Fire Facilities Regulations (NFPA)
Introduction
The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) is an organization founded in the United States in 1896, responsible for creating and maintaining standards and minimum requirements for fire prevention, training, installation and use of fire protection means, used by both firefighters and security personnel. Its standards known as National Fire Codes recommend safe practices developed by expert fire control personnel.
History
The NFPA was formed in 1896 at the initiative of a group of insurance company representatives, with the purpose of standardizing the new and growing market for fire extinguishing systems based on automatic sprinklers (sprinklers in English). The scope of the NFPA created the necessary influence for the inclusion of these systems in all aspects of building design and construction.
In its beginnings, the organization was made up almost exclusively of representatives of insurance companies, with little representation from industrial sectors. This changed in 1904 to allow industries, other people, and sectors to actively participate in the development of the standards promulgated by the NFPA. The first fire department to be represented in the NFPA was New York City in 1905. Today, the NFPA includes representatives from many fire departments, insurance companies, the manufacturing industry, associations, unions, trade organizations, and even individuals.
The NFPA today
Its headquarters are located in Quincy "Quincy (Massachusetts)"), Massachusetts, United States. The NFPA oversees the development and maintenance of more than 300 codes and standards. These documents are developed and maintained by a group of more than 6,000 volunteers representing the fire service, insurance companies, business, industry, government and consumers.
Many States, local and even national governments incorporate the standards and codes developed by the NFPA into their own legislation or codes, either literally or with minor modifications. Even in cases where it is not required by law, the application of NFPA standards and codes are generally accepted professional reference, and are recognized by many courts as such. This broad acceptance is a testament to the great representation and input received from all NFPA (HC-) projects.