National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Compliant Design Service
Meet NFPA codes and standards the easy way
The threat of fire constantly looms over crowded urban cities like New York and claims hundreds of lives each year. According to the data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1,389,500 fires were reported in 2011 in USA. The fires resulted in the death of 3,005 civilians and injured another 17,500 people. The fires also caused $11.7 billion worth of property damages.
Various agencies in USA have dedicated themselves to developing standards and codes to prevent loss of lives and safeguard properties. Many states have their own versions of codes which must be followed while constructing a new building. Some codes are voluntary and promoted as best practices to reduce damages resulting from fires.
The NFPA is a trade association which develops and maintains a range of standards and codes for adoption by local governments. The organization has published more than 300 consensus codes to reduce the risks of fire and related impacts. 205 Technical Committees and 8,000 volunteers administer the standards and many governments around the world have adopted them.
For instance, the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) is used in the majority of the US states that follow the guidelines for new buildings. The code outlines the minimum design elements, construction and operation to reduce the threats arising from fire, heat, smoke or toxic fumes. The standards are adopted by 43 states in USA and every builder must follow them. Based on your location, several other codes may also apply for both residential and commercial buildings.
It's imperative that you follow the codes in order to prevent loss of lives and damage in your property. That means your designs should be compliant to the standards outlined by NFPA and incorporate all measures described in the codes. If you don't comply with the mandated standards, you can land up in trouble and get your work suspended by the authorities.
New York Engineers can help you achieve full compliance with NFPA standards and codes. Our designing service incorporates all the applicable NFPA codes and best practices required to create a fire-resilient structure. We have the most adept engineers and architects with complete knowledge of NFPA standards. Our team can assist you in meeting NFPA guidelines no matter the state you are located in.
Are NFPA standards mandatory?
The standards developed by the NFPA is an effort to establish the minimum criteria for performance, operation and safety of fire-related systems and services. The standards are created by consensus committees represented by stakeholders and representatives of the industry. As such, the NFPA codes are not laws and complying with them is voluntary.
The NFPA can't make rules and doesn't enforce compliance with the codes themselves. The organization also doesn't inspect or certify designs, products or installations for compliance. But there are few exceptions.
Many NFPA codes have been adopted by the federal, state and local governments. The codes have been integrated into building and fire codes and any construction in the respective jurisdiction has to follow them. That means some standards are mandatory and designers must implement them in their construction drawings to be followed by contractors.
Implementing NFPA standards help you create a safe structure designed to reduce risks of fire and its consequences. Following the codes can help mitigate emergencies with minimum injuries, loss of lives or damage to property.
Nobody wants their home or property to be burnt down by fire- and NFPA standards ensure they don't!
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