National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 241

"The cost is so insignificant:" NFPA chats with homebuilder who supports home fire sprinklers

A recent summit hosted by the Missouri Fire Sprinkler Coalition introduced attendees to something of an anomaly--a builder who fully supports home fire sprinklers. Admitting that some of his peers and local homebuilding associations take a different

Sparky checks off bucket list item #13: Visit the Space Needle in Seattle

Sparky visited Seattle's Space Needle, which is the largest building on earth by volume by volume. At 605 feet tall, the building is so high that when it was first constructed in the 1960s clouds would sometimes form inside the tower! There are 848 steps leading up to the Space Needle's observation deck, and, luckily, an elevator! Sparky turned 65 on March 18, 2016, and we have been pulling out all the stops to help him celebrate! He’s created a bucket list of 65 activities and events he’d like to accomplish from now through October. As he checks them off...

A new certification for health care facility managers

Over the past 2 years at NFPA we have all been waiting for the Centers for Medicare + Medicaid Services (CMS) to announce that they are switching their requirements from the 2000 edition of NFPA 101, The Life Safety Code, to the 2012 version. It’s

Today in fire history: fire in board and care facility claims eight lives

On April 27, 1998, a fire in an occupied board and care facility in Arlington, Washington killed eight of the building’s 32 residents. The facility was originally built as a hospital but had undergone several renovations and changes in usage over the years, and was not equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system. A local fire alarm system was installed with hardwired, AC powered smoke detectors and heat detectors in corridors and common areas. There were also manual pull stations next to the exterior exit doors. The fire was determined to be incendiary in nature, and is believed to have...

Congratulations to Megan Rüger for winning NFPA's Conference & Expo National Anthem singer contest

Singer/songwriter Megan Rüger has won our third annual NFPA Conference & Expo National Anthem singer contest! Rüger, a 2014 contestant on the sixth season of NBC’s vocal competition show The Voice, submitted her audition video earlier this year, and was then selected as one of three finalists by a panel of NFPA judges. We opened the contest up to public voting at that point, where Megan garnered the majority of the 18,000 votes cast. She is a country/pop rock artist originally from Twin Lakes, Wis., who has since moved to Nashville and is currently working on her first full-length album....

In recent edition of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter, homebuilders sue following fire sprinkler requirement

Two homebuilding organizations have taken their displeasure for a new safety requirement to court. In the latest issue of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative, read how these groups are aiming to quash a town's new ordinance to sprinkler new, one- and two-family homes. You'll also find information on: the growing concern of lightweight construction materials used widely in new homes how a burn survivor turns sprinkler supporter coped with losing his fiancée after her death in The Station nightclub fire how education can turn homebuilders into sprinkler supporters Please subscribe today to the Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter to receive these monthly,...

Sparky checks off bucket list item #12: Visit Hershey's Chocolate World

Sparky got to spend a day eating his way through Hersheypark and Chocolate World in Hershey, PA. Hersheypark, which opened in 1906, was founded by Milton Hershey as a leisure park for the employees of his chocolate company. Chocolate World, the accompanying visitors’ center, opened in 1973 and offers visitors a look into how chocolate is made. Sparky turned 65 on March 18, 2016, and we have been pulling out all the stops to help him celebrate! He’s created a bucket list of 65 activities and events he’d like to accomplish from now through October. As he checks them off...

NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative has updated its quick quiz testing the public on home fire sprinklers

Last year, NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative released a quiz gauging the public's perception on home fire sprinklers and sprinkler requirements. Taken more than 2,000 times, the quiz has been a popular tool in getting fire sprinklers on the public's radar while offering them a dose of education. For those quiz takers out there--you're in luck. We have refreshed it with a series of new questions. Take a minute and test your knowledge. Submit your score to us by replying to the comments section, and please help us share this fun tool by clicking on the social media buttons below. If...

NFPA reminds first responders about safety and training as Toyota introduces new hydrogen-fueled car

photo courtesy of NREL Image Gallery Last week, Toyota introduced their new hydrogen fuel car, Mirai, to California streets. Like any alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), cars powered by hydrogen present unique challenges for the fire service and emergency responders. “In general, AFVs are different for first responders because they’re used to responding to vehicles that have internal combustion engines. They have decades of experience addressing vehicle fires that have that sort of technology, so AFVs present new challenges for emergency response crews,” says Michael Gorin, a project manager at NFPA. NFPA offers training and other resources for those dealing with...

Toyota introduces new hydrogen-fueled car

photo courtesy of NREL Image Gallery Last week, Toyota introduced their new hydrogen fuel car, Mirai, to California streets. Like any alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), cars powered by hydrogen present unique challenges for the fire service and emergency responders. “In general, AFVs are different for first responders because they’re used to responding to vehicles that have internal combustion engines. They have decades of experience addressing vehicle fires that have that sort of technology, so AFVs present new challenges for emergency response crews,” says Michael Gorin, a project manager at NFPA. NFPA offers training and other resources for those dealing with...