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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CRR's Hidden Challenges
09/10/2024
CRR's Hidden Challenges
As fire departments increasingly focus on fire prevention and community risk reduction (CRR), several new challenges have emerged. In some cases, firefighters may resist or be apathetic to these tasks. In other cases, less obvious hurdles like hidden biases can cause departments to make missteps. Today on the podcast, a safety and wellness captain from Georgia joins us to discuss the small and big ways these factors can impact prevention work, and how departments can work to overcome them (2:45). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the requirements for integrated system testing in the Life Safety Code· (41:44). Extras: Gary Menard’s book list: Unconscious Bias, Annie Burdick. The Heart is Noble, Ogyen Trinley Dorje Testosterone Rex, Cordelia Fine Blindspot, Mahzarin Banaji Sway, Ori Brafman Why We Make Mistakes, Joseph Hallinan A Mind of Its Own, Cordelia Fine Quiet, Susan Cain Sway, Pragya Agarwal (yes, a different sway!) The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias, Pamela Fuller, Mark Murphy, Anne Chow The Person You Mean to Be, Dolly Chugh Biased, Jennifer Eberhardt The Art of Active Allyship, Poornima Luthra Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman Everyday Bias” Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgements in Our Daily Lives’ Howard J. Ross The Blindspots Between Us, Glen Tsipursky What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite, David DiSalvo You Are Now Less Dumb, David McRaney You Are Not So Smart, David McRaney How We Decide, Jonah Lehri
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AI and Safety Education
08/27/2024
AI and Safety Education
For fire safety educators, breaking through the noise to deliver the right messages to the people who need to hear it can be an enormous challenge. Some are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to discover new insights and strategies. Today on the podcast, we talk to Brene Duggins, a former NFPA Educator of the Year and an early adopter of using AI tools to hone and refine fire education messaging (2:00). She tells us what she’s learned, how you can experiment with these tools, and crucially, what you need to know to avoid making mistakes. Then, on a new Code Corner, electrical expert Dean Austin, goes over some the key guidance in the National Electrical Code• for installing and locating receptacles for whirlpool tubs (23:02). Links: on how artificial intelligence could impact fire and life safety around the globe
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Protecting Micro-Distilleries
08/13/2024
Protecting Micro-Distilleries
The number of micro-distilleries in the U.S. has ballooned from just 500 in 2014, to more than 2,700 today, according to the American Craft Spirits Association. Like micro-breweries, these small-batch liquor production facilities are often tucked into urban spaces like strip malls, but unlike breweries, the beverages they produce are quite flammable. Today on the podcast, we are joined by an architect that specializes in micro-distillery design. He tells us more about how these distilleries operate, the associated hazards and fire protection considerations, and what AHJs should know (2:55). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA Engineer Brian O’Connor goes into detail about considerations for the storage of alcohol and what guidance NFPA codes offer (37:02). LINKS: about the hazards and protection challenges of micro-distilleries.
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Can You Save Your Home from a Wildfire?
07/23/2024
Can You Save Your Home from a Wildfire?
Research has shown that doing wildfire mitigation work, like replacing wooden shingles or removing dead leaves from the gutters, drastically reduces the chances of your home becoming a heap of ash when a wildfire strikes. But how much does the public know about these potentially life-saving activities? Today on the podcast, we dig into a comprehensive new survey that asked residents in wildfire-prone areas what they know about mitigation, how motivated they are to act, and what obstacles stand in their way (2:04). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras, talks about the NFPA codes that offer guidance on protecting life and property from wildfire, and details some of the concepts involved (35:55). LINKS:
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How Can We Get More New Homes Sprinklered?
07/09/2024
How Can We Get More New Homes Sprinklered?
