National Fire Protection Association Blog

NFPA Journal explains two systems of hazard labeling

For years, NFPA 704, Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response, has provided guidance for labeling physical and chemical hazards. The labels, designed to help determine an appropriate response in the event of an emergency, are readily recognized and easily understood. Last year, however, OSHA adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) that, like NFPA 704, provides a standardized approach to classifying and labeling hazardous chemicals. But the GHS guidelines differ from those of NFPA 704. While OSHA allows the NFPA 704 system to remain in workplaces as long as employees understand and can use both systems, concerns have arisen over the possibility for confusion between the two. In his article "Working Together" in the latest issue of NFPA Journal, Guy Colonna describes how NFPA and OSHA are working to avert possible problems.

Read the Report of the Motions Committee on Certified Amending Motions for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code

The Report of the Motions Committee for NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, addresses the certified amending motions for consideration at the Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, IL on Thursday, June 13, 2013. This Report also identifies a list of NITMAMS not certified on NFPA 70.

This Report is the third of three reports addressing motions submitted for consideration at the 2013
Association Technical Meeting, and is specific to the NEC. A Consolidated Final Motions Committee
Report (the Consolidated Report) will be posted shortly on the NFPA website prior to the Association Technical Meeting. 

See the order of documents to be presented at the Association Technical Meeting.

 

 

 

News report: Were first responders aware of dangers at Texas fertilizer plant?

Nearly one month after an explosion and fire at a West, TX, fertilizer plant that killed 14 people, LDNews, the webiste of the Lebanon Daily News, is taking a closer look at the event, and in particular, if the town's volunteer fire crews were fully aware of the dangers they faced during their response efforts.

"When they saw 30-foot flames licking the sky inside a massive fertilizer plant, firefighters in this tiny Texas town rushed to evacuate nearby buildings and raced to spray water on tanks of chemicals, hoping to prevent a catastrophe.

They didn't know, and probably could not imagine, that the plant would soon explode into a deadly fireball and lay waste to much of the community. Instead, they were more concerned with preventing toxic gas from leaking out of the facility and drifting into nearby homes."

The LDNews report references Associated Press interviews with first-responders that suggeset the primary concern was a poisonous cloud of anhydrous ammonia. But the bigger threat, according to the report, was the huge supply of the common fertilzer ammonium nitrate, which can also serve as a cheap alternative to dynamite.

The report says Tommy Muska, Mayor of West, said he did not know how much the firefighters knew about the chemicals on the property. But, the report says, it's unclear whether simply knowing about the ammonium nitrate would have been enough.

"The National Fire Protection Association has codes on handling ammonium nitrate, but it does not advise how to fight such fires because circumstances vary, said Guy Colonna, the division manager of the industrial and chemical engineering group.

Related NFPA codes and standards

• NFPA 400, Hazardous Material Code: This document applies to the storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials in all occupancies and facilities, including ammonium nitrate solids and liquids. Free access to NFPA 400.
• NFPA 472, Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents. This document identifies the minimum levels of competence required by responders to emergencies involving hazardous materials/weapons of mass destruction. Free access to NFPA 472.
• NFPA 1620, Pre-Incident Planning. This document provides criteria for evaluating the protection, construction, and operational features of specific occupancies to develop a pre-incident plan that should be used by responding personnel to manage fires and other emergencies in such occupancies using the available resources. Free access to NFPA 1620.

Also see

• Storage of ammonium nitrate was the subject of a case study at a 2010 Fire Protection Research Foundaiton symposium.

Related articles

New CSB video provides an up-close-and-personal look at damage from the recent Texas plant explosion

News reports fertilizer plant fire in Texas

NFPA Journal examines the top proposed changes to the 2014 NEC

NFPA's electrical experts helped NFPA Journal staff comb through the 3,500 proposals and 1,600 comments submitted for the 2014 edition of NFPA 70 ^®, National Electrical Code^®. The outcome was a recent Journal article highlighting the top proposed changes to the code that is already generating a healthy buzz. 

