Stay ConnectedThe 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 jroman@nfpa.org to send feedback or recommend a topic for future episodes.
Deadly gas explosions have occurred in Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts in recent years. A new standard being developed by NFPA aims to address the problem. Angelo kicks off the episode with a story about one recent incident in a small town in Maine, before interviewing the technical committee chair for the new standard, NFPA 715 (6:30), as well as one researcher whose work will heavily inform the document (26:00). Lastly, Derek Vigstol hosts a segment on reconditioned equipment and the NEC (37:45). Public input on NFPA 715 ends October 15. Go to nfpa.org/715 to submit input and learn more about the standard.
With historic and destructive wildfires spanning the globe from Oregon to the Amazon in 2020, experts in a range of fields are coming together to figure out what can be done to save people and property. In the first segment (2:35), Jesse takes us to a one-of-a-kind wildfire symposium where academics, insurers, tech entrepreneurs, firefighters and others brainstorm how to reverse the surge of wildfire destruction. Then, Angelo talks to the wildfire coordinator for the city of Missoula, Montana about his efforts and why jobs like his are becoming essential for communities (32:52). Lastly, we debut a periodic segment looking at some of the key revisions in the 2020 National Electrical Code·. In this installment, host Derek Vigstol chats with an expert from NEC Code Making Panel 2 about recent changes to requirements for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, or GFCIs (55:11). For more resources on how to plan and prepare for wildfire, visit nfpa.org/wildfire. For more on the complex issue of wildfire and development, read the NFPA Journal cover story "Build. Burn. Repeat?" at nfpa.org/buildburnrepeat.
Set for release on September 21, NFPA LiNK™ reinvents the experience of using NFPA codes and standards—and sets the stage for the organization's future as a hub of digital information and knowledge. But what exactly is NFPA LiNK and how did it come to be? In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, Angelo interviews an NFPA staffer who helped develop the new tool (4:10) as well as an electrical contractor who's excited to start using it (22:08). Plus, to close the episode, NFPA's director of public education discusses Fire Prevention Week 2020 (30:00).
With the peak of hurricane and wildfire seasons upon us, government agencies and aid organizations will need to shelter potentially thousands of storm and fire evacuees. How will they do it without spreading the COVID-19 virus? How will they keep key emergency workers healthy? In today's episode, host Jesse Roman talks with Luke Beckman, a director at the Red Cross Pacific Division, to learn how the organization revamped its response plans and operations ahead of the massive wildfires now striking Northern California (3:32). Then, Robby Dawson talks with Anna McRay, an emergency manager in North Carolina, about how her county prepared for and responded to Hurricane Isaias in August (31:08). Both McRay and Beckman share lessons learned from responding to these incidents during the pandemic—including several new strategies that will likely stay even after the pandemic is over.
Many things went wrong to cause the deadly explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we examine some of the factors that may have led to the blast, from the improper storage of ammonium nitrate to unpermitted hot work. Angelo kicks off the episode with a conversation with Guy Colonna, a hazardous materials expert at NFPA, to discuss ammonium nitrate safety (2:20). Then, he speaks with Anas Alzaid, NFPA's representative to the Middle East, to discuss industrial safety in the region (17:50), before closing the episode with a chat with Laura Moreno, an NFPA engineer, to discuss hot work safety (36:25).
From inaccurate pop culture references to homebuilders warning of astronomical costs, there are a lot of residential fire sprinklers myths out there. In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we debunk some of those myths as we hear from a former fire chief who chose to retrofit his home with sprinklers. Angelo kicks off the episode with an overview of the importance of home fire sprinklers as well as an update on residential sprinkler incentives (1:17), before Robby takes over with his interview of a former fire chief who retrofitted his home with sprinklers and the installers who worked on that project (2:38). Plus, in sticking with the residential theme but moving away from sprinklers, Derek examines how new NEC requirements will impact residential electrical contractors (35:40).
As it has with every industry, coronavirus has upended the world of safety inspections—but in this case there might actually be some good news! With communities across the world social distancing, remote video inspections (known as RVI) have taken off dramatically, and building departments are seeing unexpected benefits. Jesse starts off the show with an overview of RVI and some reasons why it's suddenly so popular. Next, he talks to Jim Muir, a building official in Washington State who some consider the inventor of RVI, about its benefits and challenges, a proposed NFPA standard on the topic, and how RVI could change the industry for the better (5:18). Then, Derek talks to an electrical inspector in Connecticut to learn how he created and launched a new RVI program at his building department in less than a week, and why he plans to continue it even after things return to normal (42:31). For much more info on remote video inspections, visit nfpa.org/rvi, and read the new feature in NFPA Journal "Are You Seeing This?" at nfpa.org/journal.
The worldwide battery market is expected to grow by over 12 percent in the next five years. From hoverboards to electric cars to energy storage systems (ESS), mankind is increasingly relying on battery power. But what are the risks? In this episode of The NFPA Podcast, we examine the science behind and fire safety risks involved with using lithium-ion batteries on both a small and large scale. Host Angelo Verzoni kicks off the episode with a brief overview of ESS and NFPA 855 (3:06). Then, Derek dives a bit deeper into the technology, while touching on the electrical safety implications (5:05), before Robby interviews a guest who discusses the first responder experience with batteries (24:50).
In the very first episode of The NFPA Podcast, we explore the fast-growing and rapidly evolving legal cannabis industry. In the first segment, Jesse talks to NFPA Field Director Ray Bizal about what he's learned from touring numerous marijuana facilities, and what fire departments and inspectors should know (4:20). Then, Robby talks with top fire officials in Colorado and Utah about the growing pains and lessons learned from regulating this budding industry (20:12). Finally, Derek chats with Bobby Gray, past chair of NEC Code Making Panel 18, about how large cannabis grow facilities have influenced what the NEC says about indoor horticultural lighting (47:26). For videos, articles, tip sheets, and lots more important information about regulating the legal cannabis industry, visit nfpa.org/cannabis.
In light of the recent civil unrest and mass protests in Minneapolis, we thought it was a good time to revisit this episode from 2016. In this re-released episode, we hear from Jeffrey Segal, assistant chief of the Baltimore Fire Department, and Matt LaVanchy of the Pattonville, Missouri Fire District near Ferguson, Missouri, about their recent experiences dealing with extreme cases of civil unrest. RELATED: Read a white paper on civil unrest from the 2015 Urban Fire Forum: https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/Membership/member-sections/Metro-Chiefs/Urban-Fire-Forum/2016/2016UFFCivilUnrestWhitePaper.ashx
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