National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 288

Test your knowledge on home fire sprinklers by taking NFPA's new quiz

Take a minute (maybe less) to see if you can answer some basic information on home fire sprinklers. NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative has developed an online quiz in an effort to gauge the public's understanding of these life-saving devices and sprinkler requirements across the U.S. If you're able to answer all questions correctly, give yourself a pat on the back. If not, don't fret. We've embedded the quiz on our popular Fact Sheets page so you can obtain more information on a particular question. Take the quiz, and use social media to share it with your work contacts, family, friends,...

Recordings of the 2015 NFPA Conference & Expo conference sessions are available

If you weren't able to attend one of the conference sessions or if there is one in particular that you'd like to hear again, the audio recordings of all the education sessions are available for purchase via Fleetwood Media. All of the education sessions were captured live during the conference. Alternatively, you may prefer to have all the conference recordings synchronized with the slides and the complete package offers just that -- all in one place. Complete NFPA 2015 Conference Recordings Available on CD-ROM or USB Flash Drive This package features PowerPoint slides with Synchronized live Audio for selected sessions,...

July/August issue of NFPA Journal covers unmanned systems, life safety floor plans, firefighter fatalities, and much more

Drones and robots, life safety in assembly occupancies, creosote fires involving commercial cooking systems—these are just some of the topics covered in the new July/August issue of NFPA Journal. The issue also includes a summary of the 2014 firefighter fatalities report. Our cover story, “Unmanned Advantage,” by Journal staff writer Jesse Roman, takes a detailed look at the many ways that drones and robots promise to revolutionize first response, public safety, and emergency management. Our online package for that story includes video of robots in action from the recent DARPA Robotics Challenge in Pomona, California, where ’bots from around the...

Research and codes support each other, says NFPA Journal

Kathleen Almand, vice-president of Research at NFPA, recently visited Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, in support of The Fire Protection Research Foundation’s relationship with Sandia in its work on hydrogen technology safety. As Almand sees it, the Foundation is a bridge between the research community and other organizations, including NFPA, that can apply research to solve fire protection and other safety problems. “We have developed relationships with an array of research institutions across the country,” she writes, “And we are always looking for opportunities to make these kinds of connections. The research world is full of projects and sophisticated...

2015 NFPA Conference & Expo presentations are available online

Many of the 2015 NFPA Conference & Expo® education session presentations are now available to download on the website and on the C&E mobile app. When the conference session title is underlined, the presentation is available for immediate download. Simply click on the session title. The education sessions are searchable by date, type, track, speaker, and more. Here is a screenshot as an example:

2015 election results for the CFPS Board of Directors

The CFPS Board of Directors election results were announced at the Annual CFPS Certificate Holders General Meeting on Monday, June 22, 2015 during NFPA’s Conference and Expo at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, IL. There were 14 candidates vying for 4 open positions. Re-elected was Ralph Bless; elected were Robert Moore, Janet Washburn and Matthew Witt. The Board of Directors reorganized and re-elected the Executive Committee, to the position of Chairman – David Ward; to the position of Vice Chairman – Ralph Bless; and elected to the position of Secretary/Treasurer – Anthony Cole. Special thanks go to the 10...

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments to NFPA 85 and NFPA 5000

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 85, Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code, and NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code® ,are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 85, proposed TIA No. 1194, 2015 edition, referencing 8.4.2.1.1.2, 8.4.2.1.2.2, 8.4.3.2.2.3 and 8.4.3.2.3.4 NFPA 5000, proposed TIA No. 1193, 2015 edition, referencing 7.4.3.6.5(5) Anyone may submit a comment on these proposed TIAs by the August 21, 2015 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council by the closing date.

Project Paradigm launches July challenge: Summer Safety Poster Contest

Project Paradigm, in partnership with the American Red Cross, runs The Paradigm Challenge; an annual competition developed to inspire youth to affect positive change in the world. Each month we see a new contest, with great prizes, that helps accomplish this goal. July’s contest, Summer Safety Poster Contest, has been kicked off and you are invited to participate! Summer is a time for fireworks, outdoor grilling, and air conditioning to keep cool. This month, use your creative talents to highlight the safe enjoyment of these summer activities with an original safety poster. CREATE. Draw or design an original Summer Safety...

See the final results, transcript of NFPA Technical Meeting in Chicago

At the NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago in June, members considered changes to 11 NFPA documents, including NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. See the final results of the 2015 Technical Meeting and download the official transcript.

New NFPA event to address emerging issues for the fire service and responders

NFPA established its relationship with the fire service in 1896 through its work on fire sprinkler systems and electrical safety. Now it’s taking that relationship to a new level. This fall, NFPA will host the first NFPA Responder Forum, an annual event designed to expose the fire service to emerging technologies, research, and standards development. As NFPA's Ken Willette explains in his NFPA Journal® column, the event will be held October 26–28 in Indianapolis and will include two days of panel discussions, presentations, and small-group meetings. Participants will be sponsored by the nine major fire organizations, and attendance will be...