National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 310

Legislator: The time for home fire sprinklers is now

New Jersey Assemblyman John Wisniewski Following a devastating, residential fire in New Jersey that spotlighted the dangers of lightweight construction when it displaced more than 1,000 people, the developer plans to include sprinklers and other fire protection systems in its future developments. Per an article in the Times of Trenton, AvalonBay, which built the 408-unit complex in Edgewater, will include more sprinklers and other safety features in its future housing developments in Maplewood and Princeton, New Jersey. "I've said all along that this [is] in their best interest to go above and beyond the current code, given what happened in...

No injuries, deaths in dramatic Dubai high-rise fire

Fire at Dubai's Torch building, courtesy of BBC.com A fire in a 79-story luxury apartment building in Dubai engulfed several floors and was extinguished three hours after it began with no deaths or injuries. The fire, at the Torch building, which contains 676 residential units and six retail spaces, is reported to have started on the 50th floor. CNN.com reports strong winds blew burning debris to lower floors on other sides of the building. The report says four other nearby buildings were evacuated as s precaution; the Dubai Civil Defense says the cause of the fire is under investigation. High-rise...

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No injuries, deaths in dramatic Dubai high-rise fire

A fire in a 79-story luxury apartment building in Dubai engulfed several floors and was extinguished three hours after it began with no deaths or injuries. The fire, at the Torch building, which contains 676 residential units and six retail spaces, is

Paul Dunphy, Harvard University, NFPA 3 and NFPA 4

Paul Dunphy was at NFPA HQ today to go on tape on the subject of NFPA 3 and NFPA 4. Specifically, he was here to talk about our upcoming pay-per-view seminar on NFPA 3 and NFPA 4. From the moment Paul pulled up to NFPA's building #1, I realized he is serious when it comes to these two topics. As you can see in the photo, his license plate reads "NFPA 4." " I talk the talk and I walk the walk when it comes to commissioning and integrated testing of fire protection systems because I ride down the Southeast...

Open spaces, lightweight construction, flammable furniture--oh my! The modern dangers of today's homes

As the size of today's homes continue to grow, so do the number of fire-safety risks associated with these dwellings. Highlighted in a recent story in North Carolina's The Herald Weekly, the state's fire service has been strategizing how best to protect these large homes if catastrophe occurs. Among the common concerns--larger open floor plans and how fire reacts to lightweight construction materials, to name a few--are limited water supplies and low water pressure. Learn about the water use of fighting fires with fire hoses vs. sprinklers by visiting the Fire Sprinkler Initiative blog.

In February's issue of Fire Break: Prep Day updates, How To Newsletter, new HIZ course

The February issue of Fire Break, NFPA’s Wildland Fire Operations Division newsletter, is now available for viewing. Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s issue: An update on Prep Day and the community funding awards An invitation to the Prep Day webinar on March 12 The latest information on our redesigned “Assessing Wildfire Hazards in the Home Ignition Zone” course A link to the winter Firewise “How To” newsletter ...and much more. We want to continue to share all of this great information with you, so don’t miss an issue! So subscribe today. It’s free! Just click here to add...

Fire Protection Research Foundation hosts their 19th annual SupDet in Orlando this March

The Fire Protection Research Foundation will be holding their annual Suppression, Detection and Signaling Symposium (SupDet 2015) on March 3-6 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla. The event will offer over 30 presentations for attendees to choose from that will touch upon the latest developments in research, technology and applications for the fire protection community. In addition, free half-day workshop will be offered on March 4. This workshop is a “bridge event” between the Suppression and Detection sessions, which all registrants can attend. The workshop will address the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) of fire protection systems and...

Keep fire safety in mind as next winter storm approaches

As record cold temperatures grip much of the US and the next winter storm forecasted to hit the South, Midwest and Northeast this weekend, NFPA reminds everyone to keep winter fire safety in mind. With more snow on its way, on top of record snowfall for many areas, it’s important to make sure that all doors are shoveled clear and can open easily. Open doorways and having two ways out of every room, are key parts of a home fire escape plan. Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of U.S. home fires and home fire deaths, with February...

Kindergarten student helps his family safely escape home fire after learning NFPA’s Learn Not to Burn program

Hayden Sather, 6, with Grande Prairie Fire Prevention Officer Trevor Schwabe, who'd taught the Learn Not to Burn program to Hayden and his Kindergarten classmates. Six-year-old Hayden Sather and his family were sitting down to lunch at his grandparents’ Alberta, Canada, home when the smoke alarms started to sound and they saw smoke at the front of the house. That’s when Hayden promptly directed his twelve-year-old sister outside, a behavior he’d learned through NFPA’s Learn Not to Burn program. “I just saw smoke coming at the front door window and I didn’t know what happened. Then I…quickly got my boots...

New FAQ for NFPA 704 available for download

The NFPA 704 “diamond” provides a tried and true method for warning emergency responders of the hazards they could encounter during a spill or fire involving a hazardous material. Staff at NFPA often receive questions about the application of the ratings such as “How does this system differ from other labeling systems” or “Where should I post the NFPA 704 placards at my facility”? A new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document has been developed to address some of these common questions. The FAQ document is now posted and available for download. What else is happening with NFPA 704? Well-those of...