Despite overwhelming proof that home fire sprinklers save lives, fewer than 10 percent of all new homes being built in the United States today are equipped with sprinklers, and most states refuse to mandate their use. However, fire marshals and others are finding creative ways to incentivize developers to include fire sprinklers in new housing projects, leading to thousands more protected homes. Today on the podcast, we talk to Thomas Poirier, a fire prevention officer and chair of the Massachusetts Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, about developer incentives and tradeoffs, and what tips he has for other advocates looking to increase the number of sprinklered homes in their communities (2:02). Then, on a new Code Corner, Shawn Mahoney talks about the NFPA code guidance on water supply for fire sprinkler systems in one- and- two-family dwellings (23:33). LINKS:
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The Vision for NFPA Global Solutions
06/25/2024
The Vision for NFPA Global Solutions
In March, NFPA announced the formation of a new for-profit corporation called NFPA Global Solutions, a venture unique from anything NFPA has undertaken in its history. On today’s podcast, Jim Pauley, NFPA’s president and CEO, joins us to explain the vision for NFPA Global Solutions, and why now was the right time for NFPA to branch out in this new direction (2:01). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney gives you some valuable information about the code requirements for fire extinguisher inspections (23:41). Links:
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Hazards in the Water
06/11/2024
Hazards in the Water
Electric Shock Drowning claims possibly dozens of lives each year, but most people have never heard of it. Our guest today, David Rifkin, is one of world’s leading experts on this hazard and its causes. He explains what ESD is, how it occurs, and what communities, marina operators, and the public can do to lessen the risk of being electrocuted while swimming (1:49). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Dean Austin talks about Electric Shock Drowning from a code perspective, and tells us what guidance is available for installers, maintenance workers, and marina owners (42:38). LINKS:
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Why Electrical Safety Matters
05/28/2024
Why Electrical Safety Matters
We wrap up Electrical Safety Month with a powerful reminder for anyone doing hazardous work of why you can't afford to be complacent about safety. Veteran electrician Jason Brozen was at a routine job on an ordinary day, when a careless decision while installing a breaker led to an arc flash that changed his life forever. On today’s podcast, Jason shares the story of his accident, and explains in his unique engaging way what others can learn from his mistakes (2:42). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs, talks about the role of human error in electrical safety and how we can try and eliminate it (59:02). LINKS:
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How Do You Evacuate a Hospital?
05/14/2024
How Do You Evacuate a Hospital?
In February 2023, Chief Brian Nardelli of the Brockton Fire Department in Massachusetts found himself at the helm of one of the most complex operations a chief can face: a hospital fire requiring a full evacuation. The eight-hour incident at Brockton Hospital involved a nasty electrical fire, 91 ambulances, 162 patients evacuated and transferred, 26 pieces of fire apparatus, and resulted in zero deaths and injuries. Chief Nardelli, the incident commander that day, joins the podcast to take us through the incident, including what worked, and lessons learned (2:50). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Corey Hannahs, in honor of electrical safety month, talks about how electrical safety is achieved through the use of NFPA codes and standards (38:04).
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Hoarding Risk-Reduction Strategies
04/23/2024
Hoarding Risk-Reduction Strategies
Residential hoarding poses numerous dangers and fire risks for residents and firefighters, yet communities have struggled to find meaningful solutions. Today on the podcast, two of North America’s most prominent hoarding researchers join us to talk about the causes and trendlines of hoarding (2:08), as well as the latest risk reduction strategies that communities are implementing to address it (16:27). Then, on a new code corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras tells us about strategies in NFPA 1, Fire Code, for how communities can prevent fires in vacant buildings (43:49). LINKS
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Moral Injury and Suicide
03/26/2024
Moral Injury and Suicide
In most years, more firefighters die by suicide than from accidents or injuries that happen in the line of duty, according to the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. It’s well understood that PTSD is a huge contributor to the problem, but recently a new concept called moral injury has also become recognized as a significant factor. Today on the podcast, we discuss moral injury and firefighter suicide with Jeff Dill, a licensed clinician and former battalion chief who is the founder the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (3:15). We also talk about the many factors—good and bad—that play a role in the overall mental health of today’s first responders. Then, on a new Code Corner, Curt Floyd, the technical lead for responders at NFPA, discusses the new consolidated standard NFPA 1030 and the new guidance it gives on professional qualifications for first responder inspectors (36:00). LINKS: .
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What to Know About CO
03/12/2024
What to Know About CO
Each year, accidental carbon monoxide poisonings cause at least 430 deaths in the U.S., and send more than 100,000 people to emergency rooms, according to the CDC. Studies have found that the number of accidental CO deaths has increased over the last decade. Today on the podcast, we speak to Richard Roberts, a member of several NFPA committees on carbon monoxide, and an active participant in the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association. He dives into the science of how this deadly gas gets into people’s homes, how CO affects the human body, how CO codes and standards are changing, and what people can do to better protect themselves (2:44). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the requirements for integrated system testing for fire protection systems and why it’s important (19:09) Links: n
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Doing It Right: Energy Storage and Solar Installs
02/27/2024
Doing It Right: Energy Storage and Solar Installs
As the number of energy storage and photovoltaic systems being installed across the world continues to rise dramatically, so does the need for trained professionals to ensure that these systems are reliable and safe for decades to come. Today on the podcast, we discuss the various codes and standards needed for the proper installation and maintenance of ESS and PV; and then our experts give advice on what you should know if you are involved with overseeing and implementing these projects (2:00). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA electrical expert Dean Austin talks about the National Electrical Code· requirements for electrical room dedicated space involving equipment 1000 volts or less (31:21). Links:
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Where is AI Headed?
