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Nearly all jurisdictions in the United States enforce codes that require two exit stairwells in residential buildings above three or four stories. Housing advocates say that increasing the cap to six stories will lead to better housing options and lower costs. That logic has persuaded lawmakers in some U.S. states to pass laws that raise the allowed height of single exit stair buildings, bypassing state building codes. These changes have alarmed fire officials, who say that having taller buildings with only one stairwell puts the lives of residents and firefighters at risk.
With that as the backdrop, NFPA recently held a symposium where experts from both sides of the debate gathered to make their case and come to a better understanding. Today on the podcast, we talk to an NFPA engineer who helped organize the symposium. She explains the reasoning on both sides of the argument, what was learned from the discussions, and why single exit stair rules are suddenly such a big deal in statehouses and the code development world.
LINKS:
Read the recent NFPA Journal cover story on the single exit stair debate, “Single Exit, Many Questions.”
Coming Soon: Check back soon for a link to the single exit stair symposium report.
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As online retail flourishes, distribution centers are installing new and more advanced automated storage and retrieval systems (or ASRS). These systems are like enormous vending machines that store, organize, and move product around the facility. The systems save time and space but have also introduced several new fire risks into storage operations. Today on the podcast, we talk to a safety risk consultant and engineer who has worked on numerous ASRS projects. We discuss how these systems work, the safety challenges, and some of the new designs that are keeping fire protection engineers up at night (2:46).
Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney discusses another concern for warehouses: making sure there is enough water supply for their massive fire sprinkler systems (28:52).LINKS
Check out a blog that illustrates the various types of ASRS -
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When hurricane Ian tore through Florida in September 2022, it left a trail of destruction—but not at Babcock Ranch, a 2,000-home development designed to be both sustainable and to withstand the worst natural disasters. Today on the podcast, we speak to an engineer who lives in and helped design Babcock Ranch about the community’s unique features, as well as the growing trend toward building resiliency and what it could mean for the future of disaster recovery (3:46). This episode first aired in November 2022.
LinksNBC News list of local and national charities to help victims of Hurricane Helene
Watch the 60 Minutes segment on Babcock Ranch
Read a 2015 NFPA Journal cover story on the concept of disaster resiliency -
This month, a comprehensive new survey on smoke alarm use in the U.S. found that 16 percent of households—as many as 53 million people—do not having working smoke alarms. The new report comes just in time for Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12), which will focus on smoke alarm use and maintenance. On today’s podcast, two NFPA experts discuss the findings of the new report, and why it is more critical than ever for residents to be educated about how to keep their smoke alarms working (3:04).
Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney tells us what the code says about where to locate smoke alarms in residential homes (33:27).LINKS:
Visit the Fire Prevention Week 2024 homepage.
Read the new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report on smoke and CO alarm usage in the U.S.
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As fire departments increasingly focus on fire prevention and community risk reduction (CRR), several new challenges have emerged. In some cases, firefighters may resist or be apathetic to these tasks. In other cases, less obvious hurdles like hidden biases can cause departments to make missteps. Today on the podcast, a safety and wellness captain from Georgia joins us to discuss the small and big ways these factors can impact prevention work, and how departments can work to overcome them (2:45).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the requirements for integrated system testing in the Life Safety Code· (41:44).
Extras:
Gary Menard’s book list:
Unconscious Bias, Annie Burdick. The Heart is Noble, Ogyen Trinley Dorje Testosterone Rex, Cordelia Fine Blindspot, Mahzarin Banaji Sway, Ori Brafman Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph Hallinan A Mind of Its Own, Cordelia Fine Quiet, Susan Cain Sway, Pragya Agarwal (yes, a different sway!) The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias, Pamela Fuller, Mark Murphy, Anne Chow The Person You Mean to Be, Dolly Chugh Biased, Jennifer Eberhardt The Art of Active Allyship, Poornima Luthra Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman Everyday Bias” Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgements in Our Daily Lives’ Howard J. Ross The Blindspots Between Us, Glen Tsipursky What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite, David DiSalvo You Are Now Less Dumb, David McRaney You Are Not So Smart, David McRaney How We Decide, Jonah Lehri -
For fire safety educators, breaking through the noise to deliver the right messages to the people who need to hear it can be an enormous challenge. Some are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to discover new insights and strategies. Today on the podcast, we talk to Brene Duggins, a former NFPA Educator of the Year and an early adopter of using AI tools to hone and refine fire education messaging (2:00). She tells us what she’s learned, how you can experiment with these tools, and crucially, what you need to know to avoid making mistakes.
