National Fire Protection Association
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Abbreviation | NFPA |
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Founded | November 6, 1896[1] |
Headquarters | Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Method | Industry standards, publications, conferences |
Members | 50,000 |
President and CEO | Jim Pauley[2] |
Volunteers | 9,000 |
Website | nfpa.org |
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.[2][3] As of 2018, the NFPA claims to have 50,000 members and 9,000 volunteers working with the organization through its 250 technical committees.[4][5]
History[edit]
In 1895, a Committee on Automatic Sprinkler Protection was formed in Massachusetts by men affiliated with several fire insurance companies and a pipe manufacturer to develop a uniform standard for the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems. At the time, there were nine such standards in effect within 100 miles (160 km) of Boston, Massachusetts, and such diversity was causing great difficulties for plumbers working in the New England region.[6]
The next year, the committee published its initial report on a uniform standard, and went on to form the NFPA in late 1896. The committee's initial report evolved into NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, which is now the most widely used fire sprinkler standard.[6]
Around 1904, the NFPA began to expand its membership from affiliates of fire insurance companies to many other organizations and individuals, and also expanded its mission beyond promulgating fire sprinkler standards.[6]
Codes and standards[edit]
The association publishes more than 300 consensus codes and standards that are intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. The codes and standards are administered by more than 250 technical committees, consisting of approximately 8,000 volunteers.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Freitag, Joseph Kendall (1921). Fire Prevention and Fire Protection as Applied to Building Construction: A Handbook of Theory and Practice (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 52.
- ^ a b "NFPA Leadership". National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- ^ "National Fire Protection Association - NFPA". Healthfinder.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- ^ "NFPA overview". National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
- ^ "About NFPA". National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ a b c Jones, Jr., A. Maurice (2021). Fire Protection Systems (3rd ed.). Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 22. ISBN 9781284180138. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "List of NFPA Codes and Standards". National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
External links[edit]
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- Electrical safety standards organizations
- Fire protection organizations
- Firefighting in the United States
- Non-profit organizations based in Massachusetts
- Occupational safety and health organizations
- Organizations established in 1896
- Quasi-public entities in the United States
- Quincy, Massachusetts
- Standards organizations in the United States