National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 261

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendment to NFPA 400, Hazardous Materials Code

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) for NFPA 400, Hazardous Materials Code, is being published for public review and comment: NFPA 400, proposed TIA No. 1213, referencing Table 5.2.1.6 and Table 5.3.7 on the 2016 edition Anyone may submit a comment on this proposed TIA by the February 19, 2016 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council by the closing date.

Firefighter gives comfort to young boy; goodwill story goes viral

Photo by Steffani Blair Firefighters have a natural propensity to help others. You could say they have the ultimate giving spirit. They display bravery, heroism and selflessness each time the alarm sounds. They run into burning buildings when others look to escape - and they offer comfort when people need it most. Dealing with the emotional needs of victims is a big part of a firefighter's job. And it matters. As we celebrate the season of giving, yet another uplifting story of firefighter kindness has gone viral. It reminds us of the inherent empathy that firefighters bring to their roles;...

NFPA's new Technical Committee on Building Fire & Life Safety Directors conducts its first meeting

At its April 2015 meeting, the NFPA Standards Council approved a new Technical Committee on Building Fire & Life Safety Directors. This committee is charged with the development of national standards relating to facility emergency action plans and criteria for building fire and life safety directors. The committee’s scope is: “This committee shall have primary responsibility for documents related to the duties, requirements, and competencies required of Building Fire and Life Safety Directors. This committee shall also have primary responsibility for the establishment of minimum requirements for emergency action plans addressing all-hazard emergencies within occupied structures having an occupant load...

Call for nominations: James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal

We are now accepting applications for the 2016 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal. This award recognizes outstanding advocacy efforts that further NFPA’s mission of helping to save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge and passion. The James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal honors an individual or group that shares the values of former NFPA President Jim Shannon. Candidates will be involved in advocacy efforts that advance NFPA’s mission, take into account cost-effectiveness, and involve collaboration with NFPA and other organizations. Nominations are open to members of the fire service or any other person or group whose advocacy efforts meet the...

Today in fire history: twelve perish in community center fire

Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on December 20, 1965, a fire of suspicious origin started in the balcony of the auditorium in the second and third stories of the Jewish Community Center in Yonkers, New York. The evidence suggests that someone, using a flammable liquid as an accelerant, set a fire at one end of the balcony, beside the stage. Within a few minutes, the fire had spread to involve large plastic panels and other combustibles in the balcony. Some occupants of the upper floors of the building took refuge in various rooms in the building or on outdoor balconies. One...

NFPA responds to critique of home fire sprinklers and claim that the fire service will financially benefit from sprinkler requirements

NFPA President Jim Pauley NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative team came across a blog post written by a Massachusetts policy and communications adviser. In his post, titled "Outcry for Mandating Sprinklers Not Coming From the Public", he questions the importance of home fire sprinklers in all new homes while listing an array of inaccuracies and misstatements, including: home sprinklers don't seem to offer significantly greater protection than smoke alarms, a statement countered by NFPA research sprinkler requirements will negatively impact the housing market firefighters will "be in the position to benefit financially" from sprinkler requirements, since home fire sprinklers require annual...

In December issue of Fire Break: highlights from 2015 wildfire season, top large loss fires and more

The December issue of Fire Break, NFPA’s Wildland Fire Operations Division newsletter, is now available for viewing. Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s issue: Highlights from the 2015 wildfire season An important wildfire mitigation message to all WUI residents from community members in Kittitas County, Washington The 2014 (top) large loss fires report that includes a CA wildfire in the list Research that explores social behavior in wildfire science ...and much more. We want to continue to share all of this great information with you, so don’t miss an issue! So subscribe today. It’s free! Just click here to...

'Twas the Night before Christmas, an NFPA holiday story

The holidays are upon us and NFPA wishes you and your family a very joyous and safe season! To celebrate this special time of year, NFPA's president, Jim Pauley, takes a moment to relax and read one of our favorite holiday stories - with a fun NFPA twist, of course! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did when he read it at our recent holiday breakfast get together! Happy Holidays, everyone!

One news story highlights the life-saving power of fire safety education and working smoke alarms; another shows the potentially fatal consequences when they're missing

Eight-year-old Isaija Hodge helped his 86-year-old great grandmother and four-year-old Chihuahua safely escape a home fire this week, thanks to working smoke alarms and fire safety lessons he learned at school. In October, smoke alarms were installed in the home by the Covington, VA, Fire Department and Rescue Squad in coordination with the American Red Cross’ smoke alarm installation program. Around the same time, Isaija and his classmates were visited by Sparky the Fire Dog and the fire department, who taught fire safety lessons to students, including how to call 911 and get outside safely. Isaija was clearly paying attention:...

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems, are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 69, proposed TIA No. 1211, referencing 7.2.3.1.2, 7.2.3.1.1(new), A.3.3.25, and Table C.1(a) on the 2014 edition NFPA 69, proposed TIA No. 1212, referencing Annex B.8(new) on the 2014 edition Anyone may submit a comment on these proposed TIAs by the February 19, 2016 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council by the closing date.