Then, on a new Code Corner, electrical expert Dean Austin, goes over some the key guidance in the National Electrical Code• for installing and locating receptacles for whirlpool tubs (23:02).
Links:
Read a recent NFPA Journal cover story on how artificial intelligence could impact fire and life safety around the globe -
The number of micro-distilleries in the U.S. has ballooned from just 500 in 2014, to more than 2,700 today, according to the American Craft Spirits Association. Like micro-breweries, these small-batch liquor production facilities are often tucked into urban spaces like strip malls, but unlike breweries, the beverages they produce are quite flammable. Today on the podcast, we are joined by an architect that specializes in micro-distillery design. He tells us more about how these distilleries operate, the associated hazards and fire protection considerations, and what AHJs should know (2:55).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA Engineer Brian O’Connor goes into detail about considerations for the storage of alcohol and what guidance NFPA codes offer (37:02).
LINKS:
Read a 2018 NFPA Journal feature story about the hazards and protection challenges of micro-distilleries. -
Research has shown that doing wildfire mitigation work, like replacing wooden shingles or removing dead leaves from the gutters, drastically reduces the chances of your home becoming a heap of ash when a wildfire strikes. But how much does the public know about these potentially life-saving activities? Today on the podcast, we dig into a comprehensive new survey that asked residents in wildfire-prone areas what they know about mitigation, how motivated they are to act, and what obstacles stand in their way (2:04).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras, talks about the NFPA codes that offer guidance on protecting life and property from wildfire, and details some of the concepts involved (35:55).
LINKS:
Read the new report from the Fire Protection Research Foundation
Visit NFPA's Outthink Wildfire Homepage
See resources from NFPA about wildfire mitigation and how homes burn -
Despite overwhelming proof that home fire sprinklers save lives, fewer than 10 percent of all new homes being built in the United States today are equipped with sprinklers, and most states refuse to mandate their use. However, fire marshals and others are finding creative ways to incentivize developers to include fire sprinklers in new housing projects, leading to thousands more protected homes. Today on the podcast, we talk to Thomas Poirier, a fire prevention officer and chair of the Massachusetts Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, about developer incentives and tradeoffs, and what tips he has for other advocates looking to increase the number of sprinklered homes in their communities (2:02).
Then, on a new Code Corner, Shawn Mahoney talks about the NFPA code guidance on water supply for fire sprinkler systems in one- and- two-family dwellings (23:33).
LINKS:
Check out the Home Fire Sprinkler CoalitionGet Resources, Stats, and Other Information from NFPA About Home Fire Sprinklers
Read an NFPA Journal Feature on Home Fire Sprinkler Incentives
Read a the recent NFPA report: “U.S. Experience With Sprinklers”
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In March, NFPA announced the formation of a new for-profit corporation called NFPA Global Solutions, a venture unique from anything NFPA has undertaken in its history. On today’s podcast, Jim Pauley, NFPA’s president and CEO, joins us to explain the vision for NFPA Global Solutions, and why now was the right time for NFPA to branch out in this new direction (2:01).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney gives you some valuable information about the code requirements for fire extinguisher inspections (23:41).
Links:
Read the NFPA Journal feature on the creation and vision for NFPA Global SolutionsVisit the NFPA Global Solutions website
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Electric Shock Drowning claims possibly dozens of lives each year, but most people have never heard of it. Our guest today, David Rifkin, is one of world’s leading experts on this hazard and its causes. He explains what ESD is, how it occurs, and what communities, marina operators, and the public can do to lessen the risk of being electrocuted while swimming (1:49).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Dean Austin talks about Electric Shock Drowning from a code perspective, and tells us what guidance is available for installers, maintenance workers, and marina owners (42:38).
LINKS:
Visit the Electric Shock Drowning Prevention Association website
See NFPA’s Electric Shock Drowning resource page
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We wrap up Electrical Safety Month with a powerful reminder for anyone doing hazardous work of why you can't afford to be complacent about safety. Veteran electrician Jason Brozen was at a routine job on an ordinary day, when a careless decision while installing a breaker led to an arc flash that changed his life forever. On today’s podcast, Jason shares the story of his accident, and explains in his unique engaging way what others can learn from his mistakes (2:42).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs, talks about the role of human error in electrical safety and how we can try and eliminate it (59:02).
