National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)'s Blog, page 51

How is a rolling fire door inspection different than a swinging door?

So, you are used to inspecting swinging fire doors per NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives as required by NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® and are comfortable with those requirements, but you have come across a rolling fire door. Let’s take a few minutes to review some unique aspects to inspecting a rolling fire door.
Rolling steel fire doors come in various sizes and can...



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NFPA seeks input on development of a new cannabis fire protection standard

With medical and/or recreational use of cannabis now legalized in 34 states and Washington D.C, the number of cannabis facilities across the country has grown exponentially. In the past few years, serious fires have occurred in these growing and processing facilities, highlighting the need for clear guidance on associated fire and life safety considerations, specifically for the cannabis...



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FPRF Webinar onObstructions and Early Suppression Fast Response Sprinklers

Early suppression fast-response (ESFR) sprinklers are often installed in warehouses to avoid installation of in-rack sprinklers. However, since the discharge pattern of ESFR sprinklers is different from that of standard spray sprinklers, obstructions near the sprinklers can greatly affect the distribution of water. This webinar will present the results of the six-year Fire Protection Research...



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Institution of Fire Engineers Approves NFPA CFPS Credential As Key Component for IFE Membership Application

The Membership Application Assessment Panel (MAAP) of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has determined that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) credential will now be recognized as a major component for IFE membership.
The NFPA CFPS Certification program was created in 1971 for the purpose of documenting competency and providing...



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All signs point to required labeling as a major ally in the pursuit of safety of those performing electrical work

“…do this, don’t do that – can’t you read the sign?”  The year was 1971 and I certainly find some irony in the fact that the original band to perform this well-known ditty was dubbed as the Five Man Electrical Band. If you listen to the lyrics of the song, it doesn’t necessarily portray signs in the best light (see what I did there?).  The songwriter depicts signs as being controlling and...



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NFPA’s 125th Anniversary Conference Series is Unveiled, replacing traditionally scheduled plans for 2021 Conference and Expo®

With the continued uncertainty of live events stretching well into 2021, NFPA has announced that the 2021 NFPA Conference & Expo® (C&E) will not happen as traditionally scheduled and instead will be replaced with the 125th Anniversary Conference Series, a year-long, targeted, virtual experience.
Given the continued threats posed by the pandemic, holding an in-person event of C&E’s size and scope...



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The Mexico City Subway Station Fire Raises Questions About Maintenance and Updating

Here in Mexico City, where I am based for my role as NFPA development director for Latin America, there is significant buzz about the fire at the Buen Tono substation of the Mexico City Metro. A female police officer died when she fell during the incident and severely disabled the subway system that typically, during non-COVID times, serves 4.6 million commuters daily. Saturday’s incident has...



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FPRF Webinar on “Holistic Protection Method of Top-Loading Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems”

Top-loading automatic storage and retrieval systems (TL-ASRS) create a difficult challenge for traditional fire protection systems. Multiple robots powered by on-board batteries travel simultaneously along rails above tightly spaced stacks of open-top plastic containers, resulting in extremely dense combustible storage without aisle spaces or other means to access the storage area. While...



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2021 Edition of NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquid Code Features New Naming Nomenclature

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published the NFPA 30 Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code since 1913. Every three years its requirements are revised based on input from industry and government sectors. This blog highlights the major changes for the 2021 edition.
The new code includes a significant change in its nomenclature along with revised sections addressing warehouse...



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Fire Apparatus Access Roads

Fire departments provide fire protection services to their jurisdictions as well as respond to a variety of other emergencies such as medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous material spills, electrical hazards, floods, and construction accidents. In order for these first responders to do their jobs effectively they need to be able to have access to the areas where incidents might...



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