National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 264

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 52, NFPA 55, NFPA 68, NFPA 664, and NFPA 780

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 52, Vehicular Gaseous Fuel Systems Code, NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, NFPA 68, Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, NFPA 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, and NFPA 780, Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems, are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 52, proposed TIA No. 1205, referencing 11.3.2.13.9 and 13.3.2.19.2(G) and (H), on the proposed 2016 edition NFPA 52, proposed TIA No. 1206, referencing 15.3.3.1.5, Figure 15.3.3.1.5, 15.3.3.1.6 and Section 15.3.3.6 on the...

When it comes to wildfire mitigation, whose job is it really?

Just about everyone agrees that fuel mitigation is crucial for combating the nation’s growing wildfire problem, but culture, politics, and geography can be significant barriers keeping communities from doing the work. That is more evident than ever in a just-released NFPA study on the wildfire capabilities and preparedness of local fire departments. For the study, NFPA researchers interviewed 46 high-ranking fire officials from urban and rural departments on a variety of topics related to wildfire operations, and by far, the most provocative topic was wildfire mitigation. As detailed in the new NFPA Journal article on the study, there are arguments...

NFPA Journal looks at new research that could unlock mysteries behind how wildfire spreads

Jack Cohen in the USDA Forest Service's Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory in Missoula, Montana. In the “Perspectives” feature in the new November/December NFPA Journal, prominent fire scientist Jack Cohen talks about the discoveries that he and a team of researchers at the USDA Forest Service’s Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory in Montana have made about wildfire spread. Their breakthroughs, published in July in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have called into question some long-held beliefs about wildfire dynamics and suggest that most models for how wildfire spreads are based on a false narrative. In the Journal article, called...

'Tis the season for a free webinar: preparing for the holidays and winter safety

How prepared are you for the holidays? For what Mother Nature will most likely throw at us this winter? Not so sure? Then you won't want to miss FEMA's upcoming free webinar, "'Tis the Season: Preparing for a Winter Storm and the Holidays" on Thursday, December 10 from 2:00 - 3:00 PM (EST). During the webinar, you'll meet Matthew Lyttle from the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Division, who will discuss America’s PrepareAthon! and ways to prepare for a winter storm. You'll also get a chance to hear from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service, who...

NFPA shares holiday fire safety information with Martha Stewart Living

With Thanksgiving in our rear view mirror (already???), it's now fast forward all the way to Hanukkah and Christmas! And as a content partner with our friends at Martha Stewart Living, NFPA recently shared a few of its fire safety tips for the holidays with her audience. Everyone enjoys being part of the holiday preparations, right? From testing family recipes to decorating cakes and cookies, the possibilities are endless, and Martha and her readers know how to come up with some beautiful creations. But when there are a lot of people and lots of activity going on around you, it's...

Groundbreaking report examines public opinion of home fire sprinklers

Until recently, there was no sound literature documenting why homeowners opt to purchase a home with fire sprinklers, their opinions on these devices, or how their opinions relate to policies supporting mandatory sprinkler requirements. Identifying this research gap, the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Injury Research and Policy initiated a study gauging public opinions of fire sprinklers in one- and two-family homes. Noted in the study's report as a "preventable public health problem," home fire injuries and deaths are still a cause for alarm in America; more than 42,000 people have died in U.S. home fires...

New NFPA Journal column looks at effort in Alabama to strike arc fault circuit interrupters from state code

In his column in the new November/December issue of NFPA Journal, Jeffrey Sargent, details the Alabama Energy and Residential Code Board’s consideration of a proposal to remove the requirement of arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) from the state’s Residential Building Code. The proposal, supported by a homebuilders group, would affect new construction of one- and two-family homes. AFCIs were simply too expensive, the homebuilders argued; by their own estimate, AFCI installation in a typical home costs about $300. In the column, “Sweet Home Alabama,” Sargent, a regional educational code specialist at NFPA, details the fight, what’s at stake, and how...

Latest issue of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter underscores state sprinkler requirement threatened by new legislation

In the latest issue of our Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter, read about anti-sprinkler legislation filed in Maryland, one of two states with a requirement to sprinkler all new homes. (California is the other.) You’ll also read about: a magazine catered to the homebuilding industry instructing this group to pay more attention to fire safety at home, particularly home fire sprinklers startling stats on home fires from NFPA’s new report a New Hampshire fire marshal who let NFPA into his new home to document his sprinkler installation Stay on top of sprinkler news from across North America by subscribing to the...

Today in fire history: a fire occurred at a flammable liquid tank farm supporting Denver's Stapleton International Airport

On Sunday, November 25, 1990, a fire occurred at a flammable liquid tank farm supporting Denver’s Stapleton International Airport. Eight of the farm's twelve storage tanks contained jet fuel A totaling almost 4.2 million gallons. The fire was considered as accidental in nature, and it burned for approximately 55 hours. Seven tanks were destroyed or damaged, and over 1.6 million gallons of jet fuel was consumed. There were no reported fire fighter or civilian injuries as a result of this incident. At approximately 9:22 a.m., the Stapleton control tower saw smoke in the area of the tank farm and called...

NFPA seeks online community manager in Quincy, MA headquarters

Do you want to make a difference? We are hiring an Online Community Manager to drive the adoption of our Online Community, NFPA Xchange through increasing engagement and interaction with NFPA members and non-members. Our Community manager will ensure our users become enthusiastic evangelists because of their exceptional online experience in our community. Primary success in this role will be through leveraging technology to create engaging interactions and experiences for our stakeholders and ultimately creating and incorporating member only exclusive content. As such, you will contribute to the evolution of the community based on data-driven insights, user input, content marketing...