For instance, the expanded use of arc-fault circuit interruptors, devices designed to detect electrical arcing and de-energize a circuit before a fire occurs, has prompted a healthy debate among safety advocates and the National Association of Home Builders. Safety concerns surrounding green technology has led to proposals to increase the NEC's voltage threshold. Even electrial safeguards at recreational vehicle parks have initiated some serious discussions.

Learn more about these issues in the latest issue of NFPA Journal. And mark your calendar: NEC topics receiving a Notice of Intent to Make a Motion will be discussed at NFPA's Conference & Expo, June 13, in Chicago.

Work in Progress: America Burning at 40 - We need data!!

This is the second in a series of posts about the 40^th anniversary of America Burning and the related NFPA Journal article. The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control was frustrated by how little was known about the causes and circumstances of fires. In the very first chapter, the Commission recommended “that a national fire data system be established to provide a continuing review and analysis of the entire fire problem. USFA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), the source of detailed information in most of NFPA’s statistical analyses, was the result.

The country also needed a better understanding of fire behavior and fire department productivity. This led to NIST’s Center for Fire Research and fire.gov – “Better firefighting through research.”

We still have data needs. Currently, NFPA is entering the public comment phase for the second draft of the proposed NFPA 950: Standard for Data Development and Exchange for the Fire Service and seeking input or proposals for the proposed NFPA 951: Guide to Building and Utilizing Digital Information.

What kinds of data or information do you use or need about fire? Where or how do you get it? What are the obstacles? How could we get better data?

 

 

Earlier closing dates for paper submission of public input and comments

As NFPA continues to move forward with implementation of the Standards Development Process, many of the new benefits of online submission process continue to take hold.  When Public Input/Comments are submitted online the proposed changes are integrated in-line on the draft document.  Once the closing date has passed online submissions allow the Committee Members to see all of the proposed changes integrated into one complete document virtually immediately, maximize the amount of time each Committee Member has to review all of the proposed changes and prepare for any upcoming committee meeting.  However, while we want to provide as much extra time as possible to our Committee Members, we also want to consider the needs of those who still want to submit their Public Input/Comments on the “paper forms” via e-mail, fax or mail.  Beginning with the Fall 2014 submittals of Public Comments, we have implemented an earlier closing date for “paper submissions” of Public Input/Comments.  The earlier closing date will allow the necessary time to key and proof any proposed change to ensure the changes are presented for Committee consideration at the same time as the changes submitted online. 

Paper Submission Closing Dates.  The closing date for paper submissions, (this includes forms sent via e-mail, fax or mail), for the Fall 2014 comments will be October 11, 2013 and the closing date for the electronic submission system will be  November 15, 2013.  All revised schedules can be located on the respective document information page or http://www.nfpa.org/schedules.

Please be advised, that it is anticipated that in the future, “paper submissions” will not be accepted so please take this opportunity to try out the new system – we think you’ll really like it!  As always we are here to help you participate in the NFPA process.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at 617-984-7240 or via email at standardsdev_support@nfpa.org .

For additional information on NFPA Standards Development Process, please visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org/newprocess.

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendment to NFPA 2112

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) for NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, is being published for public review and comment:

• NFPA 2112, Proposed TIA No. 1105, referencing various sections of the 2012 edition.

Anyone may submit a comment on this proposed TIA by the June 14, 2013 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council by the closing date.

Here is the list of NFPA codes and standards to be considered in Chicago

NFPA's Association Technical Meeting will begin at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 12 and will continue on Thursday, June 13. Only NFPA members of record as of December 14, 2012 who are currently in good standing are eligible to vote, and must have either a full conference registration or an Association Technical Meeting registration.