02/13/2024
Where is AI Headed?
We wrap up our two-parter about how AI technologies might impact fire and life safety by talking with Xinyan Huang, a fire protection engineer, professor, and AI researcher at the Research Centre for Fire Safety Engineering at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He tells us about a few of the AI tools he and his colleagues are developing and how they may one day help with everything from designing safer buildings to guiding firefighter robots (2:54). And then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks fire alarm design, and explains the differences between the alarm, trouble, and supervisory signals in a fire alarm system (56:15). LINKS:
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Artificial Intelligence and the Fire Service
01/23/2024
Artificial Intelligence and the Fire Service
Today’s podcast is the first in a two-part series looking at how artificial intelligence technologies could impact fire and life safety. In this episode, we focus on AI’s potential impact on the fire service. How might fire departments use AI? What are the dangers? What guardrails need to be in place to ensure that the technology is reliable and safe? We pose those questions and many more to Preet Bassi, the CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence. She tells us why caution is the operative word, and why she’s skeptical that AI will ever replace human decision makers on the fireground (3:51). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Robin Zevotek provides some information about a little-known NFPA standard on fire department data and the role it could play in AI adoption (37:08).
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Sustainability vs. Fire Protection
01/09/2024
Sustainability vs. Fire Protection
Lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic panels are technologies that may improve environmental sustainability, but also present challenges to fire protection engineers. Conversely, chemical flame retardants may lead to better fire outcomes, but also have potentially serious impacts on human health and the environment. Today on the podcast, we talk about some of the inherent frictions that exist between sustainability and fire protection efforts (2:43). Can we find the right balance to effectively achieve both? Then, on a new Code Corner, for those who have ever wondered how NFPA codes and standards are developed and revised, NFPA engineer Shawn Mahoney offers an excellent overview of the process and how the public can get involved (31:40).
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Short-Term Rentals: Risky Business
12/26/2023
Short-Term Rentals: Risky Business
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, we sit 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. This episode first aired in June 2022. If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at .
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Re-Thinking Wildfire
12/12/2023
Re-Thinking Wildfire
As destruction from wildfire in the U.S. continues to set records, it’s become abundantly clear that the country’s current strategies are not working. But what should we be doing differently? Over the past year, a wildfire commission, comprised of 50 experts from a range of fields, met to try and answer that incredibly complicated question. In September, the commission sent Congress its final 300-plus page report, containing nearly 150 separate recommendations. Today on the podcast, we are joined by one of the commission members, NFPA wildfire expert Michele Steinberg. She gives us an inside look at how the report was crafted, what changes might come from it, and why she’s optimistic that the effort will bear fruit (3:30). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA first responder tech lead Curt Floyd provides information for departments about some recent changes to the NFPA standards regarding fire apparatus (45:32).
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Trauma and Risk
11/28/2023
Trauma and Risk
It’s well understood that childhood trauma can have dramatic effects on a person’s adult life, and in recent years, risk prevention experts have started to recognize it as a sizeable contributor to both individual and community risk. Today on the podcast, we talk to a director at the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center about the role that childhood trauma plays in increased community risk, and the programs that are starting to pop up to try and treat the problem at its source (2:03). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Robin Zevotek looks at the problem of wood pallet storage, a seldom discussed issue that played a huge role in the recent fire that shut down the I-10 in Los Angeles (34:08). Links: For tools and resources on this topic, check out the Centers for Disease Control's Learn more about the effects and societal costs of adverse childhood experiences by visiting the
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The Economic Impact of Fire Departments
11/14/2023
The Economic Impact of Fire Departments
At budget time, fire departments are listed as a cost on the city ledger, but that’s only part of the story. Firefighting and fire prevention also provide huge returns on investment by saving lives, buildings, businesses, and jobs. Is there a way to quantify these economic and social impacts? On today’s podcast, we talk to a Montreal fire chief who has conducted economic impact studies at several fire departments. He explains how he did it, and why the data gives chiefs a valuable tool during budget time (2:15). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney looks at some of the residential fire sprinkler system requirements found in NFPA 13D, and why they sometimes differ from NFPA 13 (31:44).
