An investigative report by NBC Chicago highlights a battle raging in Illinois as State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis is working to update the state fire code, unchanged for the past twelve years. According to the report “the one he's proposing is a big one: a first-ever requirement for fire sprinklers in all new single-family homes, including those built in Chicago.” "As far as I'm concerned, everyone in Illinois deserves safe housing," Matkaitis told NBC Chicago. "Every state fire marshal in the country is trying to do the same thing that I am, for the same reason." The report also focused... Continue reading

Ten NFPA codes and standards, including NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®, were acted upon during the NFPA Conference & Expo last week in Chicago. See the results of our Association Technical Meeting. Continue reading

The role of technology – and how it helps NFPA improve, health, safety and education for its many audiences around the world – was the focus of NFPA President Jim Shannon’s remarks at the General Session of the NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago. "We have become accustomed to getting answers to questions right away," he said. "We communicate all day with our co-workers, colleagues in other places, our families, our friends. We are connected all day, every day… We have structured our lives, both professional and personal, around a technology that we knew almost nothing about a couple of... Continue reading

NFPA Chair Philip C. Stittleburg used his time on stage at the Aerie Crown Theater at the McCormick Place Convention Center during the NFPA Conference & Expo to talk about NFPA’s influence. "We have more than 300 codes and standards," he said, "but many may seem remote from what we do day-to-day. Let me tell you how they affect me close to home." Read an overview of his remarks. Continue reading

Author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered the keynote address at the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago. The topic of her speech was President Abraham Lincoln's decision to challenge his leadership by surrounding himself with polticial rivals. This was also the topic of her best-selling book "Team of Rivals." NFPA members can watch the full keynote presentation (available only until September 10, 2013). Continue reading

Author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin delivered the keynote address at the 2013 NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago. The topic of her speech was President Abraham Lincoln's decision to challenge his leadership by surrounding himself with polticial rivals. This... Continue reading

The role of technology – and how it helps NFPA improve, health, safety and education for its many audiences around the world – was the focus of NFPA President Jim Shannon’s remarks at the General Session of the NFPA Conference... Continue reading

NFPA Chair Philip C. Stittleburg used his time on stage at the Aerie Crown Theater at the McCormick Place Convention Center to talk about NFPA’s influence. "We have more than 300 codes and standards," he said, "but many may seem... Continue reading

For the past two years, NFPA has offered free access to educational presentations that were featured at our annual Conference & Expo. This year in Chicago, more than 150 educational sessions were held over three days. Following are the most... Continue reading

A special presentation today at NFPA’s Conference & Expo looked the results of the new NFPA report on on-duty firefighter fatalities. The new report shows a total of 64 on-duty firefighter deaths in the United States in 2012, marking the second consecutive year that the total has been below 65 deaths. For the past four years, the annual total has been well below 100, dropping the annual average over the past 10 years to 88 deaths. Read NFPA’s “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2012” report, by Dr. Fahy, Paul LeBlanc and Joseph Molis. “NFPA has been tracking this data... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems 25-1 Motion to Accept Comment 25-2 failed 25-2 Motion to Accept... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 130, Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems 130-1 Motion to Return a portion of the Report in the form of an... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 502, Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and Other Limited Access Highways 502-1 Motion to Return a portion of the Report in the form of... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®: 70-1 Motion to Accept Comment 1-21 was not pursued. 70-2 and 70-3 Related Motions to Reject Comment 2-33 and to... Continue reading

More than three dozen motions on the National Electrical Code® (NFPA 70®) are being debated on the floor of NFPA's Association Technical Meeting this morning in Chicago. Download the Motions Committee report that contains all of the amending motions submitted... Continue reading

The second day of NFPA’s Association Technical Meeting is now underway at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Today, members will consider the following four documents: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code® NFPA 502 Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 58-1 Motion to Accept Comment 58-25 failed. 58-2 Motion to Accept Proposal 58-73 passed. 58-3 Motion to Accept Comment... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 96, Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations. 96-1 Motion to Accept an Identifiable Part of Comment 96-4 failed. 96-2... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 1123, Code for Fireworks Display 1123-1 Motion to Accept Comment 1123-1 failed. 1123-2 Motion to Accept Comment 1123-2 failed. NFPA 1123 was passed with... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 801, Standard for Fire Protection for Facilities Handling Radioactive Materials 801-1 Motion to Accept Comment 801-16 passed. NFPA 801 was passed with one amending... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting 1851-1 Motion to Accept Comment 1851-32... Continue reading

During today's NFPA Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, the following action has taken place on NFPA 1061, Standard for the Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator 1061-1 Motion to Accept Comment 1061-2 failed. 1061-2 Group Amending Motion to Accept Comments... Continue reading

Fernando Vigara of Spain was named the first-ever Lifetime International Member of NFPA during the NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago. Mr. Vigara has been an NFPA member for 35 years. He was honored by NFPA President Jim Shannon and... Continue reading

NFPA’s Association Technical Meeting is now underway at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Today, members will consider the following six documents: NFPA 1061, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and... Continue reading

Presenters Eddie Kramer, Eddie Raymond, and Alan Rowe of the International Alliance of Stage Theatrical Employees (IATSE), familiarized this session’s attendees with the terms, processes, and personnel used in live event theatrical productions. They pointed out local officials or inspectors... Continue reading