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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Fire Safety Challenges in East Africa
07/22/2025
Fire Safety Challenges in East Africa
More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in low-and-middle income countries, according to the World Bank. In these nations, it's often a huge challenge to find the resources needed to build the systems of safety that people in higher-income countries take for granted. To put it in perspective, in the African nation of Uganda, there are just two fire trucks and 12 firefighters per million residents. In contrast, the U.S. has more than 1,000 firefighters and 200 fire trucks per million residents. Today on the podcast we talk to Samuel Nikoma, a fire safety advocate in Uganda who has an ambitious goal of slashing the fire deaths there in half. We discuss Eastern Africa’s significant fire safety challenges, and how he is trying to build more awareness and grassroots efforts to start addressing them. LINKS: about the enormous population growth expected in Africa over the next decade, and the fire safety challenges—and opportunities—that these trends present. where he writes on the challenges of fire safety in Africa and his ideas for building the resources to address them.
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FDNY's Lithium-Ion Task Force
07/08/2025
FDNY's Lithium-Ion Task Force
Since 2022, New York has experienced more than 800 fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries, leading to 30 deaths and more than 400 injuries. The sudden explosion of battery incidents led FDNY in 2023 to form the Lithium-Ion Task Force, a specialized unit dedicated to addressing the growing threat of fires caused by batteries, particularly those used in e-bikes and e-scooters. Today on the podcast, we talk to John Orlando, the FDNY fire marshal who led the Lithium-Ion Task Force until recently. We chat about the causes and scope of New York City’s battery problems, the work of the task force, and how other departments and jurisdictions can work together to achieve similar results, even without FDNY’s considerable resources. LINKS: Read NFPA Journal articles on: ; ; ;
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Safety Goes on Offense
06/24/2025
Safety Goes on Offense
As we’ve noted on the podcast a few times recently, standard development organizations and safety professionals are facing several significant challenges right now. In statehouses, lawmakers are increasingly passing bills that alter, delay, or even erase safety codes; fire marshals and other safety professionals say their voices are being increasingly marginalized; and court decisions involving copywrite protection threaten to disturb the century-old system under which safety standards are created and maintained. However, at last week's NFPA Conference & Expo, Jim Pauley, NFPA's president and CEO, unveiled an aggressive new public awareness campaign to try and reverse those trends. The day after the announcement, Pauley sat down with Jesse Roman to discuss the assault on safety and what NFPA and others are doing to combat these significant challenges. The interview was recorded live on June 17 at the 2025 NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Links: Visit to see the new awareness ad, read about the campaign, and learn how you can make a difference.
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Heat, the Silent Killer
06/11/2025
Heat, the Silent Killer
As summer weather begins in the Northern Hemisphere, we revisit this very relevant episode from 2023. 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 in 2022. 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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Risk Reduction on Tribal Lands
05/27/2025
Risk Reduction on Tribal Lands
Tribal nations and native communities across North America are consistently one of the highest-risk population groups for a range of health and safety issues, including fire incidents and casualties. And yet, developing and implementing community risk reduction programs in native communities can be daunting, especially for non-native fire departments that don’t understand native traditions, sensitivities, or histories. Our guest today, Monte Fronk, has been the lone fire safety expert in his native American tribe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, for over 30 years. On today’s podcast, I talk to Monte about his job, the challenges of poverty, generational trauma, and mistrust among native communities, and how he is working to turn the tide in his community one program and one conversation at a time. Links:
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The Mysteries of Electrical Injuries
05/13/2025
The Mysteries of Electrical Injuries
May is Electrical Safety Month, which is a good time to remember that dozens of people across the world suffer injuries from electrical hazards every single day. Survivors of these incidents list a range of devastating symptoms, from burns and chronic pain to insomnia, muscle spasms, depression, and various other mental health issues. Many of the full effects of these injuries are still not fully understood. Today on the podcast, we revisit a 2021 episode featuring three renowned doctors from the Chicago Electrical Trauma Rehabilitation Institute. They talk about what a powerful shock can do to the human body, the treatments available, and how our understanding of these injuries is still evolving. Links:
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Is It Alzheimer's, or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
04/22/2025
Is It Alzheimer's, or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, but it doesn’t have to kill you to have permanent consequences. There is growing evidence that long-term exposure to CO, at concentrations that are too small for a typical household alarm to detect, can have serious and permanent impacts on human health, including cognitive decline, neurological issues, organ damage, and other ailments that are often misdiagnosed as unrelated chronic diseases. Today on the podcast, we talk to Charon McNabb, the founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, about her own experiences with long-term CO exposure, what the public needs to know, and efforts underway to reduce this under-the-radar health hazard. LINKS Watch about the latest carbon monoxide research Learn more about the
