National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 317

NFPA staff places their mark on fully sprinklered Habitat for Humanity homes

The sights and sounds of progress filled two homes in Hanover, Massachusetts, this week. Power saws sliced into wood, paint was slathered onto walls, nails pierced drywall. NFPA staffers, which included NFPA President Jim Pauley and members of the Leadership Team, were the muscle behind these activities that took place inside the homes. Another interior feature was what lured these volunteers to the homes in the first place. The South Shore Habitat for Humanity, the Massachusetts Fire Sprinkler Coalition, and other sprinkler advocates collaborated to fully sprinkler the homes in an effort to showcase installation ease and cost. Following the...

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 1, 58, 70, 101A, 400, 1221 and 1917

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 1, NFPA 58, NFPA 101A, NFPA 400, NFPA 1221, and NFPA 1917 are being published for public review and comment: NFPA 1, proposed TIA No. 1173, referencing various sections, 2015 edition NFPA 58, proposed TIA No. 1167, referencing 6.4.2.1 and 6.4.3, 2014 edition NFPA 70, proposed TIA No. 1168, referencing 625.44, 2014 edition NFPA 101A, proposed TIA No. 1166, referencing 7.5.4A, 2013 and proposed 2016 editions NFPA 400, proposed TIA No. 1172, referencing Table 5.2.1.1.3 and 5.2.1.2 through 5.2.1.10.1, 2013 edition NFPA 400, proposed TIA No. 1174, referencing Table 5.2.1.1.3 and...

Today in fire history: TV set starts fire in Orlando South Travel Lodge

In the early Morning of January 9, 1974, fire originated in a TV set at the Orlando South Travel Lodge in Pine Castle, Florida. The occupant of the second-floor room of origin narrowly escaped death of serious injury. This fire was the latest in a series of 20 malfunctions in TV sets at this motel in the past year; 18 had occurred in the preceding eight months. The malfunctions ranged in severity from minor electrical arcing to smoking of sets to open burning with spread to other items in the room. NFPA members Download this July 1974 Fire Journal article...

NFPA announces launch of the Certified Electrical Safety Worker certification program

NFPA is proud to announce the launch of the Certified Electrical Safety Worker (CESW) program. This certification will ensure electrical safety of workers in the workplace by documenting and increasing knowledgeability of electrical safety. NFPA President, Jim Pauley, says this program “serves as a powerful tool for organizations that require the certification, demonstrating their vested interest in meeting the electrical safety standards contained in NFPA 70E.” The Certification Team worked closely with the NFPA Electrical Engineering Team as well as a group of dedicated external Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to design, develop and implement this program. This project has gone...

What’s the oldest book in NFPA’s Charles S. Morgan Library?

In the Library, we are frequently asked, "What's is the oldest book you have"? One of the oldest works we have is Electric lighting, and the underwriters' standard requirements in reference thereto, with instructions for the proper inspection of electric light equipments, illustrated (1882). One of the illustrations, a diagram of the mode of operation of the Weston Current Indicator, is shown to the right. The introduction, writen by Henry Morton, PhD., begins "The nature of Electricity, or the final cause of those phenomena we call electric, is something about which we are absolutely ignorant, although we know so much...

New NFPA report Fires in Residential Properties under Construction or Undergoing Major Renovation

Some months back, the Fire Analysis and Research Division was asked to run some numbers on fires in residential properties under construction or undergoing major renovation. This resulted in a new NFPA report, Fires in Residential Properties under Construction or Undergoing Major Renovation. The results were largely straightforward. We found that fires in residential properties undergoing construction or major renovation, while a minor portion of all residential property fires, nevertheless accounted for an estimated 5,120 fires per year from 2007 to 2011. We also found that most of these fires and associated losses took place in one- or two-family homes....

Research Foundation Issues Request for Proposals for Study on Fire Protection in Telecommunications and Data Centers

As the number and complexity of data and telecommunications centers grows, NFPA standards are evolving to address their fire protection needs. The Research Foundation is initiating a study to explore the performance of gaseous fire suppression systems in high airflow spaces created by these centers. A Request for Proposals for Project Contractor has been issued; proposals should be submitted to Amanda Kimball by January 9, 2015, 5 pm EST.

Goodbye to a "Golden Girl": Linda Coyle retires from NFPA

by NFPA's Michele Steinberg Well, the day I have been dreading for many months is finally here. On this last day of 2014, I say goodbye to my very dear friend and colleague, Linda Coyle, as she goes off to a happy and healthy retirement. Cheryl Blake, Linda and me, December 2014 Linda's one of a dwindling breed. Here at NFPA, there are a number of women in administrative (formerly known as secretarial) positions who are, as we say, "of a certain age." Linda has happily been part of this group that lunches together daily, calls themselves "The Golden Girls"...

New home sprinkler requirement in Minnesota takes effect this month

Strong, public support for home fire sprinklers by Minnesota fire service officials and the state's governor has paid off. A mandatory provision to sprinkler all of the state's new homes larger than 4,500 square feet takes effect this month. For years, sprinkler opponents have attempted to thwart such requirements through the Minnesota State Legislature, which passed bills in 2011 and 2012 prohibiting new sprinkler mandates in the state's building code. Governor Mark Dayton, however, vetoed both bills. The state's Department of Labor and Industry has been looking to incorporate more stringent sprinkler provisions in the code, which already requires sprinklers...

Here's the top 10 sprinkler news stories that got your attention in 2014

For your viewing pleasure, here's a David Letterman-inspired countdown. We've determined the most popular posts from NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative blog in 2014. Many thanks to our regular readers, commenters, and social media mavens who have made that blog a popular destination for sprinkler news. Expect to see more of what interests you in 2015! And remember: we're always looking for new news to highlight. If anything sprinkler-related crosses your desk or catches your eye, feel free to send it my way so I can highlight it for the good of our growing army of online sprinkler advocates. Without further...