National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 321

Upon learning benefits of home fire sprinklers, insurance agent prompts company discount

Jack Swanson proudly displays his " Fire Sprinklers Save Lives" sticker inside his company office in Casper, Wyoming. But the insurance agent with Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company wasn't always a full-time sprinkler supporter. In

Facility managers face ch-ch-changes to NFPA 99 and NFPA 101

Usually when I write blog posts I like to include a quote from a philosopher, a head of state or a historical figure. Is it odd that the person I want to quote for this piece is a musician? David Bowie in his song "Changes" has a refrain that is "Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes." If you are a Facility Manager at a health care facility we know that you face the challenge of splitting your time among many tasks including compliance with NFPA codes and standards. With the BIG changes that have happened between 1999 and now to NFPA 101 and NFPA 99,...

“Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” and “Project Holiday”: What’s the difference between the two campaigns?

“What’s the difference between ‘Put a Freeze on Winter Fires’ and ‘Project Holiday’?” That’s the question a few people have recently asked, and it’s one that’s worth clarifying, since there are some key differences between the two programs (as well as some crossover). Our “Put a Freeze on Winter Fires” campaign with USFA promotes winter fire safety directly to the public, addressing the leading causes of fires and other hazards during the colder months and holiday season. This includes home heating, cooking, holiday decorating and carbon monoxide poisoning. The campaign runs from November through March, and features regular updates on...

Major milestone in NFPA’s online enhancement - NFPA goes completely digital for submissions of public input and public comment

January 5th, 2015 marks a major milestone in the enhancement of NFPA’s online platform: the first Public Input closing date for which all materials will be submitted online. Beginning with the 44 Fall 2016 NFPA Standards, paper submissions will no longer be accepted. By utilizing a completely online platform, NFPA will facilitate wider and easier participation in the development of its Standards. As an organization, this transition is yet another step forward as NFPA continues to promote a digital first approach focused on solution-based products and services. Thank you to all NFPA participants for embracing the enhancements and NFPA’s online...

Why is NFPA's mascot a dalmatian? Here's the answer...

Yesterday, I blogged about a TV program in Germany that contacted us to find out why NFPA’s mascot is a dalmation. Our team videotaped the above answer from Ken Willette, NFPA’s division manager of public fire protection. I also asked if anyone else knew why a Dalmatian is our mascot. Kudos to Michele Steinberg, our division manager of wildland fires – she got it right!

Ken Willette and Sparky the Fire Dog tell German TV program why NFPA’s mascot is a dalmatian. Do you know?

A TV program in Germany recently contacted us with the following question: Why is a dalmatian the mascot of NFPA? We videotaped the answer today, thanks to the help of Ken Willette, our division manager for public fire protection, and Sparky the Fire Dog®. Anyone out there know the answer to that question? Tell us what you think – we’ll share Ken’s official answer tomorrow and see who knows their fire history.

Lack of sprinkler requirements outrages Massachusetts state fire marshal

“I have responded to hundreds of fatal fires in my state, and it’s hard to rationalize how decisions [on mandatory home fire sprinkler installations] can be based strictly on cost while not recognizing the effect fire has on our society,” says Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan, who has headed the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services since its creation in 1995. For years, Coan has been a tireless force in the push for statewide sprinkler requirements. His department has a seat on the state's Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS), which adopts building regulations and administers provisions of the...

Welcoming new staff to NFPA's Wildland Fire Operations Division

We are delighted to welcome two new staff to our Denver and Quincy offices. Tom Welle joins the Denver office as a senior project manager and supervisor. Faith Berry joins the Quincy office as an associate project manager. Both Tom and Faith will contribute to the Division's mission of reducing risks to life and property from wildfire through advocacy, outreach, education, research and codes and standards. Tom joins NFPA from a career in public service and wildland firefighting. Most recently, he spent more than a decade with Douglas County, Colorado, as a ranger and land management specialist. He has also...

Deadline approaches for two Research Foundation "Requests for Proposals"

by Amanda Kimball There are two open Requests for Proposals for Foundation projects. The projects are "Protection of Storage Under Sloped Ceilings - Phase 1" and "Use of Gaseous Suppression Systems in High-Airflow Spaces: Capabilities and Knowledge Gaps". Both RFPs are accessible from the Foundation website. Proposals for the protection of storage under sloped ceilings project are due December 18. Proposals for the use of gaseous suppression systems in high-airflow spaces are due January 9. Please contact Amanda Kimball at the Foundation with any questions.

Colorado reaches 100 Firewise Communities/USA Milestone

by NFPA's Cathy Prudhomme Currently, 41 states actively participate in the national Firewise Communities/USA® program and represent a combined 1,142 communities that have achieved recognition status for their work to reduce their community’s wildfire risk. Nine of the sites have participated for more than a decade and have been with the program since the original pilot was launched in 2002. Up until recently, only two states – Arkansas and Washington had achieved the milestone of 100 plus participating communities; Colorado now joins the distinction of attaining the major accomplishment of reaching that benchmark. The Colorado State Forest Service is the...