National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 32

A primer on how NFPA standards are developed and revised, and by whom

NFPA standards are developed through an open-consensus process in which anyone (except NFPA staff) can participate. We receive lots of questions about how this time-tested process works from individuals who are not familiar with it as well as from those that are involved in some aspect of it.
In answer to these questions, here is a broad overview of how NFPA standards are developed and the...



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Attention students and faculty: Research Foundation student projects are now available

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, has an ongoing Student Project Initiative, with a goal to expose students to real-world projects while addressing timely issues of the fire protection and safety community.
This is an announcement about FPRF’s available student projects for 2021. If there is a student (or a group of students) at an institution who is...



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Guide to Fire Alarm Basics – Power Supplies

A fire alarm system is a crucial part of the overall fire protection and life safety strategy of a building. A fire alarm system serves many functions and the differences between the functions can be a bit confusing, so I created a visual guide to fire alarm basics. The objective of this blog series is to discuss some of the major components and functions of a fire alarm system. For an overview...



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NFPA debuts free online drone training and knowledge base for fire service administrators and operators

In as much as it is cool to utilize drones during fire prevention and emergency response efforts, it is not advisable to do so without proper understanding of best practices, protocols, and an understanding of the guidance found within NFPA 2400, Standard for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Used for Public Safety Operations.
To help first responders effectively deploy drones during...



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An Open Letter to the Electrical Inspection Community

Many of you in this community are aware of the recent announcement by IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors) to create a partnership/alliance with the ICC (International Code Council). Since making that announcement, NFPA has received numerous questions and inquiries from stakeholders in the electrical inspection arena as to what that means for the long-time relationship...



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The branch of electrical science dealing with the effects of the accumulation of electric charge. What is static electricity?

The Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research arm of NFPA, recently published a reported titled: “Static Electricity Incident Review. 
Additionally, a summary of the current provisions in NFPA 77, Recommended Practice on Static Electricity, is provided and existing knowledge gaps have been identified. This report will be discussed at the First Draft Meeting for the next edition of NFPA 77...



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NFPA and industry experts to cover the latest in sprinklers, ITM, fire alarms, elevators, standpipes, and more on November 16

Did you happen to make a 2021 goal to skill up and learn more about fire protection systems, storage solutions, and suppression methods? Well, there’s still time to check the box, learn from some of the best in the business, and enhance your career.
On Tuesday, November 16, NFPA staff and industry experts will delve into the world of sprinklers, ITM, fire alarms, elevators, standpipes, hose...



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Fire Safety Challenges and Attributes of ‘Green’ Buildings

In recent years, there have been several major fire events, which have involved ‘green’ materials, systems, and features in buildings, including the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London involving combustible insulation; the Dietz & Watson cold storage warehouse in Delanco, New Jersey involving photovoltaic panels and combustible insulation; and the 2019 energy storage system (ESS) explosion and...



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A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Using OSHA Top 10 Violations to Identify Known Electrical Hazards

We are all creatures of habits. We do something over and over because it works for us. However, we tend to ignore a need for change even when what we do occasionally doesn’t work. There has been a substantial decrease in fatalities caused by electricity since NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® was first issued (over 600 electrocutions annually compared to 166 recently)....



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Basics of Means of Egress Arrangement

Buildings must be designed so that exits are always readily accessible and access to those exits is arranged so that they can be reached at all times. To do this, there are some fundamental design concepts to follow to ensure that the means of egress is arranged for an exit to be reached by occupants in a safe and efficient manner. Means of egress design must consider the distance occupants...



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