National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

Among the ways, garments protect firefighters is by reducing the heat stress and discomfort created by the need to carry heavy gear. Making the garments more comfortable to wear means less physical stress. Garments also help to protect firefighters from the toxic elements in the fire environment. The extent to which plastic materials can generate toxic smoke when they burn has previously been ignored but is now better understood. Concerted effort to understand end user As a manufacturer of fi...

The American Wood Council (AWC) is an independent organization that offers information about wood products to builders. Working in association with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the International Code Council (ICC), and other knowledgeable stakeholders, the AWC has created a set of guidelines to help reduce life and property loss from fire in buildings under construction based upon pre-existing codes and standards. Keeping construction site safe Let’s examine why these gui...

Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc., and manufacturer of fire apparatus, announces Toronto Fire Services has ordered two all-electric Vector fire trucks. When delivered, Toronto Fire Services will be one of the first fire departments in Canada to have fully electric, North American-style pumper trucks in their fleet. These fire apparatus were sold by authorized dealer Safetek Emergency Vehicles Ltd. Energy-Efficient technology Fire Group introduced the Vector fire truc...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selection commi...

NFPA 1851 is the standard on PPE selection, care and maintenance. The purpose of this standard is to reduce health and safety risks associated with improper maintenance, contamination, or damage like exposure to harmful carcinogens that are often present in structural fires. Sometimes it's hard to get to an ISP to get the cleanings done. That's why they've created a guide to walk users through the proper cleaning for the turnout gear. Necessary universal precautions Step 1: Preparation - To...

As a company officer, the day will come where you and your crew are first to arrive at what looks like the beginning of a major incident. Your Battalion Chief (BC) is delayed or diverted to other incidents, so YOU are the Incident Commander (IC). How you set the table for this incident with regard to quickly setting up the Incident Command System (ICS) is critical. And how you use your channels of communication, including the ways you communicate, will be crucial to your success. Before we jump...

An in-depth white paper has been published by global wireless solutions firm Ramtech, to address US construction fire and life safety challenges that can have devastating consequences including loss of civilian life and millions of dollars in direct property damage annually. Titled ‘No Site Left Behind: The Modern Fire and Life Safety Solutions for Construction’, the new white paper includes unique industry insight from Turner Construction, to help raise awareness of fire risk and l...

Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) promotes the installation of sprinklers into newly built one- and two-family homes. Beyond educating consumers, the coalition seeks to work with prevention/community outreach personnel in the fire service and with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), which oversee and enforce the requirements for fire safety equipment in their areas. In a bid to increase the installation of sprinkler systems, HFSC has undertaken a transition away from depending on local...

In the world, countries have two great challenges in terms of security in relation to protection and combat against the harmful effects of fires. The first has to do with a macro issue and is what each Nation-State has to do to help stop the process of deterioration due to climate change that the world experiencing, where the data tells us that the average temperature of the planet has increased 1.18 degrees Celsius, since the end of the 19th century and if this trend continues, the consequence...

In firehouses around the world, firefighters must co-exist with diesel-fueled apparatus. When a diesel engine is running in a firehouse apparatus bay, the diesel exhaust can cause a variety of health issues for firefighters who occupy the firehouse. Diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and it can cause coughs, headaches, lightheadedness, and nausea. Breathing in diesel exhaust can cause lung irritation and/or make pre-existing asthma worse. Long-term exposure may lead...

Avon Protection announces that its argus range of thermal imaging cameras has been certified to levels outlined in the 2021 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)1801, Standard on Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service. Argus thermal imaging cameras The argus range includes the Mi-TIC E, Mi-TIC E L, Mi-TIC 320, and Mi-TIC S models. Once again, Avon Protection offers the largest, most diverse, lightweight range of NFPA-compliant thermal imaging cameras. The 2021 edition of NFPA 1...

Trends in garments and protective gear for firefighters are evolving to address the changing needs of the fire service. Garments worn by firefighters must be comfortable and allow an adequate range of motion. They must protect first responders from hazards such as heat and exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Fire service clothing must be durable to withstand long-term usage in hostile environments. “It’s personal for everyone in the industry,” says Oliver Spoecker, Director, W...

KME, a subsidiary of REV Group and a globally renowned manufacturer of fire apparatus, will display the latest in fire apparatus and technology, including the first North American-style fully electric fire truck, at FDIC International 2022 (Fire Department Instructors Conference), taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, from April 28 to April 30, 2022. REV Fire Group’s Vector vehicle will make its debut at FDIC International 2022, giving attendees the opportunity to be among the first...

CMC announced that the company is excited to showcase their latest rescue products at FDIC International 2022 (FDIC 2022) exhibition. Visitors will be able to demo the CMC CLUTCH by Harken Industrial, the comfortable and customizable ATOM Harnesses, the innovative LEVR Escape System, featuring the Flash.G and Flash.2 Escape Anchors, the new SL Anchor Straps, and much more! CLUTCH by Harken Industrial The CLUTCH is the latest evolution in rope hardware that enables the technical rope professio...

Firefighting is among the riskiest professions, and cancer is one of the biggest related medical risks. Fortunately, research is ongoing to better understand the nature of the cancer risk, new protective equipment and practices are evolving to manage the risk, and support is available for cancer survivors and families. Cancer is the leading cause of death among firefighters, who are at greater risk of some cancers than the public. Hazardous substances in the firefighting environment include doz...