Wednesday, June 12
Starting at 2:00 PM

• Public Safety Telecommunicator Professional Qualifications
  NFPA 1061 Standard for Professional Qualifications for Public Safety Telecommunicator
• Structural and Proximity Fire Fighting Protective Clothing and Equipment
  NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting
• Fire Protection for Nuclear Facilities
  NFPA 801 Standard for Fire Protection for Facilities Handling Radioactive Materials
• Pyrotechnics
  NFPA 1123 Code for Fireworks Display
• Venting Systems for Cooking Appliances
  NFPA 96 Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations
• Liquefied Petroleum Gases
  NFPA 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code

Thursday, June 13
Starting at 8:00 AM

• National Electrical Code®
  NFPA 70 National Electrical Code®
• Road Tunnel and Highway Fire Protection
  NFPA 502 Standard for Road Tunnels, Bridges, and Other Limited Access Highways
• Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
  NFPA 130 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems
• Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Systems
  NFPA 25 Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems

Read more about the Association Technical Meeting in Chicago, including the Fall 2013 and Annual 2013 Motions Committee Reports, which includes the list of Consent Documents in these cycles that received no "Notice of Intent to Make a Motion" (NITMAM) or were forwarded directly to the Standards Council for issuance.

Comments sought on proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) to NFPA 37, NFPA 99, NFPA 1951, and NFPA 1971

The following proposed Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) for NFPA 37, NFPA 99, NFPA 1951, and NFPA 1971 are being published for public review and comment:

• NFPA 37, proposed TIA No. 1101, referencing 9.3.3, 2010 edition
• NFPA 37, proposed TIA No. 1102, referencing 6.6.3, 2010 edition and proposed 2014 edition
• NFPA 99, proposed TIA No.1104, referencing 10.2.3.6(5), A.10.2.3.6(5) 
• NFPA 1951, proposed TIA No. 1098, referencing various sections, 2013 edition
• NFPA 1951, proposed TIA No. 1099, referencing 8.2.5(1), 2013 edition
• NFPA 1971, proposed TIA No. 1100, referencing various sections, 2013 edition

Anyone may submit a comment on these proposed TIAs by the June 14, 2013 closing date. Along with your comment, please identify the number of the TIA and forward to the Secretary, Standards Council by the closing date.

Get charged up for a full week of electrical classes at NFPA's Conference & Expo in June

Put together a full week of electrical training at NFPA Conference & Expo. Take a 1- or 3-day seminar, then mix and match 3 days of classes from over 150 total. The classes in the Electrical conference track give you insights into best practices in the electrical industry and how they are influenced by new electrical design issues, successful maintenance programs, effective inspection techniques, and safety programs. Plus, visit the expo and have access to over 330 companies, several of which are industry leaders in electrical products and services. Which ones have been on your radar this past year?

Pre-Conference Seminars

NFPA 70E^® Electrical Safety in the Workplace Certificate
NEC^® for Photovoltaics
Proposed Revisions to the 2014 NEC^®

Conference Sessions - Monday, June 10

8:00 – 9:00 AM
M04 Emergency Power Standards for Health Care Under the 2012 Codes
M18 The Benefits of Your Community Adopting the Most Current NEC

9:30 – 10:30 AM
M34 Changes to NFPA 70E–2015, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
M44 Buyer Beware: Counterfeit Electrical Products

Conference Sessions - Tuesday, June 11

8:00 – 9:00 AM
Featured Presentation - The Pentagon, Fire and Life Safety — Ten Years Later

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
T25 2014 NEC Changes

2:45 – 3:45 PM
T47 NFPA 79 Significant Changes for 2015

4:15 – 5:15 PM
T59 Electrical Safety — A Shared Responsibility

Conference Sessions - Wednesday, June 12

8:00 – 9:00 AM
W11 The Basics of Electrical Hazardous Locations
W15 Hurricane Hardened Emergency Systems — What COPS Means to Your Facilities

9:30 – 10:30 AM
W26 NFPA 70E Approach to Considering DC Hazards
W32 The Investigation of NM Cable Ignition under Voltage Surge

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
W53  Applying Arc Flash Reduction Maintenance Systems

NFPA Conference & Expo -  Register today.