NFPA and NVFC video on “Understanding and Implementing Standards” guide

Posted by on Mar 18, 2013 in Codes and standards, fire department, Fire service, NFPA, NFPA 1500, NFPA 1720, NFPA 1851, NVFC, safety and health, Understanding & Implementing Standards, video |

We blogged last week about the the National Volunteer Fire Council(NVFC) and NFPA developing a guide to assist departments in understanding and implementing NFPA standards. In a new video, NFPA’s Ken Willette gives an overview of the guide, which addresses NFPA 1500, NFPA 1720 and NFPA 1851. Watch the video bleow; for more detail, read the earlier blog...

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NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning Technical Committee Meeting

Posted by on Mar 18, 2013 in Codes and standards, NFPA 1620, Orlando Hernandez, pre-incident planning |

The NFPA Technical Committee responsible for NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, will be meeting April 16-18 in San Antonio. The committee will be reviewing Public Inputs to change the existing document language and the committee will be reviewing the entire documents for possible changes and if necessary any re-structuring of the document.Anyone with an interest in pre-incident planning or the NFPA code-development process is welcome to attend. NFPA's Orlando Hernandez has the...

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Standards Council issues Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to nine NFPA documents

Posted by on Mar 18, 2013 in Codes and standards, Fire service, Fireworks, NFPA 1001, NFPA 1124, NFPA 1917, NFPA 1971, NFPA 2112, NFPA 58, NFPA 59A, NFPA 99, tentative interim amendment |

At its March 2013 meeting, the NFPA Standards Council considered the issuance of several proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIA). The following TIAs on NFPA 58, NFPA 59A, NFPA 99, NFPA 1001, NFPA 1124, NFPA 1917, NFPA 1971, and NFPA 2112 were issued by the Council on March 7, 2013: NFPA 58, TIA 11-4, referencing 11.1.1, A.11.1.1, and 11.15.2 NFPA 59A, TIA 13-1, referencing Table 15.6.1 and Table 15.8.4.1 NFPA 99, TIA 12-4, referencing 5.1.1.6, 5.2.1.2, and 5.3.1.1.2 NFPA 1001, TIA 13-1, referencing 4.1(3) NFPA 1124, TIA 13-2, referencing 2.2, 6.1.3, 6.5.1, 6.5.1.1, 6.5.1.2, 7.3.1.1, 7.3.1.2, 7.3.6, 7.3.7, 7.3.7.1, 7.4.4.2,...

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ISO revises Fire Suppression Rating Schedule

Posted by on Mar 12, 2013 in Codes and standards |

ISO has filed revisions to its Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS) and to restructure property rating rules to recognize a revised Public Protection Classification (PPC) structure. From its website –“The FSRS is a schedule filed with state departments of insurance that contains the criteria ISO uses in reviewing the fire suppression capabilities of individual communities. The schedule measures the major elements of a community’s fire suppression system and develops a numerical grade called a Public Protection Classification (PPC™).” The schedule has, so far, been approved by 27 states. An important change is the reduction of distance to fire station below 3 miles (previously 5 miles) to impact the rating in the schedule. This is due to lightweight construction and modern home contents. The schedule, filed in December 2012, includes a new Community Risk Reduction section that “recognizes community efforts to reduce losses through fire prevention, public fire safety education, and fire investigation.” The new schedule will be implemented in July, 2014. A free webinar is available Related articles Evaluation of Fireflow Methodologies - new Foundation...

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Significant Code Changes to the 2012 IRC

Posted by on Mar 12, 2013 in Codes and standards |

Significant changes to the 2012 IRC have been announced by The International Code Council as follows: With some exceptions, Section R501.3 Fire Protection of Floors now requires ½-inch gypsum board or equivalent material to be applied to the underside of floor assemblies in buildings regulated by the International Residential Code (IRC). This change is intended to provide occupants greater ability for self evacuation before collapse and increased safety for firefighters Reduction in fire separation distance for dwellings with non-rated exterior walls equipped with a fire sprinkler system, from 5 ft. to 3 ft. This change recognizes the inclusion of the home fire sprinkler requirement. It is very important to note that studies on ceiling/floor assemblies built with lightweight materials in a basement fire scenario, conducted by the National Research Center Canada, found that the protection of these assemblies provide longer time to failure and collapse. However, incapacitating factors and untenable conditions are still reached within 3 – 5 minutes from the onset of fire. This change should not be viewed as an alternative to fire sprinklers throughout the dwelling. NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code have included fire sprinkler requirements in all new one- and two-family dwellings since 2006. With the inclusion of the requirement in the 2009 IRC, all national model codes now include this minimum requirement to achieve a reasonable level of safety. A free webinar is available for more information on the above, and other changes....

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NFPA 13D 2013 update: Sloped-ceiling installations

Posted by on Mar 7, 2013 in Codes and standards |

The current issue of the Sprinkler Age, an American Fire Sprinkler Association publication, contains an article by James Golinveaux of Tyco Fire Protection Products providing an update for sloped-ceiling installations included in the 2013 edition of NFPA 13D: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. Mr. Golinveaux says that the new simplified field installation for sloped-ceiling spaces is the result of eight years of study, testing, and cooperation. He tells us that this research was done to provide data on the “life safety” potential of residential sprinklers on sloped ceilings outside of the “listing”protocol. A Fire Protection Research Foundation study found that “residential sprinklers listed for applications with flat, smooth ceilings can be expected to perform adequately when installed on a sloped ceiling or sloped and beamed ceiling arrangements similar to those investigated as part of this study”; with certain restrictions and limitations related to design configurations. According to Mr. Golinveaux “practically speaking” the 2013 edition of NFPA 13D results in the following benefits: Sprinkler contractors will realize a reduction of labor costs from quicker installations; Municipal authorities will be confident knowing that a prescriptive standard is being followed; Homebuilders can be confident that the cost for a home’s fire protection system will come in on, or close to, budget; and Homeowners will have an economical, effective and life-saving fire protection system in place that did not substantially increase the price of their home. Related articles NFPA 13D symposium to be held in...

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