‘The striking aspect of the Nation’s fire problem is the indifference with which Americans confront the subject. Destructive fire takes a huge toll in lives, injuries, and property losses, yet there is no need to accept those losses with resignation.…
NIOSH releases fact sheet on odorant fade
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a fact sheet on odorant fade in natural gas and propane. Odorant is a liquid added to natural gas and propane that releases a smell in case of a leak.…
NFPA continues its efforts to help communities plan, respond and recover from active shooter and hostile events
In May, Bloomberg News reported that the number of mass shootings in the United States was down 24% from the year before as workspaces, businesses, places of worship, entertainment venues and cultural spots were closed. The news outlet indicated that…
Under construction, at risk: NFPA 241 is critical to protecting vulnerable construction sites
On 29 April 2020, 38 people died when a fire tore through a four-storey warehouse under construction in South Korea. The blaze occurred in Icheon, about 50 miles south-east of the capital city of Seoul, and was the third devastating…
Universal fire-safety problems need a globalised response
There’s nothing like watching a room flash over to make you realise how quickly a fire can turn deadly. As a young engineer at the Danish Institute of Fire Technology, I had many opportunities to witness this first-hand; I often…
Learning from assembly occupancy tragedies
On 4 December 2009, partygoers packed the Lame Horse, a nightclub in the Russian city of Perm, to celebrate the club’s eighth anniversary. Then, in an instant, fire broke out and chaos ensured. Details of the incident were captured in…