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Heat, the Silent Killer
10/24/2023
Heat, the Silent Killer
Heatwaves aren't just uncomfortable; they are deadly for millions of people around the globe each year. Recognizing this growing threat, governments and safety departments are starting to reconsider their vulnerabilities to heat and are taking action to protect their populations and infrastructure. Today on the podcast, we talk to Eleni Myrivili, who was appointed as the first ever World Chief Heat Officer by the United Nations last year. Her job is to help cities think harder about heat and come up with plans to mitigate its effects (3:30). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Val Ziavras answers specific questions about how to calculate occupant load in the Life Safety Code· (47:00). LINKS Read the heat action plans for and
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The Survivors, Part 5: “Never Again”
09/26/2023
The Survivors, Part 5: “Never Again”
We are replaying "The Survivors," an award-winning podcast series that NFPA first published in 2017. In the final episode, the van Dijks and other survivors want their experience to be the catalyst for the inclusion of fire sprinklers in all new homes. However, a powerful group has spent serious dollars preventing that from happening.
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The Survivors, Part 4: “Back into the Lion’s Den”
09/12/2023
The Survivors, Part 4: “Back into the Lion’s Den”
We are replaying "The Survivors," an award-winning podcast series that NFPA first published in 2017. In Part 4, upsetting his family, Feike joins the fire service and places himself into one of America’s deadliest places for fire: homes. Fire service and safety advocates discuss today’s home fire problem and why the fire dynamics of new homes are a cause for concern.
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The Survivors, Part 3: “Refinement by Fire”
08/22/2023
The Survivors, Part 3: “Refinement by Fire”
We are replaying "The Survivors," an award-winning podcast series that NFPA first published in 2017. In Part 3, the van Dijk's emotional scarring from the fire seems to have taken a larger toll on the family than their physical injuries. They learn new coping tactics, as have many others impacted by home fire. But everyday has its challenges.
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The Survivors, Part 2: “The Aftermath”
08/08/2023
The Survivors, Part 2: “The Aftermath”
For the next five NFPA Podcast episodes we are replaying "The Survivors," an award-winning podcast series NFPA first published in 2017. In Part 2, impacted by the death of their two boys, the van Dijks go through the painstaking process of healing their physical injuries from a home fire. U.S. burn care experts weigh in on the prevalence and outcomes of these injuries and underscore a disconcerting trend across the nation.
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The Survivors, Part 1: “One of 367,000”
07/25/2023
The Survivors, Part 1: “One of 367,000”
For the next five NFPA Podcast episodes we are replaying "The Survivors," an award-winning five-part podcast series that first ran in 2017. In part 1, Feike and Noelle van Dijk’s sense of normalcy is shattered when a home fire killed two of their children in 2014. Three years after the incident, the family gives a rarely seen look at the lingering effects of American home fires, which claim seven people each day and injure 13,000 yearly. What’s discovered during a trip to their hometown is a family reminiscent of the past, but changed by their loss.
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A Battery in Every Garage?
07/11/2023
A Battery in Every Garage?
Few topics are as hot right now in the fire service as consumer lithium-ion batteries. While electric vehicles and e-bikes still get the bulk of attention, residential energy storage system (ESS) installations are also starting to skyrocket as homeowners realize the value of storing their solar power and having a reliable source of backup electricity. But when these large home batteries fail, it can present a host of difficult challenges for responders, and urgency is building to develop better guidance and tactics. On today’s podcast, we talk to Adam Barowy and Sean DeCrane, two leading experts on lithium-ion battery hazards and the fire service. We discuss what researchers are learning by burning these batteries, and how that knowledge is helping to improve the fire service’s tactics and safety during incidents (4:50). Then, on a new Code Corner, NFPA engineer Val Ziavras answers your questions about another green trend that’s raising fire safety questions: Mass Timber construction (43:51).
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How Virtual Reality Is Changing Firefighter Training
06/29/2023
How Virtual Reality Is Changing Firefighter Training
Incredible advancements are being made around using virtual reality to bolster firefighter training. Some fire departments are even using VR to educate the public about fire safety. Today on the podcast, we talk to Ken Willette, executive director of the North American Fire Training Directors, about what’s available on the market now, where the technology is headed, and how fire departments can best implement this technology into their training programs (3:03). LINKS: to read the Fire Protection Research Foundation reports and learn more about immersive learning and firefighter training
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Is 911 In Trouble?
06/13/2023
Is 911 In Trouble?
In the United States, when someone calls 911 the call is routed to an operator at a public safety answering point, or PSAP. But news outlets across the country are finding that local PSAPs are struggling, and that 911 callers are waiting longer to get help. Today on the podcast, we speak to a researcher who just surveyed dozens of PSAPs to find out how well they are able to meet the call answering and processing times required by NFPA standards (2:44). The results were eye-opening. Then, on a new Code Corner, with construction season in full swing, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about the role of the fire prevention program manager on construction sites (31:08). Links:
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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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