National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 296

List of Annual 2015 documents issued by the NFPA Standards Council as Consent Standards

If an NFPA Standard receives no Notice of Intent to Make a Motions (NITMAMs) that result in one or more Certified Amending Motions, the Standard is considered a Consent Standard. A Consent Standard is not presented at the NFPA Technical Meeting (Tech Session) and is, instead, forwarded directly to the NFPA Standards Council for issuance (See Regulations Governing the Development of NFPA Standards, Section 4.5.2.5.). The following list of 27 Standards in the Annual 2015 revision cycle received no NITMAMs and have been issued by the Standards Council on May 26, 2015 as Consent Standards: NFPA 2, Hydrogen Technologies Code...

NFPA Journal discusses three proposed changes to NFPA 72

The 2016 edition of NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, is up for adoption at this year’s NFPA Technical Meeting in Chicago later this month. Three of the proposed changes to the code will have a major impact on the design and installation of fire alarm and mass notification systems, says Wayne Moore, vice-president at the consulting firm of Jensen Hughes. These changes include the use of non-listed fire alarm speakers, the use of existing computer networks to connect fire alarm systems, and the requirement of 520 Hz audible appliances in sleeping areas. Each has the potential to...

Canadian luncheon returns to NFPA Conference in Chicago

The Canadians return to Chicago. No, not the hockey team from Montreal but the team of Shayne Mintz, Fred Leber and Cindy Leber. Fred Leber, CEO of LRI Engineering and Cindy Leber, President of Building Reports Canada hatched a plan 3 years ago to bring Canadians together each year at the NFPA Conference & Expo by hosting a free luncheon. They would host their first luncheon in Chicago in 2013 to facilitate networking and foster business relationships. The first year was a success so they planned a second luncheon in Las Vegas in 2014. Shayne Mintz, NFPA's Regional Director for...

Ensuring fire safety and security in schools can be a challenge; new report identifies themes and concepts for doing both

Because schools have traditionally been considered safe havens for students and teachers, design features - including fire safety - are addressed in detail in applicable codes and standards, while security design typically receives less planning and attention. This approach has generally seemed acceptable and reasonable for school settings, until something goes horribly wrong. Tragic incidents like the one that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, while extremely rare, underscore the need for appropriate security measures in school systems. However, implementing certain security features can be at odds with other building safety features needed to protect people from...

NFPA Standards Council seeking public comments and potential committee members on new project on fire control of structures based upon fire dynamics

At its April 2015 meeting, the NFPA Standards Council considered and reviewed a new project on fire control of structures based upon fire dynamics and is seeking public review and comment by the June 15, 2015 deadline. Read additional information and justification for this new project submitted to the Council. Anyone interested in commenting on this new project, should include the following information: resources on the subject matter, the names of those interested in participating on the Committee (if established), the names of other organizations actively involved with this subject, and whether there is a need for such a project....

NFPA Journal explores issues of electric shock drowning in marinas and boatyards

German Creek Marina in Bean Station, Tennessee, where electrical current leakage in the water killed two boys in 2012. It might not be self evident, but marinas and boatyards can be very dangerous places to swim—but not just because of the boats. Electric shock drowning, known as ESD, has gained national attention in recent years due to several high-profile incidents, including deaths, involving mostly children and young adults. As writer Ashley Smith details in the feature story “Troubled Waters,” in the May/June issue of NFPA Journal, ESD can occur when a leak in the marina’s electrical system electrifies the surrounding...

Latest edition of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter highlights essay receiving national attention for its strong stance on home fire sprinklers

In an essay written for NFPA that has gotten national attention, Fire Chief Rick Ennis underscores a recent tragedy in a home built two years ago. He is baffled as to why this incident, which highlights the necessity of fire sprinklers in all new homes, has not gotten the attention it deserves. Ennis' essay is featured in the May edition of NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative newsletter, which also highlights: a new NFPA video case study underscoring how a developer inexpensively sprinklered all new homes in a community a builder being sued for failing to follow sprinkler requirements NFPA's recent Fire...

NFPA announces "Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm" as the official theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, 2015

Working smoke alarms in the home provide life-saving potential from fire. That’s a fact we all know well, and it’s one that’s been strongly promoted over the years. But how often do we educate the public about where smoke alarms should be located in the home? More pointedly, how often are we promoting the importance of having a working smoke alarm in each bedroom? Not often enough, according to an informal, online quiz we posted last year, which showed that less than half (42 percent) of approximately 36,000 respondents did not know that a smoke alarm should be installed in...

Download this year's NFPA Technical Meeting (Tech Session) agenda

This year's Tech Session will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL on June 24-25, 2015 during the NFPA Conference & Expo. NFPA will be providing wireless internet access during the Tech Session so attendees have the option of downloading the agenda prior to or during the Tech Session. Other documentation such as First Draft Reports and Second Draft Reports can be viewed on the Next edition tab of each specific document information page. The links for the 11 specific NFPA Standards are listed below for your convenience. • Download the agenda for this year’s Tech Session. (PDF, 2.5...

NFPA Journal explains proposed NEC articles

Nine new articles have been proposed for the 2017 edition of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, three of which focus on the generation, distribution, and storage of electrical power, says Jeff Sargent, regional electrical code specialist. Proposed Article 691 covers photovoltaic supply stations that can generate 5,000 kilowatts or more. These systems differ from those covered in existing Article 690, in that the power they generate only supplies electric utility transmission or distribution systems at medium or transmission-level voltages. Proposed Article 706 covers permanently installed systems that can stand alone or interact with other electric power production sources. This article...