Doug:

It is the same old NFPA. I go back to the mid 70's with them hand have seen the same thing. First of all NFPA is built on special interest. Their codes are not the minimum standard of care for fire safety, they are the maximum level of safety that can be agreed on by special interest. The condenses directly relates to what group of special interest can get the votes to get it out of committee. The other thing to consider is how their standards are approved. They are approved only by those that can afford to attend the general meeting. And of those voting on the document at the general meeting, how many do you think have a concept as to what is in the document.

Have you noticed that building codes are developed by code enforcement individuals and not special interest. Yes, special interest try to wine and dine the code official to get them to vote in a specific way, but the code of ethics for government employees accepting accepting even meals is very strict.

After it was brought to their attention in a law suit, it took the NFPA years before they addressed the distance between standard spray sprinkler head and the fuel package. Actually I am not sure if it has been addressed. When the National Fire Protection Association can not get the different special interest to agree the area is left out of the code. NFPA uses the term that the code is silent on the issue.

The National Fire Protection Association is a secret organization. I will bet that no one on the committee ever got an official explanation as to why the 921 committee was resolved. I will bet they never will. Years ago there was a document published on firefighter safety by a committee. All of a sudden the committee was change without any reason being given.

Yes, NFPA places every committee member is a category. They say the committee must be made up of so many from each. I am not talking about the 921 committee. Look at some of the other committees and you may question how the person from the company can be in that category. You can question NFPA but I will bet you will never get a specific answer.

So, what is new.

Jim Mazerat
Forensic Investigations Group