National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) News

On the heels of expanding its industry-renowned eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line and attaining NFPA 1936 2020 certification for it, HURST Jaws of Life announced that it has earned NFPA 1936 2020 compliant status for all of its current low-pressure and high-pressure tools, as well as its StrongArm multi-tool, completing the company’s certification for all pressure rescue products available today. HURST Jaws of Life attains NFPA 1936 2020 compliance “HURST Jaws of Lif...

Beyond keeping the industry updated on the latest updates on the most important topics, the FIA is actively involved in these topics through its work with Government, councils and committees. The section aims to serve as a collection of the FIA’s involvement with a variety of topics and will be continuously updated moving forward with links to the relevant news story where available. This will allow one to see what FIA have done and are doing to improve the industry for the members. COVID...

In its most recent five-year report on structure fires in U.S. schools, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that from 2013-2017, school fires resulted in a total of 212 injuries – a 32 percent drop from the previous five year period. These are remarkable numbers when one considers that during that time, there were more than 16,500 school fires reported. On average, school fires cause $42 million in direct property damage each year. While the schools are clearly doing an...

The industry’s first watertight battery-powered extrication tool line is expanding, as HURST Jaws of Life introduces nine new tools that will give first responders a full selection of extrication solutions that are completely operational underwater. HURST Jaws of Life’s EWXT line The company that has revolutionized the rescue industry time and again, HURST Jaws of Life, introduced its innovative eDRAULIC watertight extrication tool (EWXT) line, with water-resistant casing, in 2019....

Reno-based manufacturer, American Fire Wire, introduces AFW-2HFR-3, its 50-Ohm, two-hour fire rated coaxial cable for Distributed Antenna System (DAS) installations. Public Safety DAS systems enable wireless connectivity within their radiuses and, without the proper components, can fail to withstand emergency scenarios such as floods, fires and earthquakes, minimizing communications first-response teams can conduct when on site. American Fire Wire's addition to their family of American-made coa...

In the past two years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has issued several new reports that lend more in-depth insight into the top causes of residential fires. This post summarizes the top causes of home fires and some of the interesting trends identified in these reports. Drop in number of residential fires The number of residential fires and fire deaths has dropped by about half over the past 40 years. However, the data also shows that while there were fewer fires and fire de...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, in collaboration with Pierce dealer MacQueen Emergency Group, has delivered a Pierce® Velocity® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Platform featuring innovative new idle reduction technology. The apparatus is the first of its kind and addresses the City of Rochester’s requirements to reduce emissions and its carbon footprint. The Pierce idle reduction technology incorporates high-performance lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batt...

The Dyersburg Fire Department in Tennessee is a full-paid agency with 50 sworn firefighters and three stations, providing EMS/Rescue coverage as well as primary fire response to a population of approximately 15,000 residents, with a 15.1 square mile service area which also encompasses part of an interstate, a regional airport, and a hospital. It is additionally an ISO Class 3 agency. As with many agencies across the country, Captain Rusty Hilliard says Dyersburg’s stations share common sp...

HURST Jaws of Life, an industry renowned global manufacturer of rescue tools, has earned the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 1936 2020 compliant status for HURST’s two highest-performing product lines, eDRAULIC watertight extrication tools (EWXT) and eDRAULIC 2.0 (E2) battery-powered tools. The third-party test results also include HURST Jaws of Life earning high ratings in the NFPA’s new F Bar Cut testing for cutter performance, against the design and metal type...

Diesel exhaust emissions can spread toxic gases and soot particles throughout a firehouse anytime a diesel-fueled engine is operated. When diesel fuel is burned, it produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diesel soot. Both of these substances are classified as carcinogens. Ultrafine particulate can penetrate deep into the lung and is absorbed through the skin, carrying toxins into the bloodstream. Exposure to this type of pollution can increase the risk of developing cancer, and respirato...

PGI, the provider of technology-driven protective gear, develops and manufactures innovative clothing for firefighters and rescue workers. The American company has now enhanced its COBRA BarriAire Gold hoods to provide extremely effective particulate protection. Highly topical and causing considerable controversy right now, the issue of nose and mouth protection is one that firefighters and rescue workers have long been discussing given that they're often confronted with heavily contaminated ai...

The huge range and breadth of chemicals, minerals and other materials involved in the business of contract “toll” processing led a major custom processor in the Northeastern USA to explore various Explosion Protection options with IEP Technologies with the aim of building maximum flexibility and safety into their processing plants and operations. The problem of dust explosions is present in a surprising number of manufacturing processes whenever fine particulates, dispersed in air,...

When a prominent U.S. manufacturer of processing equipment for the dairy industries had concerns about mitigating the consequences of dust explosions for a recent project, they turned to IEP Technologies for assistance with specifying the optimum explosion protection system solution for their customer – a Toll Manufacturer of dried whey protein products. The process equipment manufacturer had previously collaborated with IEP on various projects in Europe, however this was the first opport...

A specialized manufacturer of Wood Products based in the North Eastern United States consulted IEP Technologies when installing a new process line which needed protection against the potentially dangerous and costly effects of industrial explosions. As part of the plant expansion, a new Dust Collector was to be installed in an outside location. Explosion venting panels The new equipment was already fitted with explosion venting panels from the dust collector manufacturer to protect against exp...

