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Standards and Codes

All fire departments and first responders should comply with established standards for safety as well as enforce the adherence to safety codes and ordinances in their communities. The NVFC identifies the following B.E.S.T. Practices for standards and codes:

  • Encourage the use of all smoke, fire detection, and fire suppression devices, including fire sprinkler systems, in all structures.
  • Vigorously enforce all fire safety codes and ordinances.
  • Obtain apparatus and equipment that meet national safety standards.

Utilize the following resources to learn more and implement these practices in your department.

Understanding the Standards and Codes

The following articles provide explanations of the development and review process for the NFPA Standards and ICC Fire Codes:

NFPA Standards for Equipment

NFPA1952: Standard on Surface Water Operations Protective Clothing and Equipment
 
NFPA1951: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents
 
NFPA1977: Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
 
NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting

NFPA Standards Specific to Volunteers

NFPA 1720: Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments

NFPA Standards for Health and Safety

NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program

NFPA 1521: Standard for Fire Department Safety Officer

NFPA 1582: Standard on Comprehensive Medical Program for Fire Departments

NFPA Standards for Training

NFPA 1451: Standard for a Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program
 
NFPA 450: Guide For Emergency Medical Services and Systems
 
NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents
 
NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
 
NFPA 1002: Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
 
NFPA 1021: Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
 
NFPA 1026: Standard for Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications

Fire Codes

International Fire Code
The International Code Council (ICC), a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties, and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the ICC. The ICC also produces a series of articles for the NVFC that further explores specific code-related topics.

Fire Code Articles
Bruce Johnson, Regional Manager for Fire Service Activities with the International Code Council, writes a series of articles about specific code-related topics especially for the NVFC. Click this link to read these articles.

Building Codes

State Building Code Links
Qualified Hardware has compiled a listing of building codes by state.