The NFPA Podcast
The NFPA Podcast is the place for safety professionals to stay up to speed on the fast-paced world of electrical, fire, and life safety. Hear in-depth conversations with people out in the field about how they are confronting new challenges and staying on top of emerging technologies to keep the world safe. Listen the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Email [email protected] to send feedback or recommend a topic for future episodes.
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Grilling Safety
05/23/2023
Grilling Safety
An estimated 75 million households in the United States will fire up their grills this Memorial Day weekend. For most, the worst that will happen is a few burned hot dogs. But each year, about 22,000 people in the U.S. go to hospital emergency rooms with injuries related to grilling. Today on the podcast, we talk to NFPA’s director of public education about what can go wrong, and what fire prevention educators should be telling their communities about grilling and cooking safety as we head into summer (1:09). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs wraps up Electrical Safety Month with an in-depth look at what makes a person qualified to perform various types of electrical jobs (17:14).
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Can We End Cancer in the Fire Service?
05/09/2023
Can We End Cancer in the Fire Service?
Last month, the U.S. federal government launched the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer—the largest project ever undertaken to better understand and reduce the risk of cancer among firefighters. Today on the podcast, we talk to the leader of this effort, Dr. Kenny Fent (2:40). He tells us what the Firefighter Registry is, how it will work, and how it could eventually lead to reforms that help keep future generations of firefighters cancer free. Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs kicks off Electrical Safety Month by discussing changes to the rules on kitchen island receptacles in the 2023 National Electrical Code (34:14). LINKS:
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Falls, Fires, and Older Adults
04/25/2023
Falls, Fires, and Older Adults
Falls and fires kill and injure more older adults than many people realize. Not only are seniors twice as likely as the general population to experience a fatal fire, they suffer an estimated 36 million falls each year in the U.S., resulting in 8 million injuries. On today’s podcast, we talk to Dori Krahn, a community relations coordinator with the Saskatoon Fire Department, and an expert on senior fall and fire prevention education (2:50). She tells us why senior falls have increased across North America, why fires are so dangerous for this population, and talks about an updated NFPA program aimed at teaching older adults how to be safer in their homes. Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras answers a question about how to make sense of occupancy classifications (34:34). LINKS
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Giving Dampers Their Due
04/11/2023
Giving Dampers Their Due
Dampers are usually hidden away in ducts or ceiling cavities and seldom get much attention, but they’re a critical part of the fire protection strategy for many buildings. In a new Code Corner, NFPA Engineer Shawn Mahoney gives us a rundown of the different types of dampers, how they work, and what NFPA standards say (1:31). Then, we are joined by two experts from the National Energy Management Institute who tell us about the installation and maintenance of dampers, and some of the common problems that inspectors encounter out in the field (8:36).
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Diversity and the Fire Service
03/28/2023
Diversity and the Fire Service
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three words that have quickly risen priority lists at fire departments across the world in recent years. While most agree on the importance of having a diverse and inclusive workforce, what do those words actually mean in practice for the fire service? Why has DEI increasingly become such an emphasis, and what does success in this area for the fire service ultimately look like? On this podcast we ask Kwame Cooper, who after 38 years with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, returned home to New York to become FDNY’s chief diversity and inclusion officer last November (3:55). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA Engineer Brian O’Connor answers questions about requirements in NFPA 855 for mobile energy storage systems (43:16). LINKS:
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The Persistent Problem of Construction Fires
03/14/2023
The Persistent Problem of Construction Fires
The latest data from NFPA shows that the number of fires in buildings under construction has been steadily rising over the past several years. On average, US fire departments respond to nearly a dozen such fires every single day. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Carr, the NFPA staff liaison to NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations, to discuss why construction sites are so prone to fires and what can be done to address the problem. On March 21, Kevin and other construction fire safety experts will present on this topic in a webinar for NFPA titled "Tackling the Construction Fires Crisis." .
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A Better Fit For Female Firefighters
02/28/2023
A Better Fit For Female Firefighters
About 80 percent of female firefighters say that their personal protective clothing doesn’t fit right, and studies show that ill-fitting gear puts women at greater risk of being injured on the job. Today on the podcast, we talk to two textile researchers who measured dozens of female firefighters as part of a multi-year project on turnout gear for women. They tell us why designing protective clothing for women has historically been such a challenge, and how we can fix this widespread problem (2:51). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney answers your questions about height requirements for wall-mounted manual pull-stations for fire alarm systems (32:31). LINKS: with researchers Cassandra Kwon and Meredith McQuerry story about the project to understand and solve the problem of ill-fitting PPE for female firefighters. If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach the NFPA Podcast at [email protected]
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America’s First Paramedics
02/14/2023
America’s First Paramedics
In his stunning new book, American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America’s First Paramedics, former paramedic Kevin Hazzard explores the largely forgotten history of the Freedom House Ambulance Service. Hazzard joined the podcast to talk about his book, the early beginnings of EMS, and how a dedicated group of men from a downtrodden section of Pittsburg paved the way for a revolution in emergency medicine (1:56). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Robin Zevotek answers your questions about how to safely conduct live fire training (47:40).
