Towards the end of the 19th century, the advent of electricity and electrical applications had revolutionized the world. It opened the gates to unprecedented technology and inventions that further propelled manufacturing and commerce. The portability of electricity allowed it to be ushered into every residence, commercial building, and public space. However, the introduction of futuristic gizmos and gadgets into the hands of ordinary people also meant that the risks of danger were considerably higher. piping industrial, Electrical wiring enabled homeowners to enjoy the benefits of light during night-time but it also posed new types of safety hazards such as electrical fires. Owing to government inaction towards establishing strict fire safety guidelines and regulations, a group of concerned US citizens decided to take matters into their own hands and iron out some fire safety suggestions. Over the years, this group steadily grew into the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) whose codes and standards are now acknowledged all around the world. In this article, we dive into the defining traits of the NFPA, why we need them, and what are the most common standards that they prescribe.
What does the NFPA do?
Established in 1896, the NFPA offers contractors, developers, and building-owners a robust set of recommendations that help ensure fire protection and safety. Its purpose is especially served in today's market where rapid growth of technology has facilitated a diverse set of fire safety devices such as sprinkler systems, Fire Protection Services extinguishers, alarm systems, and fire hydrants among others. Under such circumstances, it is extremely useful to have guidelines that standardize device characteristics and installation procedures. Today, the NFPA has made its mark by being recognized as a global non-profit organization whose main aim is to promote safety standards, especially involving hazardous fires. One of the ways by which the association goes about achieving its goal is by conducting educational training sessions and endorsing research findings with regard to fires. Armed with a vision of fully eliminating deaths, injuries, or property damages caused by fires and fire-related hazards, NFPA has laid down nearly 300 codes and standards for fire safety. It also boasts of memberships that total over 50,000 people from across the globe.
Common NFPA codes and standards
NFPA 704: Designed to aid emergency responders in identifying hazardous materials, this NFPA standard makes way for a rating system that is colour-coded to indicate the level of danger that each material poses.
NFPA 170: This standard was set up to ensure that any signage, diagram, blueprint, or plans follow an established norm when it comes to incorporating fire safety symbols or other signs depicting emergency.
NFPA 70E: This standard focuses on employee activity especially those that involve handling heavy electrical machinery. It prescribes guidelines that allow them to be productive in their jobs while also ensuring that their manner of work meets electrical safety requirements.
Apart from a few of these widely-known codes and standards, the association also has protocols in place for interesting scenarios such as outdoor firework displays, explosion investigations, fuel-cell power systems installation, etc.
