National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 279

Today in fire history: hotel fire kills three men and one woman

Fire during the night, caused by a 1/4-inch separation in a furnace chimney connector, destroyed the 30-room, three-story, wood-frame Sedgwick Hotel in Bath Maine, on September 9, 1973. Three men and a woman lost their lives; 18 others were injured, some seriously. Four of those with minor injuries were fire fighters. The 100-year-old hotel had no fire detection or alarm system and no sprinklers. The fire burned in concealed spaces an estimated 1 1/2 to 2 hours before breaking out into the lobby, where it was discovered by an occupant. The occupant saw a lobby couch on fire and, assuming...

Today in fire history: fire officer dies in vacant warehouse fire

On September 9, 1989, the Seattle Fire Department responded to the report of a fire in a lumber warehouse. On arrival, fire fighters found a large building with visible flames involving a 75 ft X 75 ft shed attached at the building's southwest corner. The fire quickly became a multiple alarm fire. A fire officer and a fire fighter who were in a smoky section of the main building became disoriented while looking for an area from which to attack the fire. Several circumstances caused the fire fighters to separate as they attempted to leave the area. The fire fighter...

How smart is the general public about smoke alarms? Sparky the Fire Dog finds out!

How smart is the general public about smoke alarms? That’s what we wanted to find out! In support of this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm”, we sent Sparky the Fire Dog® out on the street to ask people basic questions about smoke alarms. In this “Smoke Alarm Smarts” video - the first in a series of four - see what people know (and don’t) about smoke alarms. This clip addresses how often smoke alarms should be tested; the upcoming videos will be posted weekly in anticipation of...

Review the Second Draft Report for NFPA 211 in the Fall 2015 revision cycle

The Second Draft Report for NFPA 211, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances, is now available. NFPA 211 is in the Fall 2015 revision cycle but the Second Draft Report was delayed due to balloting. As such, a revised deadline to submit a Notice of Intent to Make a Motion on this document is October 3, 2015.

Should all fire apparatus tires be changed every 7 years?

NFPA 1911, Standard for the Inspection, Maintenance, Testing and Retirement of In-Service Automotive Fire Apparatus, states that fire apparatus tires must be replaced every seven years. With the upcoming edition of the standard now in cycle, the NFPA 1911 Technical Committee is recommending that this requirement remain unchanged. Not everyone agrees. Some factions have noted that fire departments use their apparatus to different degrees, and that the level of wear on tear on tires varies based on the type of community a fire department serves. For example, an urban fire department may use its fire apparatus every day, while a...

Review the First Draft Reports to submit public comments on documents in the Fall 2016 revision cycle

The First Draft Reports for NFPA documents in the Fall 2016 revision cycle are now available. Review the First Draft Reports for use as background in the submission of public comments. The deadline to submit a public comment on any of these documents is November 16, 2015. Some of the proposed NFPA documents with First Draft Reports in the Fall 2016 revision cycle are as follows: NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers NFPA 17, Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems NFPA 18, Standard on Wetting Agents NFPA 56, Standard for Fire and Explosion Prevention During Cleaning and Purging of...

Deadline rapidly approaching for NFPA and HFSC Bringing Safety Home Award

The nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) and NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative are teaming up to recognize outstanding local efforts by an advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers. The Bringing Safety Home Award honors members of the fire service and other sprinkler advocates who use HFSC and Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources as a key component in educating decision-makers on fire sprinklers and convincing them to support sprinkler requirements at the local, state, or province level. The award recipient will be honored at NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Initiative Summit, October 13-14, 2015, in Phoenix. NFPA will cover the...

In the September issue of NFPA News: Proposed TIAs soliciting comments on NFPA 30B, 55, 59A, 80, and 105; NFPA 211 Second Draft Report; NEC public comment closing date, and more...

The September 2015 issue of NFPA News, our codes and standards newsletter, is now available. In this issue: Comments sought on Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 30B, NFPA 55, NFPA 59A, NFPA 80, and NFPA 105 NFPA 211 Second Draft Report available National Electrical Code public comment closing date NFPA news in brief Research and Analysis Reports 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...

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments to NFPA 30B, 55, 59A, 80, and 105

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 30B, Code for the Manufacture and Storage of Aerosol Products, NFPA 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, NFPA 59A, Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, and NFPA 105, Standard for Smoke Door Assemblies and Other Opening Protectives, are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 30B, proposed TIA No. 1197, referencing 3.3.2, Aerosol Container, on the 2015 edition NFPA 30B, proposed TIA No. 1198, referencing 7.2.1, 7.2.2, 7.2.2.1, and 7.2.2.2 on the 2015...

New Research Foundation report better characterizes smoke alarm nuisance sources

During the revision cycle for the 2010 edition of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, the Technical Committee on Single- and Multiple-Station Alarms and Household Fire Alarm Systems (SIG-HOU) focused renewed attention on nuisance alarms. Based on the information in the NFPA report "Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires" authored by Marty Ahrens, during the development of the 2013 edition of NFPA 72 the SIG-HOU Technical Committee added several new provisions to Chapter 29 to further reduce nuisance alarms. At present there is a lack of characterization of common nuisance sources for the development of new performance test...