National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 319

NFPA 2015 Training Schedule

Be prepared. Be proactive. Plan your training for the upcoming year with NFPA's 2015 Winter Training Catalog. See details online or download a PDF of NFPA's 2015 Winter Training Catalog for quick reference to all of the courses scheduled for 2015. Plus preview Self-Guided courses based on the 2015 Editions of NFPA 70E®, NFPA 101®, and NFPA 99! Earn CEUs and train with the code experts from NFPA. Download NFPA's 2015 Winter - Fire Protection Training Catalog Download NFPA's 2015 Winter - Electrical Safety Training_Catalog 2015 LOCATIONS FEBRUARY ... New Orleans, LA ... Houston, TX MARCH ... Quincy, MA ......

NFPA seeks public comments to help protect first responders from Ebola virus

To help protect emergency first responders from exposure to the Ebola virus, NFPA is seeking comments to a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) to NFPA 1999: Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations. The TIA proposes a revision to the design and performance criteria of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to address the risk of exposure to the Ebola virus threat. NFPA has posted the TIA on NFPA 1999 for public review and comment. To submit a comment, please e-mail the Secretary, Standards Council, by January 15, 2015 at TIAs_Errata_FIs@nfpa.org. The TIA follows work conducted by several organizations and federal agencies...

NFPA Committee seeks comments on new project on Facilities for Fire Training and Associated Props

At its August 2014 meeting, the NFPA Standards Council reviewed the scope and title for a new committee on Facilities for Fire Training and Associated Props. After review of all the material before it, the Council voted to publish a notice to solicit public comments for the need of the project, information on subject matter resources, those interested in participating, if established, and other organizations actively involved with the subject. The deadline for comments is February 15, 2015. See the full post written by NFPA's Steven Sawyer.

NFPA report: The risk of fire death varies by age and race

The percentage of fatal fire victims 65 and older has been increasing while the percentage of victims under 5 has fallen. by NFPA's Marty Ahrens According to NFPA’s new report, Characteristics of Home Fire Victims, older adults had the highest risk of fire death in the US compared to other age groups. In 2007-2011, people 65 and over were 2.4 times as likely to be killed in a home fire as the overall population. While children under five have historically also been a high risk group, their risk has dropped to 1.1 times that of the general population. The percentage...

NFPA seeks comment to protect First Responders from Ebola virus

NFPA is seeking public review and comment on a proposed Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) on NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations, 2013 edition. This TIA proposes to revise design and performance criteria of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and address the risk of exposure to the Ebola virus threat. The TIA follows work conducted by several organizations and federal agencies that recognized the need for a national PPE standard to protect emergency first responders against the Ebola Virus and other liquid-borne pathogens. The organizations include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization, the...

New report looks at impact of chimney top appurtenances on flue gas flow

The main function of a chimney structure is “draft” through which, flue gases and smoke are removed from the building. Several parameters influence draft including the chimney height and the temperature differences between the outside air and combusted gases inside the flue. Flow resistance decreases the induced draft. Moreover, additional turns and sharper parts in a chimney also influence the process and often maximize the flow resistance and minimize the draft in the system. Furthermore, rain caps and other terminals increase flow resistance depending on the terminals’ materials, geometries, and size. Proper design of a venting system requires information and...

Attention Christmas carolers: NFPA places sprinkler spin on a holiday tune

Sick and tired of singing or hearing "Jingle Bells" for the umpteenth time this year? Don't fret: the ingenious minds at NFPA have placed its stamp on the holiday classic. For those looking to add something new to the family's holiday singalong, or if you're simply looking to impress Aunt Edna, try the following song on for size. Sung in the same fashion as "Jingle Bells," NFPA's version, "Sprinkler Save," adds a little levity to a proven, life-saving device. And for those wondering: "Who the heck is Dude the Cat?" Read this. Kudos to NFPA's Marty Ahrens for crafting the...

NFPA adds two new members to the senior leadership team

We want to welcome two new members of our senior leadership team here at NFPA! Charles (Chuck) Stravin is now our vice president of business operations, with overall responsibility for developing the strategic vision and operations to serve customers. Julie Lynch is our new vice president of human resources (HR) and will develop and align HR strategy, programs and policies to support NFPA’s overall strategy and evolving culture and goals. Chuck will oversee a product and service strategy that delivers solutions to NFPA’s diverse customers in fire, electrical and building safety. His leadership responsibilities include product development, marketing and advertising,...

Mayor hears convincing pitch for home fire sprinklers from fire chief, initiates local ordinance

The Village of Riverdale, Illinois, recently became one of nearly 100 fire-safe communities in Illinois where fire sprinklers are required in new, single-family homes. Along with Blue Island, which passed a home fire sprinkler requirement in 2012, Riverdale is among the first communities in Chicago’s inner ring of southern suburbs to recognize the importance of protecting residents in their homes. Mayor Lawrence Jackson is dedicated to the safety of the people he serves and trusts the expertise of the code development process and fire officials. “Having updated codes protects the residents, and up-to-date code enforcement is one of the priorities...

In December's issue of Safety Source; Freeze on Winter Fires campaign, new children's videos on wildfire, open positions with team & more

The December issue of Safety Source, NFPA's public education enewsletter, is now available for viewing. In this issue, you will find; Put a Freeze on Winter Fires and Project Holiday Fire-safety materials for the family NFPA recruiting for three public education positions Children's videos highlight wildfire safety Blog on microwave safety Don't miss an issue! Sign up now and be the first to get the latest information on happenings in the public education division, activities, fire statistics, trends, educational tips, Sparky the Fire Dog® and more.