Question:

Am I required by law to follow NFPA Standards?

Answer:

The NFPA is a private, non-profit membership association, which develops codes and standards through an open consensus process accredited by the American National Standards Institute.  NFPA codes and standards are not enforceable unless they have been adopted by an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), typically via legislation.  NFPA defines ‘AHJ’ as the person or entity responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard.  Examples of AHJs include state, county and local government agencies (such as fire marshal’s offices or building departments), federal government agencies; and insurance carriers.

Considering the large number of Federal, State and Local governmental bodies across the United States, there are countless AHJs who work in different ways.  Many of them incorporate NFPA codes and standards in their regulatory legislation and others adopt codes and standards promulgated by other organizations.  Building owners are typically required to comply with the codes in effect in the jurisdiction in which the building is located.  Enforcement and penalties for noncompliance vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

NFPA codes and standards are largely considered “nationally recognized” and are sometimes held as “standards of care” in legal proceedings; many building owners choose to meet NFPA codes and standards, whether they are formally adopted or not, to reduce both liability and in many instances, the cost of insurance premiums.  Many insurance carriers offer incentives to their policyholders when they implement recommendations from their loss control departments.

Technical advisory services are an NFPA member benefit.  If you would like additional information on NFPA membership, please visit their website at www.nfpa.org/join  or call 1-800-344-3555

There is a section of the NFPA High Rise Fire Safety Code, drafted in 2006, which states that each and every floor served by an elevator shall have a stair descent device on each landing.  This will eventually become a standard established in the courtroom, once judges and juries make render decisions as to whether or not a responsible safety plan for the Mobility Impaired was in place during an Emergency Evacuation.  The experts (NFPA) have developed this code and strongly recommend that each city and state adopt their recommended code changes:

Life Safety Code 101 Edition 2006

“7.2.12.2.3* Where the exit providing egress from an area of refuge to a public way that is in accordance with 7.2.12.2.2 includes stairs, the clear width of landings and stair flights, measured between handrails and at all points below handrail height, shall be not less than 48 in. (1220 mm), unless otherwise permitted by the following:

(1)   The minimum 48 in. (1220 mm) clear width shall not be required where the area of refuel is separated from the remainder of the story by a horizontal exit meeting the requirements of 7.2.4 (see also 7.2.12.3.4)

(2)   *For stairs where egress is in the descending direction, a clear width of not less than 37 in. (940 mm), measured at and below the handrail height, shall be permitted where all of the following are met.

(a)   An approved stair descent device is provided on each floor served by the stair.

(b)   Additional approved stair descent devices are provided on floors with an occupant load exceeding 200 at the ratio of one device per 200 occupants.

(c)   The required approved stair descent devices are provided in an approved location on the floor.

(3)   Existing stair and landings that provide a clear width of not less than 37 in (940 mm), measured at and below handrail height, shall be permitted.”

The secondary part of the code that describes the Approved devices may need revision to take into account the need to evacuate both upstairs as well as downstairs, due to the fact that the devices they describe are not necessarily the best device for ascending stairs and many high-rise building evacuation plans recommend evacuation zones both above and below the floors being evacuated, depending upon the type of and location of the building emergency. 

The Emergency Evacuation chairs available from L.I.F.E. Support Technologies will assist in emergency evacuations whether the need is to descend or ascend stairs.