Firefighters respond to emergencies in a wide variety of environments which require the proper type of equipment to safely and effectively get the job done. ARFF Airports are a particularly unique environment and utilize specialized Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting trucks, or ARFF trucks, that are designed to handle emergencies involving airplanes. You may have seen an airport fire truck operating on the tarmac while boarding a flight and noticed how different it looked compared to the fire t...

Situational awareness is a critical component of emergency response operations. It is a process that helps firefighters solve problems, prevent bad outcomes, and make better decisions in high-stress environments. In recognition of its importance, the theme of the 2022 Safety Stand-Down campaign is “Situational Awareness: The Foundation for Good Decision-Making.”  Focus on Training and education  A joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Sa...

In recent weeks, Rosenbauer has built the first RTX vehicle for the North American fire services market. The RTX vehicle intended for the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) has been developed jointly with the LAFD. The ‘core DNA’ of the RTX is identical to the RT, according to the European standard, while the technical design complies with the American NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) regulations. RTX firefighting vehicle The RTX firefighting vehicle incorporates th...

Home fires are the most common disaster in this country and sadly, these fires claim seven U.S. lives every day. This year is proving no different. Tragically, since the beginning of 2022, 431 people have lost their lives in home fires. Since January 1, 2022, the American Red Cross has already responded to more than 10,000 home fires, providing help to more than 37,000 people. Home fire safety The American Red Cross highlights the key steps that residents can follow to help them stay safe, sh...

Last year was the largest wildfire season recorded in California in modern history, with six of the top 20 largest wildfires in the state, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). In 2020, firefighters faced a total of 9,917 wildfires that consumed a record 6,653 square miles. These fires took the lives of 33 people and damaged or destroyed 10,488 structures. Ahead of the 2022 wildland fire season, climatologists are predicting another record-shatteri...

The National Fire Protection Association was founded in 1896 to help prevent injury, death, and economic losses resulting from fires. NFPA is a global nonprofit organization with a membership of over 60,000 worldwide. NFPA’s consensus standards and building codes are a recognized benchmark around the world for quality fire safety construction practices. Fire safety education In addition to its standard-setting work, NFPA also serves the public with information, advocacy, and outreach pr...

A trusted provider of fire safety for over 100 years, Kidde announced the launch of its latest innovation – the Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm with smart features and corresponding new mobile app. Designed for Wi-Fi connectivity, the alarm and app function not only as a standalone safety solution, but, notably, is the first smart system that can transform existing Kidde hardwired interconnected alarms into smart ones with an easy and fully integrated solution that offers whole-ho...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that it will present a FREE Leadership for Emergency Responders conference on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, as the organization’s year-long 125th Anniversary Conference Series continues into the first quarter of the year. Program schedule and topics The complimentary online transformational leadership program will feature a total of nine educational sessions for emergency response officers, aspiring leaders, and those on the fro...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released its Fifth U.S. Needs Assessment report, which found that while some fire department needs have declined, some unmet needs have remained constant, and many areas have increased need. This includes aging facilities and apparatus, a lack of behavioral health and safety programs, and challenges in providing training and certification for structural firefighting and other community needs. About the Needs Assessment report Published every...

Women in Fire was established in the early 1980s. The active organization hosts a yearly conference and provides best-practice resources on topics such as fire station design and maternity policies. A mentoring program includes an application process for those wishing to be a mentor or a mentee, and a matchmaking program enables mentoring participants to align their career paths and choose someone whom they can relate to. The organization’s latest international conference in Spokane, Was...

Many hallmarks of the holiday season, including Christmas trees, holiday decorations, cooking, and baking, present potential fire hazards that contribute to an annual increase in U.S. home fires during the winter months.  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for home fires (topped only by Thanksgiving Day). Attention and planning "December is a leading month for home fires, in large part bec...

The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) announces the 2021 Spanish edition of NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is now available on NFPA LiNK™. It is the first foreign language publication introduced on the platform, which provides instant, digital access to NFPA codes and standards, supplementary content, and visual aids for fire, electrical, building, and life safety professionals and practitioners around the world. Spanish-Speaking audience...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has created a Drone Knowledgebase to help more than 29,000 fire departments in the United States improve existing public safety drone programs or to establish new drone initiatives. Drones have become a key instrument for public safety efforts in recent years with first responders increasingly deploying aerial technology to achieve greater situational awareness during structural fires, wildfires, natural disasters, rescue efforts, and large publ...

Technological advances in recent decades have considerably improved fire alert systems. Fire sprinkler systems are now installed at a rate of 40 million units per year and now, 96% of buildings covered by sprinkler systems are potentially able to control fires without additional aid. The next step is predictive fire alarm maintenance, better fire detection, and more effective fire fighting. These capabilities rely on assessing massive amounts of data in realtime to enable predictive maintenance...

The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, has received four direct grants that will advance safety in a variety of areas. The FPRF will also serve in an advisory service capacity for several other grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grants (FEMA AFG), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and National Science Foundation (NSF). This support for FPRF projects in 2022 coordinates with the Foundatio...