Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland adopt NFPA codes
March 12, 2010 – Several states have taken steps to improve fire and life safety for their residents and buildings by adopting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. Hawaii adopted NFPA 1, Fire Code as the state fire code for the first time. Delaware and Maryland are staying current on the latest life safety information with the adoption of the 2009 editions of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code® and NFPA 1, Fire Code, and the 2008 edition of NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code®. Delaware and Maryland have also brought several other NFPA codes and standards up to date with the most recent editions available.
All adoptions became effective between November 11, 2009 and January 1, 2010.
“History has taught us that the adoption of codes and standards plays a significant role in saving lives and properties from fire and other hazards,” said Gary Keith, NFPA’s vice president of field operations and education. “I applaud these states for making a strong commitment to public safety and improving fire and life safety in their built environment,”
NFPA 101 takes action to protect building occupants from the hazardous effects of fire, smoke, and toxic fumes through minimum requirements on building design, construction, operation, and maintenance. It also establishes the requirement of prompt escape routes for occupants in old and new buildings. Every state in the U.S. currently uses this code and it has been adopted for statewide use in 43 states.
NFPA 1, Fire Code addresses basic fire prevention requirements and references or extracts the fire prevention and protection facets of many other NFPA codes and standards. It also supplies requirements that establish a reasonable level of property protection and fire safety from hazards created by fire and explosion.
The NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (NEC) has been developed and published by the NFPA since 1911, with the 51st edition released in 2008. The NEC continues to be the most widely used code in the world, covering the standard for safe electrical installations. The code has been adopted in almost every state in the U.S., in many territories, and in several countries.
States receive instruction through programs developed by the NFPA, which are offered complimentary to states that have adopted major NFPA codes and standards. NFPA technical experts administer the free trainings, which cover the codes’ requirements and the numerous ways they can be utilized and enforced.
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.