In recognition of National Volunteer Week in April, First Alert, the most trusted brand in fire safety, is teaming up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to show their gratitude and appreciation for volunteer fire departments across the country. With first responders facing unprecedented conditions nationwide, the donation of 1,000 First Alert rechargeable fire extinguishers will go to departments registered with the NVFC’s Fire Corps program to help fire service volunteers ma...

For businesses and organizations using unheated warehouses or other structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in an automatic sprinkler system to burst, chances are, the system is equipped with a dry-pipe fire sprinkler system. Dry-pipe sprinkler systems Dry-pipe sprinkler systems are used in settings where a temperature above 40°F (4°C) cannot be reliably maintained. Unlike wet-pipe systems in which the pipes are filled with water, the pipes in a dry-pipe system ar...

As the COVID-19 emergency continues to evolve, fire departments and fire protection contractors must ensure fire prevention and life safety systems and equipment are in working order at all times. These fire and life systems and products are essential functions in safeguarding the public, businesses, and institutions. CAL FIRE - OSFM regulations The CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE - OSFM) regulations continue to be in effect and relevant deadlines apply. The California Fi...

No one wants to dwell on the damage a fire can do and what the costs to the owner of a building might be. Depending on the industry and the kind of building one has, they might want to look into fire suppression systems outside of fire extinguishers or alarms. Liberty Fire Solutions can help install fire sprinkler systems in business. Fire sprinkler system The price of a fire sprinkler system varies based on the size and type of fire sprinklers one installs. In general, here are the costs one...

International Fire Suppression Alliance, Ltd. (IFSA) recognized that the emergence of the COVID-19 virus spread, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), has resulted in the postponement or cancellation of virtually all industry events over the next few months, as countries struggle to contain it.  Fire Industry events cancelled The list of international events and trade shows cancelled and postponed includes: 17-18 March 2020 - ABSpk conference in Sao Paulo –...

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are over 354,000 residential fires a year, causing, on average, around 2,600 deaths and over 11,000 injuries. The majority of fire-related deaths occur at night while people sleep. The important role of well-placed, quality smoke alarms is easy to see. There are two main types of smoke alarms – ionization and photoelectric. Understanding the difference between the two can help users make the best decision, regarding installing t...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) has announced that their Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response Team will begin pre-incident planning in March 2020, in compliance with NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning. Funding from the Harris County Commissioners Court, to support additional HazMat team staffing, has allowed the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office to develop and pursue this progressive avenue of pre-incident planning of businesses and facilities in the unincorporated...

At this year’s NFPA Conference & Expo 2020, FFE Ltd. is slated to launch their new innovative Fireray One, Optical Beam Smoke Detector. It is the perfect fire protection and detection solution for wide open spaces. Visitors at FFE Ltd’s stand at the NFPA Conference can get hands on with the new product and experience how quick and easy the solution’s intelligent auto-alignment process is. Visitors can get immersed in this new technology, and talk to company executives at th...

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is the first fire service in North America to purchase a pre-series vehicle based on the Concept Fire Truck (CFT). The electric fire truck from Rosenbauer will be delivered in the first quarter 2021 and put into practice as part of a comprehensive test operation. CFT Technology In addition to its driving characteristics and safety features, the truck made an impression with its ergonomics and high functionality during the initial demonstrations last Decem...

As part of the review of Building Regulations (Approved Document B), and in response to emerging evidence on long-term firefighter health issues, the government is investigating whether the effects of fire toxicity should be a legal requirement when choosing materials for high risk buildings. To assist in this research, the Fire Protection Association is bringing together global fire toxicity experts to share their knowledge at an inaugural conference in London on 30th March. The day will be su...

For anyone starting a new restaurant, navigating the complex maze of fire protection regulations can seem like a daunting task. In this post, Koorsen Fire & Security will provide an overview of the basic requirements that anyone needs to be aware of along with the relevant codes in which they can be found. To simplify the topic, on the basis of the requirements for restaurants, they will be grouped into two main categories, life safety and fire protection. Life safety requirements apply to...

Registration is now open for the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2020 Training Summit, which will take place June 26-27 in Orlando, FL. The conference is open to all volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, department leadership, and other fire department personnel from across the United States. Travel stipends are available to help more people attend. 2020 NVFC Training Summit This two-day classroom-based training event is an opportunity to learn from leading subject matter exper...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced that the state of Massachusetts’ recent update of the Massachusetts Electrical Code to contain the requirements of the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC) (plus MA-specific amendments) represents the first state to implement the latest version of the code. The NEC continues to be the most widely used code in the built environment in the world, and sets the standard for safe electrical installation and inspection to pr...

AAR MRO Services supports airline operators with everything from maintenance inspections and equipment upgrades to airframe painting and heavy maintenance for all major aircraft in service. The largest MRO operator of its type in the Americas, AAR recently opened the company’s largest facility, located at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. Here, each of two 10-story hangar bays can accommodate hundreds of ‘small’ aircraft, two Boeing 787s or even an Airbus A380, the l...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will have a local representative who will oversee the overall regional planning, direction, coordination and support of international development functions in the Middle East and North Africa. NFPA rep in the Middle East Anas Alzaid, an electrical engineering consultant with more than 30 years of experience working with facilities management and safety professionals, is charged with assessing local safety concerns, cultivating strong alliances th...

Two new Rosenbauer PANTHER 6x6 HRET were put into service on January 13, at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) in an event featuring a traditional push-back ceremony. In the future, these vehicles will act as the flagships of the airport fire brigade. The performance, safety, and ergonomics of the high-end devices exceed the requirements of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). This makes the PANTHER...