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A New Fire Protection Handbook, 15 Years in the Making
01/24/2023
A New Fire Protection Handbook, 15 Years in the Making
Today on the podcast we examine one of NFPA’s oldest and most significant publications, the Fire Protection Handbook. Guests Nick Dawe, a fire marshal in Georgia, and Casey Grant, a fire protection engineering consultant and longtime NFPA employee, discuss what the FPH means to them and what’s new in the new edition. It’s been 15 years since the last edition of the handbook was published. Copies of the new, 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook are available for pre-order at . The FPH is expected to be in stock by early March. In this episode’s code corner segment, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney addresses some misconceptions about fire alarm strobe lights.
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Heating or Eating: The Fire Risks of Inflation
01/10/2023
Heating or Eating: The Fire Risks of Inflation
As cold weather begins to move into the northern latitudes, families all over the world are struggling with high heating bills, leading some to make desperate choices that can dramatically increase fire risks. On today’s podcast, a prevention officer and public health expert from the United Kingdom’s National Fire Chiefs Council share the work being done in the UK to help firefighters reduce these risks in the vulnerable communities they serve. They also tell us what fire departments across the globe should keep in mind as they embark on what could be a difficult winter fire season. Then, on a new code corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney addresses some misconceptions about the code requirements for residential smoke alarms. LINKS: See the assets created by the UK National Fire Chiefs Council for
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Riding the Tailboard
12/27/2022
Riding the Tailboard
We are ringing in the New Year by rerunning one of our favorite episodes of all time, which originally aired in January 2017. It might seem strange now, but firefighters dying from falling off fire trucks used to be a huge problem—from 1977 to 1987, an average of nearly four firefighters died this way each year. That all changed after the 1987 publication of NFPA 1500, the first fire service occupational safety standard. In this episode, we talk to fire service veterans who used to “ride the tailboard,” to learn how a few sentences in a big standard changed 200 years of tradition in the fire service and likely saved dozens of lives. Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Robin Zevotek talks about the building evacuation strategies outlined in NFPA 101Ò, Life Safety CodeÒ. LINKS: Read an oral history of the creation of NFPA 1500, published in the January 2017 issue of NFPA Journal.
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The Rising Dangers of Home Fires
12/13/2022
The Rising Dangers of Home Fires
Believe it or not, a reported home fire in the US today is more likely to be fatal than it was in 1980. In fact, a new NFPA report reveals that the number of fire deaths per 1,000 reported home fires has risen 13 percent over the last 40 years. On today’s podcast, we talk to NFPA’s director of research and its vice president of Outreach and Advocacy about why home fires are more dangerous now, why so few people seem to know these surprising numbers, and what we can do to reduce home fire fatalities (2:10). Then, on Code Corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras answers your questions about the door locking requirements in NFPA 101Ò, Life Safety CodeÒ (27:50). LINKS:
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Cooking Fires and Turkey Fryers
11/22/2022
Cooking Fires and Turkey Fryers
Shockingly, cooking fires now kill more people on average per year in the US than they did in the 1980s. As Thanksgiving nears, we are re-airing this episode from November 2020 looking at this growing problem. First, Jesse talks to an NFPA communications manager about cooking fire causes and the resources available for prevention educators (1:57). Then we explore the science behind those viral videos of turkey-fryer fireballs (25:09). In a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Brian O’Connor talks about the different letters and numbers on fire extinguishers and what they mean (37:33). Links:
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Babcock Ranch and the Future of Resilient Design
11/08/2022
Babcock Ranch and the Future of Resilient Design
When hurricane Ian tore through Florida in September, it left a trail of destruction—but not at Babcock Ranch, a 2,000-home development designed to be both sustainable and to withstand the worst natural disasters. Today on the podcast, we speak to an engineer who lives in and helped design Babcock Ranch about the community’s unique features, as well as the growing trend toward building resiliency and what it could mean for the future of disaster recovery (1:06). Then, we debut a new segment on the podcast called “Code Corner,” where NFPA technical experts answer your burning code questions. In the first installment, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about protection strategies and requirements for atriums (35:58). Links
