Tuesday, Chargepoint experts Kevin Cheong and Gary Eldridge discussed Rapid Charging a Li-Ion Battery Without Killing the Electrical Grid. Later today, David Paoletta from the BSI Group will provide an overview of how lithium-ion battery research and development laboratories, together with EV auto service shops and other companies, are integrating high-voltage lithium-ion batteries into their products and managing the shock, arc flash, and fire hazards presented by the technology.Check out the full schedule by visiting our website or Conference app.

Progress and Lessons Learned Using NFPA 3000 in Augusta, GA

In 2018, Augusta, Georgia, became the first community to implement NFPA 3000®, Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program, to address mass casualty event mitigation, planning, response, and recovery. During a Tuesday session at the NFPA Conference & Expo®, NFPA 3000: Active Response in the Community, five panelists who have since played a critical role in bringing NFPA 3000 to life in Augusta came together to discuss lessons learned, and how they’ve reached across societal sectors, response disciplines, and geographic boundaries to create a safer community.RELATED: Learn more about the origins of Augusta’s journey to implement NFPA 3000John Ryan, a retired chief officer from the U.S. Department of Defense Fire & Emergency Services and current emergency manager at Augusta University (AU), moderated the discussion. In his opening remarks, he said that the United States is experiencing a public health crisis, and that the frequency of active shooter incidents continues to climb. “It’s not a matter of if one is going to happen, it’s when,” said Ryan. “And we’re going in the wrong direction.”The NFPA Journal article Strength in Numbers, which was recently published in the Summer 2023 issue, reinforces this point, showing that the number of mass shootings in the U.S. has increased from 273 in 2014 to 646 in 2022, with a high of 690 in 2021. This year, as of mid-April, there have been nearly 150 mass shootings across the country, according to. The Gun Violence Archive.Ryan also reinforced that planned recovery in the aftermath of a hostile event is everybody’s challenge. But it’s also everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the needed response measures are in place.Joe Webber, director of emergency management at AU and AU Health, believes relationships are key. “If I had to boil it down to one word that creates success, it’s relationships,” said Webber. “Having connection to the organizations and partners needed to thrive is critical to safety. We’re all operating independently a lot of times. Having those relationships that transcend industries really lends itself to building consensus.” Webber went on to say that when everyone with respective lanes of responsibility recognizes what they have the potential to accomplish, the result is a safer community.“All of us realize that each of us isn’t as smart as all of us working together to accomplish something good,” he said.  Natasha Roman, who serves as a risk mitigation advisor to Augusta and works at the Department of Homeland Security/Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said that communities need to shift from being reactive to proactive. “We often see that changes occur after a crisis occurs,” said Roman. Becoming more proactive includes assessing the capabilities of the community, understanding who knows whom, and how first responders operate. Webber recommends conducting risk-based assessments to better understand and address existing vulnerabilities. “Do first responders know what’s needed to respond to these types of risks? Do they know of infrastructure changes in the community? These are the types of questions you need to ask,” said Roman.“Part of proactivity is understanding the landscape and what’s at risk,” she added, noting that communities need to look at human resources carefully to make sure first responders are adequately trained and prepared to respond to incidents.Amado Baez, an academic physician/public health scientist who serves as the American College of Emergency Physicians representative to the NFPA 3000 ASHER technical committee, reinforced that active shooter incidents represent a public health problem in the U.S. unlike in any other country. He also discussed the challenges of effectively preparing for and responding to active shooter incidents, noting that healthcare facilities need to do a better job at making better integrations and breaking silos. “We need to learn from past mistakes,” he said.Brian Ozden, a supervisory senior resident agent with the FBI, expressed his enthusiasm for NFPA 3000, light-heartedly commenting that he felt like he a salesman for the standard, reinforcing the value of communities’ ability to adjust NFPA 3000 based on their specific needs.As the panel presentation concluded, Ryan noted the progress that’s been made over time. “There’s more societal awareness and acceptance of NFPA 3000 now than there was in 2018,” he said. “Five years into the process, you likely won’t get the pushback that you did then, but you need to be persistent in using the standard to build your program.”