National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 31

Importance of Inspection Testing and Maintenance of Fire Protection Systems

Sprinkler systems are exceptionally reliable, such that the chance of dying in a fire is reduced by one-half to three-fourths when sprinklers are installed in a building. Statistics also show that property damage is reduced by half to two-thirds when sprinklers are present. All of this is true, of course, only if the system has been designed, installed, and maintained properly. It has been seen...



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Latest action on firefighting PPE standard underscores the need to better understand and to participate in the standards process

In June of this year I wrote a blog explaining how individuals could get involved in the conversation about NFPA standards and firefighter PPE. That blog provides a good overview for reference, and this piece provides a further update related to one particular standard - NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, 2018 Edition.
Since that...



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Hazardous Materials Identification

There is a nearly boundless amount materials that present increased risks to people exposed to them, whether building occupants, people in nearby structures, or first responders. These materials vary greatly in their composition and physical states. The risks, or hazards, associated with these materials are even more varied and must be assessed for a particular material in the state and manner in...



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The question of the day: what is the NFPA Electrical Inspectors Section (EIS)?

NFPA’s commitment to electrical safety has not wavered since our founding in 1896. Over the last 125 years, we have supported many different stakeholder groups (architects, contractors, designers, engineers, first responders, and inspectors, to name a few!), each with a unique role and different objectives, but all with the shared bond of a commitment to the elimination of death, injury,...



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AFCIs Tell a Life-Saving Story Worth Listening to About Home Electrical Safety

Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are electrical devices that are designed to sense an abnormal arcing condition within electrical wiring. Normal arcing conditions, such as a light switch being turned off or a plug being pulled from a receptacle, are permitted by the AFCI and will not open the device. In 1992, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent...



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Take the NFPA 125th Anniversary Quiz for a Chance to win an Anniversary Challenge Coin

NFPA launched its 125th Anniversary Quiz Sweepstakes today to test participants’ knowledge of the association, and to celebrate the collective work, energy, and commitment of the countless groups and individuals who have contributed to the association’s achievements over the past 125 years. In honor of NFPA’s birthday (the association was founded in November 1896), the quiz features 10 questions...



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Transformer Fire Protection

While superheroes and the big box office may have everything thinking about robots when we talk about transformers, they are actually a much more important device that is essential for the transmission, distribution, and utilization of alternating current electric power.
What are transformers and what do they do?
In basic terms a transformer is a device that transfers electric energy from one AC...



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Are You Up to Speed on Changes within the 2022 Edition of NFPA 13?

The recently released 2022 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems contains a number of significant changes. While the 2019 edition of the standard underwent a dramatic reorganization, it was a relatively quiet cycle for technical revisions. The 2022 edition of the standard; however, makes up for that with many updates that will affect all the different users of the...



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New NFPA fact sheet highlights key takeaways from Fire Safety in the US Since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem

In June, NFPA Research and The Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of NFPA, released Fire in the United States Since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem that picks up where America Burning left off. But for some, a 63-page report can be tough to tackle. So, in the interest of education and engagement, a fact sheet with key insights was developed...



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How are NFPA Standards Keeping Pace with Innovation?

As we begin to wind down National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I’m going to cover some of the ways that NFPA codes and standards are addressing digital transformation and the byproduct of these solutions – the data that is being captured and generated.
These days, more and more fire protection systems are networked to Building Control Systems - the Internet of Things (IoT). These and many other...



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