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Flame Retardant Chemicals in Furniture
10/25/2022
Flame Retardant Chemicals in Furniture
For years, flame retardant chemicals have presented a catch 22. When applied to furniture they can help prevent fire ignition and potentially save lives, however, many scientists believe the chemicals are harmful to both human health and the environment. Today on the podcast, we talk to pair of experts about the ongoing debate over the use of flame retardants, as well as some exciting breakthroughs that could result in fire-resistant furniture without the health concerns. Links: Read more about the
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Energy, Climate, and California Burning
10/11/2022
Energy, Climate, and California Burning
A new book called California Burning details Pacific Gas & Electric’s 117-year rise to becoming one of the largest utilities in the United States—as well as how the company’s negligence, a changing climate, and state energy policy have all contributed to devastating wildfires in California. Today on the podcast, we welcome the book’s author, Wall Street Journal energy reporter Katherine Blunt, to discuss these trends, and why California’s experience could be a harbinger of things to come across the globe. Learn more about Learn about NFPA’s initiative,
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The Future of Fire Investigation
09/27/2022
The Future of Fire Investigation
Thirty years ago, NFPA released NFPA 921, the world’s first comprehensive guide on fire and explosion investigation. Since then, the profession has advanced leaps and bounds. However, a recent report on the profession argues that fire investigation can still be more art than science, with a lack of consistency, no system of peer review, and no higher-education requirements for investigators. On today’s podcast, we talk about fire investigation with one of the experts who helped write that report. We discuss where the profession has been, where it should go, and how NFPA is at the center of many of the proposed changes. Links: Read the about the fire investigation profession Read the OSAC report,
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Fire on Campus: Turning Pain into Purpose
09/13/2022
Fire on Campus: Turning Pain into Purpose
On January 19, 2000, Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, then 18- year- old freshman roommates at Seton Hall University, were severely burned when the residence hall they lived in caught fire. The blaze, one of the worst at a college campus in US history, killed three students and injured more than 50 others. Shawn and Alvaro now travel the country speaking to students and responders about their journey. Today on the podcast, we chat with them about the Seton Hall fire, their grueling recovery, and what parents, students, and first responders need to know as students return to campuses this month. LINKS: and Campus Fire Safety Month and see clips from the documentary, “After the Fire” If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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The New Foams
08/23/2022
The New Foams
For more than 50 years, firefighters have relied on aqueous film forming foam—better known as AFFF—to quickly and effectively put out dangerous liquid fuel fires. However, due to health and environmental concerns, AFFF is now being rapidly phased out across the world. On today’s podcast, we talk with one of the world’s leading researchers on firefighting foams about why AFFF is going away, the work that has gone into finding suitable replacements, and what fire departments need to know as they make the transition. LINKS: Read Read the 2022 Fire Protection Research Foundation report, Read the 2020 Fire Protection Research Foundation report,
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The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke Inhalation
08/09/2022
The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke Inhalation
As the number and severity of wildfires increase in many parts of the world, experts have concerns over what the health impacts of wildfire smoke inhalation might be. In today’s episode, we hear from three researchers who are studying that topic by exposing mice to wildland fire smoke. So far, their research suggests inhaling wildfire smoke can lead to serious lung, heart, and even reproductive issues.
Learn more about NFPA’s Outthink Wildfire™ program:
If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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The Failures Before the Fires
07/26/2022
The Failures Before the Fires
In May, journalists Madison Hopkins and Cecilia Reyes were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their investigative series, “The Failures Before the Fires,” which exposed dangerous systemic flaws in how Chicago handles building code enforcement. On today’s podcast, Hopkins and Reyes join us to discuss the details of their award-winning investigation, how the enforcement process can be biased in favor of landlords, and what lessons other cities can take from Chicago. a collaboration between the Chicago Tribune and Better Government Association If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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Are SMART Sprinklers the Next Big Thing?
07/12/2022
Are SMART Sprinklers the Next Big Thing?
