What are the NFPA Standards for Commercial Fire Protection?
What is NFPA?
The National Fire Protection Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1896. Working with more than 9,000 volunteer members, the NFPA works to create fair, balanced standards for the health and safety of the general public. The NFPA’s goal is to eliminate death, injury, and property loss caused by fire; therefore, they have developed more than 300 codes and standards for fire prevention.
Types of Fire Protection Codes
The NFPA fire protection codes include specific codes that developers, engineers, and architects must follow when constructing a building to prevent fires. It also includes particular codes that regulate the type of fire alarm systems required inside a building depending on factors such as the size of the building, the kind of business taking place inside, and the number of people inside.
NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, which sets all the latest requirements that businesses must follow for detecting fires in facilities, notifying occupants of a fire, and communicating the emergency to the proper authorities.
NFPA 72 also sets the requirements for alarms systems to warn building occupants of dangers posed from weather emergencies, terrorist events, and other types of emergencies.
In addition to the signaling requirements codes are other essential considerations your business needs to follow for fire protection, including having sprinklers in the building or training employees to use fire extinguishers. Other codes, such as NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, or NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers cover these kinds of rules.
Not only do all of these codes contain specifications for the type of equipment that must be put into a business to protect people from fire, they also include requirements on how often you have to test your fire alarm systems.
Penalties for Failing to Comply
Making sure your fire protection system is compliant with all applicable codes and standards is the responsibility of every business owner. Failure to meet the rules can result in severe financial penalties or even your business being shut down.
FSS Technologies has the expertise to help your business customize a fire detection and prevention system that will keep your employees, property, and customers safe. We also have certified technicians to properly service your system per NFPA standards.
Explore Our Other Blogs
Smoke Detectors for the Hearing Impaired
What are Visual Fire Alarms? If a fire breaks out, occupants of a building may have as little as two minutes to get out before the fire becomes life-threatening. Fire alarms provide an early warning notification and alert people to evacuate, but what if you are deaf or hearing impaired? How do you know there…
FAQs About Fire Alarm Inspections
There’s a lot of information about fire alarm inspections out there, so how do you know where to begin? We spoke to our team to find the most frequently asked questions about fire alarm inspections. What is a Fire Alarm Inspection? Fire alarm systems are life safety systems that require a fully functional and visual check…
3 Ways to Prevent Shoplifting
Preventing shoplifting is a big deal if you’re a retailer. According to the 2018 National Retail Security Survey, shoplifting continues to be the leading cause of inventory loss for retailers. Loss of stock is a big deal in this country to the tune of nearly $47 billion. The survey also identifies the top ways retailers try…
Testing Fire Alarm Call Points
Most large commercial-grade fire alarms today are addressable systems. Unlike conventional systems that use fire alarm zones, addressable fire alarm systems assign a unique “call point” to every device. Each one sends a digital signal to the main panel, creating a two-way line of communication that shows activations and status updates. An addressable panel can then identify…
The Cost of Professional Security Monitoring vs. Self-Monitoring
We recently talked about the various codes required for your security and fire protection systems. We also talked about why monitoring is vital as part of a business’ fire safety system—mainly because the code may require it. This blog will address the pros and cons of self-monitoring your business’ entire alarm system versus the cost of professional security monitoring. First, what is the difference between the two? Professional vs. Self…
How Does Fire Alarm Monitoring Work?
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is a fire reported in the United States every 23 seconds. If a fire occurs in your home or business, you want to be notified right away. You might be asking yourself, so how does this work? How can I ensure I am protected at all…
How Burglars Break In and Where to Secure Your Home
When a burglar considers your home as a potential target, here are some of the things he or she is looking for. Easy Access An intruder doesn’t want to get caught and needs to have an easy escape. There’s not a more easily accessible entry point at your home than an unlocked door, and most…
Where Should Security Cameras Be Installed in a Business?
Security camera placement in a business needs to be strategically decided based on several important factors. Areas that store valuables, have high foot traffic, and enable access to your building should be some of the essential locations. Learn more about what kinds of security cameras you can use and where they should be installed in…
3 Types of Security Lights
Your security system is only useful if you can see what is going on when you can’t be there. This also means that when it gets dark, your cameras need to be able to capture the image clearly. To do this past dusk will require that you set up security lighting. Additionally, check out the…
Is the Use of CCTV Cameras in the Workplace Illegal?
Know the Law Business owners are responsible for the security and well-being of their employees and company property. Many companies use technology such as cameras, motion detectors, and other tools to keep an eye on their building or cash areas. Many new businesses and employees may be wondering: Are CCTV cameras illegal in the workplace? Let’s…