LINKS:
Watch the full NFPA Webinar featuring Jason Brozen
Check out the NFPA Faces of Fire Electrical campaign -
In February 2023, Chief Brian Nardelli of the Brockton Fire Department in Massachusetts found himself at the helm of one of the most complex operations a chief can face: a hospital fire requiring a full evacuation. The eight-hour incident at Brockton Hospital involved a nasty electrical fire, 91 ambulances, 162 patients evacuated and transferred, 26 pieces of fire apparatus, and resulted in zero deaths and injuries. Chief Nardelli, the incident commander that day, joins the podcast to take us through the incident, including what worked, and lessons learned (2:50).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs, in honor of electrical safety month, talks about how electrical safety is achieved through the use of NFPA codes and standards (38:04).
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Residential hoarding poses numerous dangers and fire risks for residents and firefighters, yet communities have struggled to find meaningful solutions. Today on the podcast, two of North America’s most prominent hoarding researchers join us to talk about the causes and trendlines of hoarding (2:08), as well as the latest risk reduction strategies that communities are implementing to address it (16:27).
Then, on a new code corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras tells us about strategies in NFPA 1, Fire Code, for how communities can prevent fires in vacant buildings (43:49).
LINKS
NFPA Hoarding Resources
Centre for Collaborative Research on Hoarding Resources -
In most years, more firefighters die by suicide than from accidents or injuries that happen in the line of duty, according to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. It’s well understood that PTSD is a huge contributor to the problem, but recently a new concept called moral injury has also become recognized as a significant factor. Today on the podcast, we discuss moral injury and firefighter suicide with Jeff Dill, a licensed clinician and former battalion chief who is the founder the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (3:15). We also talk about the many factors—good and bad—that play a role in the overall mental health of today’s first responders.
Then, on a new Code Corner, Curt Floyd, the technical lead for responders at NFPA, discusses the new consolidated standard NFPA 1030 and the new guidance it gives on professional qualifications for first responder inspectors (36:00).
LINKS: Read the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance's white paper on moral injury.
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Each year, accidental carbon monoxide poisonings cause at least 430 deaths in the U.S., and send more than 100,000 people to emergency rooms, according to the CDC. Studies have found that the number of accidental CO deaths has increased over the last decade.
Today on the podcast, we speak to Richard Roberts, a member of several NFPA committees on carbon monoxide, and an active participant in the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association. He dives into the science of how this deadly gas gets into people’s homes, how CO affects the human body, how CO codes and standards are changing, and what people can do to better protect themselves (2:44).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the requirements for integrated system testing for fire protection systems and why it’s important (19:09)
Links:
Check out NFPA resources for carbon monoxide
Learn more about the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association
Check out The IFMA Podcast -
As the number of energy storage and photovoltaic systems being installed across the world continues to rise dramatically, so does the need for trained professionals to ensure that these systems are reliable and safe for decades to come. Today on the podcast, we discuss the various codes and standards needed for the proper installation and maintenance of ESS and PV; and then our experts give advice on what you should know if you are involved with overseeing and implementing these projects (2:00).
Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Dean Austin talks about the National Electrical Code· requirements for electrical room dedicated space involving equipment 1000 volts or less (31:21).
Links:
Resister for the Feb. 29 webinar, “How to More Safely Integrate Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems into Your Facility and Community.” -
We wrap up our two-parter about how AI technologies might impact fire and life safety by talking with Xinyan Huang, a fire protection engineer, professor, and AI researcher at the Research Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He tells us about a few of the AI tools he and his colleagues are developing and how they may one day help with everything from designing safer buildings to guiding firefighter robots (2:54).
And then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks fire alarm design, and explains the differences between the alarm, trouble, and supervisory signals in a fire alarm system (56:15).
LINKS:
Read the cover story "Our AI Future" in the new issue of NFPA Journal
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Today’s podcast is the first in a two-part series looking at how artificial intelligence technologies could impact fire and life safety. In this episode, we focus on AI’s potential impact on the fire service. How might fire departments use AI? What are the dangers? What guardrails need to be in place to ensure that the technology is reliable and safe?
We pose those questions and many more to Preet Bassi, the CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence. She tells us why caution is the operative word, and why she’s skeptical that AI will ever replace human decision makers on the fireground (3:51).
Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Robin Zevotek provides some information about a little-known NFPA standard on fire department data and the role it could play in AI adoption (37:08).
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Lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic panels are technologies that may improve environmental sustainability, but also present challenges to fire protection engineers. Conversely, chemical flame retardants may lead to better fire outcomes, but also have potentially serious impacts on human health and the environment. Today on the podcast, we talk about some of the inherent frictions that exist between sustainability and fire protection efforts (2:43). Can we find the right balance to effectively achieve both?
Then, on a new Code Corner, for those who have ever wondered how NFPA codes and standards are developed and revised, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney offers an excellent overview of the process and how the public can get involved (31:40).
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