SMART fire sprinklers, which use less water and can employ a range of sensors to target exactly where a fire is happening, have potential to be a game changer, according to some experts. Today on the podcast, Jesse talks to Dr. Yibing Xin, a research manager at FM Global, who has conducted numerous fire tests on these devices. He discusses how the technology works, and what these and other SMART innovations could mean for the future of fire protection. LINKS: Read on SMART fire sprinklers and water cannons by FM Global Read on SMART sprinklers by Dr. Yibing Xin
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Safety in Short-term Rental Properties
06/28/2022
Safety in Short-term Rental Properties
From elevators that can decapitate you to grills that can explode in your face, short-term rental properties aren’t short on things that can hurt you—or worse. In fact, short-term rental safety expert Justin Ford calls these properties the most dangerous sector of the travel and hospitality industry. In this episode, Angelo sits down with Ford to discuss a brief history of the short-term rental market, what safety hazards can exist in these properties, and, importantly, what owners and renters alike can do to maximize safety. If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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E-bike and E-scooter Fire Safety
06/14/2022
E-bike and E-scooter Fire Safety
Battery-powered electric bicycles and scooters, collectively known as micromobility devices, have exploded in popularity in recent years, but so too have fires involving these devices. From New York City to India, e-bikes and e-scooters batteries have sparked fires that have killed dozens of people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars of property. Today on the podcast, Angelo interviews an FDNY chief about New York’s experience over the past two years with electric micromobility devices (2:40), as well as a technical advisor at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (27:00). If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at
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An Arc-Flash Survivor’s Story
05/24/2022
An Arc-Flash Survivor’s Story
In 2011, longtime electrician Brandon Schroeder was involved in an accident on the job that left him severely burned and without the use of his hand. After a long and grueling recovery, Schroeder became a vocal advocate for electrical worker safety and now travels the country to offer his own story as a warning. In honor of Electrical Safety Month, we invited Schroeder on the podcast to discuss his accident, the realities of safety culture on job sites, and what he sees as some of the main challenges to improving safety for workers. Links: See detailing the experiences of other burn survivors Check out Schroeder’s website, If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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Lessons from Grizzly Flats
05/10/2022
Lessons from Grizzly Flats
For more than a decade, the small, wooded town of Grizzly Flats, California has participated in Firewise USA, an NFPA program where residents voluntarily work together on community projects to lessen their risks from wildfire. In August 2021, however, the Caldor Fire tore through Grizzly Flats, putting its mitigation efforts through a major test. Today on the podcast, we talk to Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan, the manager of the Firewise USA program, about what she discovered on her recent visit to the fire-ravaged community, and what lessons Grizzly Flats’ experience could provide to residents in other fire prone areas. Links: in NFPA Journal about her trip to Grizzly Flats and see a map of Firewise communities If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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Under Fire: Life for Responders in Ukraine
04/26/2022
Under Fire: Life for Responders in Ukraine
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) has taken on an unrelenting burden since Russian forces invaded more than two months ago. Among other tasks, the SES’s 60,000 responders put out fires, search for survivors buried under rubble, clear landmines, and recover the dead—all while being shot at and shelled by the Russian military. On today’s episode, we speak with a top SES official about the situation for responders in Ukraine, how they are persevering, and how the global community can help (1:53). Then, we talk with a Canadian firefighter who founded the organization Firefighter Aid Ukraine, which since 2015 has delivered many tons of much-needed equipment to Ukrainian responders (16:08). LINKS: See photos and read more about the experience of Ukrainian first responders in Learn more about . If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach the NFPA Podcast at .
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Drugs, Falls, and Fires
04/12/2022
Drugs, Falls, and Fires
Research suggests that two-thirds of US adults aged 65 and older use at least three prescription medications. Meanwhile, older adults are twice as likely as the general population to experience a fatal fire, and deaths and injuries from accidental falls have skyrocketed in this age group over the last decade. It begs the question: Do certain prescription drugs increase the fall and fire risks for older adults? Our guest Jamie McAllister spent months working on a Fire Protection Research Foundation project to analyze existing research on the relationships between drugs, falls, and fires. Today on the podcast, we talk to McAllister about what she and her team discovered and what it could mean for public-safety educators. Links: Read the Fire Protection Research Foundation report, on NFPA’s new fire and fall prevention program for older adults If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach the NFPA Podcast at .
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40 Years of Fire Research
03/22/2022
40 Years of Fire Research
Since 1982, the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of NFPA, has been instrumental in answering countless important questions about how best to protect the world from fire and electrical dangers. Its research has improved safety in countless industries and led to numerous changes to codes, consumer products, fire test standards, and more. Today on the podcast, we celebrate the Foundation’s 40th anniversary by speaking with its two most recent executive directors to learn more about its work and impacts, and what emerging topics will dominate the next decade of fire research. Links: Read Amanda Kimball’s Visit the If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hi, you can reach the NFPA Podcast at.
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Long COVID and the Fire Service
03/08/2022
Long COVID and the Fire Service
Dr. Denise Smith, who has spent decades researching the physiological impact of firefighting, joins The NFPA Podcast to discuss how firefighters who have been infected with COVID-19 could struggle for weeks or even months following acute illness as they return to work. Smith and other researchers are currently working on a project supported by the Fire Protection Research Foundation to study long COVID in the fire service. LINKS If you are a member of the fire service, help Smith and other researchers complete their study by sharing your experiences with long COVID here: Watch a video about the study: If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at
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