National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 243

The Problem with Free

Why copyright protection is so important for standards developers Standards development organizations like NFPA are in the midst of a fight that impacts the very core of our mission, NFPA President Jim Pauley wrote in his latest column. Some opponents say the standards system should be free, while others say they would dismantle the private sector standards system altogether in favor of a government system for codes and standards. However, this is not realistic. The federal Office of Management and Budget [OMB] has maintained a strong preference for voluntary consensus standards, rather than government-created standards. Many other government entities have...

Sparky checks off bucket list item #8: Attend Oregon's Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Sparky spent a day at Oregon’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, just in time for their annual Tulip Fest. Every year, a stunning expanse of colorful tulips stretch across the farm’s 40 acres of land, a spectacle that draws families (and dogs!) from around the country. 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 his list, we’ll make sure to share them with you. Some of...

"In Compliance" details code changes for meters, sprinkler myths and more

This issue’s “In Compliance” section takes a look at electrical safety, life safety in new and existing structures, home sprinkler myths, and fire alarm considerations for industrial spaces. Here’s the news you need to know, in brief. Or, visit the NFPA Journal website to read the complete section. Meter Matters When firefighters enter a building, they could be exposed to energized electrical wiring, or they could risk the well-documented hazards associated with de-energizing the building’s electrical panel and wiring system. Lack of proper training and inadequate electrical personal protective equipment have contributed to fire service personnel being injured while pulling...

NFPA releases report on electronic cigarettes

Since first entering the US market in 2007, electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular, with sales reaching $1.5 billion in 2014. Uncertainties abound about this relatively new technology, ranging from the health effects of this alternative to traditional cigarettes to the threat of injury resulting from fire or explosions caused by e-cigarettes. Last week, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a report about the increase in fires and explosions from the use of e-cigarettes. By tracking media coverage of fires caused by e-cigarettes, NFPA has determined that these sorts of fires are on the rise. There were 15 incidents...

Losing his fiancee in historic fire, burn survivor describes painful aftermath

In his previous post, NFPA blogger Rob Feeney discussed the nightmares and realities he experienced following the Station Nightclub fire in 2003. Grappling with the death of his fiancée, Donna, and his own injuries from the fire, Feeney underscores a burn survivor's long and arduous road to recovery: While in the hospital, I had many visitors—in particular, Donna’s family and the priest that was going to marry Donna and me. Since Donna left behind two daughters (8 and 11 years old), I wanted to tell them how sorry I was and that it should have been me that was buried,...

Sparky checks off bucket list item #7: Visit the Wright Brothers Memorial

This week, Sparky got to visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Located in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the memorial commemorates Wilbur and Orville Wright’s historic experiments in aviation, including the “first flight” of 1903. This summer, the National Parks Service will also celebrate an important anniversary- 100 years of looking after America's national parks. 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 his list, we’ll...

In April's NFPA News: proposed TIAs on NFPA 25 and 70; Annual 2017 First Draft Reports available for public comment; the 2016 NFPA Standards Directory; and more..

The April issue of NFPA News, our codes and standards newsletter, is now available. In this issue: Proposed TIAs seeking public comments on NFPA 25 and NFPA 70 A2017 First Draft Reports available for submission of public comments 2016 NFPA Standards Directory available News in brief Committees soliciting public input Committees seeking members Committee meetings calendar Subscribe today! NFPA News is a free newsletter, and includes special announcements, notification of public input and comment closing dates, requests for comments, notices on the availability of Standards Council minutes, and other important news about NFPA’s standards development process.

Review the Second Draft Report for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, in the Annual 2016 revision cycle

The Second Draft Report for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, is now available. NFPA 70 is in the Annual 2016 revision cycle with a deadline to submit a Notice of Intent to Make a Motion (NITMAM) of April 29, 2016. The Second Draft Report is the second part of the Technical Committee Report, which documents the Comment Stage. It consists of the Second Draft, Public Comments with corresponding Committee Actions and Committee Statements, Correlating Notes and their respective Committee Statements, Committee Comments, Correlating Revisions, and Ballot Statements.

What are membrane enclosures? And why they're dangerous.

When marinas need to sand and paint boats, the dust and fumes pose problems. They can spread throughout the building, bothering people who work in the marina and dirtying other boats. To address that, marinas often build what’s known as a membrane enclosure: a metal scaffolding structure surrounding the boat, which is then covered in plastic shrink wrap. Solves the problem, right? Well… The bigger problem is, using these membrane enclosures inside sprinklered buildings presents some serious fire safety hazards, the March/April NFPA Journal reports. The concern is that they could delay sprinkler activation in the event of a fire....

New NFPA Journal looks at landmark Waldo Canyon Fire study

Construction workers pick up in the aftermath of the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs. In June 2012, the Waldo Canyon Fire tore through the Mountain Shadows neighborhood of Colorado Springs, killing an elderly couple and causing an estimated $454 million in insured losses. It remains one of the most destructive fires in U.S. history—now it is also one of the most-well understood. A new NFPA Journal article, “House to House,” in the “In a Flash” section of the magazine, looks at a groundbreaking 227-page study on the fire conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)....