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The Construction Fire Problem
04/08/2025
The Construction Fire Problem
As the weather in the Northern Hemisphere starts to shift to spring and construction season gears up, we revisist an episode from 2021 about the costly ongoing problem of fires in buildings under construction. In the United States, there's a fire in a building under construction or renovation every hour and a half, according to NFPA data. On this podcast, Angelo speaks with Kevin Carr (4:15), NFPA staff liaison to NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations, to learn more about construction site fires and how to prevent them. Plus, a safety executive with a large Maryland-based construction company and the chair of the NFPA 241 technical committee weigh in on why they think NFPA 241 is underutilized and how that could change (22:24). Links: Read more about the latest edition of NFPA 241 and NFPA trainings related to construction site fire safety:
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The Assault on Safety, Part 2
03/25/2025
The Assault on Safety, Part 2
This is the second part of our series looking at how fire and life safety codes are being delayed, erased, and watered down across the United States. On this episode, we talk to Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon about some of the challenges he's facing in his state, strategies to counter misguided legislative efforts, and why the fire service needs to get more involved if we are to reverse this dangerous trend (1:36). Then, NFPA Southeast Regional Director Robby Dawson chats with building code officials from Texas and Iowa about their local code enforcement experiences, the broader challenges facing building officials, and how NFPA can help (32:11). LINKS:
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The Assault on Safety, Part 1
03/11/2025
The Assault on Safety, Part 1
There is a serious threat to safety happening now that isn’t getting nearly enough attention, according to many state fire marshals and fire service leaders. Across the U.S., anti-regulatory sentiments and well financed lobbying efforts are persuading lawmakers to weaken or erase the longstanding fire and life safety codes intended to keep the public safe. Today’s podcast is the first of two parts on this important issue, which is the also the topic of the cover story of the Spring 2025 issue of NFPA Journal. This week, we speak to Butch Browning, the executive director of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, about why safety codes are being delayed and dismantled, the effect it is having, and what fire and safety officials can do to reverse this dangerous trend. Links:
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Making LA More Resilient
02/25/2025
Making LA More Resilient
As the Los Angeles area wildfires exploded in early January, a nonprofit organization called MySafe:LA leapt into action, disseminating timely information to guide residents through the chaos. But public messaging is just one of countless ways the group has worked to boost safety in greater LA. Over almost 20 years, MySafe:LA has grown into one of the most unique and comprehensive public/private safety and resiliency organizations in the U.S. Today on the podcast, we talk to David and Cameron Barrett, the husband-and-wife duo who founded and run MySafe:LA, about their organization, its role during and after the LA wildfires, and how safety-minded citizens in other cities can build their own programs to boost resiliency where they live. Links: Check out the Check out the Check out the group’s Check out the See , and its
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The Act that Transformed Fire Safety
02/11/2025
The Act that Transformed Fire Safety
In 1973, fire killed and injured more people in the United States than in any other industrialized nation in the world. The next year, Congress passed the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act, a landmark bill that made significant investments in fire research, training, and education. Within a few decades, the U.S. had transformed from a fire-prone outlier, to arguably the safest country in the world. Today on the podcast, we talk to Dick Gann, one of the most prolific fire researchers in U.S. history, about a new paper that he co-authored that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Fire Prevention and Control Act. We discuss the legacy of this legislation, and explore several of the research achievements — many of which Gann himself was directly involved with — that have dramatically improved fire safety in the United States over the last half century. LINKS: Read the NIST Report, about why the Fire Prevention and Control Act is still more relevant than ever
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Big Storage, Bigger Questions
01/28/2025
Big Storage, Bigger Questions
Modern warehouses and distribution centers are huge. Some have footprints larger than 60 American football fields and are filled with densely packed racks up to 100 feet tall. When a giant building like this catches fire, what can firefighters do? Today on the podcast, we talk to a veteran firefighter and a fire protection engineer who just co-authored a detailed report on the many challenges that the fire service faces in responding these storage fires. We find out what we know, what we need to find out, how modern warehouses are changing, and what fire departments should be doing now to prepare for fires in these giant facilities. LINKS:
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The LA Wildfires
01/14/2025
The LA Wildfires
