National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 45

Before You Set Out on the Road, Watch This RV Safety Video

Thinking of renting an RV to safely escape the pandemic? Check out this short video where I interview Doug Mulvaney with Kampgrounds of America on the recently published FPRF Report titled: Fire Damage and Loss Assessment of Recreational Vehicles (RV’s). Doug provides some key takeaways from the research findings and provides a checklist of safety items to review before you hit the road! Although...



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Changes to the 2020 NEC That Impact How We Install Residential Electrical Services

Change is inevitable in life, and in the National Electrical Code (NEC). Being a lifelong electrician myself, I can fully understand how hard it can be to have a system in place that works like a well-oiled machine and feel like it is being upended when I need to incorporate a new change requirement. But rarely do people ever make change for the sake of change. In our world, change is often...



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Oregon Lawmakers Moving in the Right Direction on Wildfire

In 2020, wildfires in Oregon killed nine people and destroyed more than 5,000 homes and businesses. In response, legislators in 2021 are considering a number of measures to help those impacted, like bills to limit tax liability of victims and aid local governments with expenses incurred because of the fires. One bill though, aims to help the state prepare.  In early April, a bipartisan trio from...



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A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: The 2024 Edition of NFPA 70E

NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® is a safe work practice standard that is revised by the public and industry every three years. The revision cycle starts again this year. Many of you know that the main rule in electrical safety is to not work on equipment that is energized. This is what NFPA 70E and OSHA regulations require. There is seldom a need to put an employee at...



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OSHA and NFPA 70E: A History of Powerful Protection for Employees on the Job

NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace® and OSHA have had a long history of working together. In fact, OSHA is a large part of why NFPA 70E even exists. In the late 1970s, it became apparent that the hard line that OSHA had taken on work exposing employees to hazards needed some modifications when it came to electrical work. However, OSHA realized that as fast as the...



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Join NFPA as we Celebrate 125 Years of Protecting People and Property; Anniversary Conference Series Kicks off on May 18 with Electrical Program

NFPA is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and we want to commemorate this momentous milestone with you! Since our founding in 1896, NFPA has been devoted to eliminating death, injury property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. Working side-by-side with our members, colleagues, and countless other fire and life safety advocates from every industry across the...



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A Guide to Fire Alarm Basics – Initiation

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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The Basics of Swinging-Type Egress Door Operation

Door assemblies serve multiple purposes that relate to the comfort and safety of building occupants. They provide protection from weather, reduction of noises from adjoining areas, prevent trespassing by unauthorized persons and slow or stop the spread of fire and smoke. While seemingly so commonplace, door assemblies can become an impediment to occupants if they are locked or inoperable. 

Doors...



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Getting to the Heart of NEC Listing Requirements

Does electrical equipment need to be listed? This is a question that practitioners have asked recently of NFPA and it’s one that comes up on a regular basis. Today, communication is dominated by social media and online forum discussions and as a result, people say they are having an increasingly difficult time determining what is required to be listed and what is not.
The most common bit of...



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Celebrating NFPA’s 125th Anniversary and its Rich History with the NEC; Year-Long Anniversary Education Conference Series Kicks Off with One-Day Electrical Program on May 18

NFPA is 125 years young! Founded in 1896 by like-minded visionaries looking to better protect society from the devastating effects of fire, our vital mission has transcended the 10-plus decades that have passed since our we first came to be. Organizations do not reach the age of 125 unless there is a compelling reason to exist. As it was in the beginning, it is still true today. Fire, electrical...



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