In the last week, huge swaths of metro Los Angeles have been devastated by wildfires fueled by parched vegetation and hurricane force winds. The images and videos of once vibrant neighborhoods reduced to smoldering ash are, in a word, horrifying. Today on the podcast, we try to make sense of what is happening in Los Angeles and what may come next. I talk to NFPA’s wildfire expert Michele Steinberg about the speed of the fires, the response, the lack of water, the evacuation, and the critical decisions that must be made next to ensure that LA is prepared for future wildfires. LINKS Visit Read
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Artificial Intelligence and the Fire Service
12/24/2024
Artificial Intelligence and the Fire Service
You could make the argument that artificial intelligence was the most consequential new technology for fire and life safety in 2024. Several fire departments began dabbling with AI this year, and some even hope to have operational AI in the coming year. As we head into 2025, we thought it was a good time to revisit our most listened to episode of 2024, Jesse's interview with Preet Bassi, the CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, about how artificial intelligence technologies could impact 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. Links: on how fire departments, and others involved in life safety may soon be using artificial intelligence
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A New Dawn for Smoke Alarms
12/10/2024
A New Dawn for Smoke Alarms
This summer, long-awaited changes to the standard that sets the performance requirements for smoke alarms went into effect, marking a new era for the technology. For the first time, smoke alarms must now pass a test to show they are resistant to nuisance alarms triggered by cooking smoke. On today’s podcast, smoke alarm researcher Thomas Clearly from NIST joins to discuss the evolution of smoke alarm technology, the challenges of nuisance alarms, and how effective this new generation of smoke alarms are at reduceing nuisance alarms from cooking (4:44). Then, on Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney discusses what NFPA standards say about smoke alarm placement (38:25).
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International Hospital Fires
11/26/2024
International Hospital Fires
Although hospital fires are rare in the United States, that’s not the case around the world. Recent deadly fires at hospitals in India —including a fire in November that killed 10 newborn babies — show how hard it is to protect these complex facilities. In light of these recent tragedies, we are revisiting an episode from 2020 that looks at the reasons behind the higher occurrences of fire in hospitals around the world, compared to the U.S., and the initiatives and trends that experts hope will help fix the problem. about the high occurance of fire in health care facilities around the world.
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The Single Exit Stair Debate
11/12/2024
The Single Exit Stair Debate
Nearly all jurisdictions in the United States enforce codes that require two exit stairwells in residential buildings above three or four stories. Housing advocates say that increasing the cap to six stories will lead to better housing options and lower costs. That logic has persuaded lawmakers in some U.S. states to pass laws that raise the allowed height of single exit stair buildings, bypassing state building codes. These changes have alarmed fire officials, who say that having taller buildings with only one stairwell puts the lives of residents and firefighters at risk. With that as the backdrop, NFPA recently held a symposium where experts from both sides of the debate gathered to make their case and come to a better understanding. Today on the podcast, we talk to an NFPA engineer who helped organize the symposium. She explains the reasoning on both sides of the argument, what was learned from the discussions, and why single exit stair rules are suddenly such a big deal in statehouses and the code development world. LINKS:
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Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems
10/22/2024
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems
As online retail flourishes, distribution centers are installing new and more advanced automated storage and retrieval systems (or ASRS). These systems are like enormous vending machines that store, organize, and move product around the facility. The systems save time and space but have also introduced several new fire risks into storage operations. Today on the podcast, we talk to a safety risk consultant and engineer who has worked on numerous ASRS projects. We discuss how these systems work, the safety challenges, and some of the new designs that are keeping fire protection engineers up at night (2:46). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney discusses another concern for warehouses: making sure there is enough water supply for their massive fire sprinkler systems (28:52). LINKS
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Babcock Ranch and the Future of Resilient Design
10/08/2024
Babcock Ranch and the Future of Resilient Design
When hurricane Ian tore through Florida in September 2022, 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 (3:46). This episode first aired in November 2022. Links
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Make Smoke Alarms Work For You
09/24/2024
Make Smoke Alarms Work For You
This month, a comprehensive new survey on smoke alarm use in the U.S. found that 16 percent of households—as many as 53 million people—do not having working smoke alarms. The new report comes just in time for Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 6-12), which will focus on smoke alarm use and maintenance. On today’s podcast, two NFPA experts discuss the findings of the new report, and why it is more critical than ever for residents to be educated about how to keep their smoke alarms working (3:04). Then, on a new Code Corner, engineer Shawn Mahoney tells us what the code says about where to locate smoke alarms in residential homes (33:27). LINKS: on smoke and CO alarm usage in the U.S.
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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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