The cost of cutting corners: NFPA President Jim Pauley discusses the dangers of sidelining fire safety codes and standards
By Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO In a world facing significant challenges like climate disasters, a housing shortage, and rapid technological change, one pressing issue stands out: safety. Disturbingly, there’s a growing trend in legislative bodies to overlook essential fire safety codes and standards that are crucial for saving lives. The tragic Grenfell Tower […]
Understanding Fire Safety Codes and Standards: Insights from Telgian
Exploring the nuances of fire safety regulations Fire safety codes and standards are crucial in ensuring the safety and compliance of buildings and facilities. A recent explainer article by Russell Leavitt, Executive Chairman of Telgian Holdings, sheds light on these important guidelines. Leavitt, with over four decades of experience in fire safety and protection, provides […]
NFPA recognizes 24 individuals for contributions in fire safety and code development
NFPA annual awards celebrate achievements in fire safety As reported by the NFPA, the NFPA Standards Council presented awards on June 20 to 24 individuals for their exceptional contributions to the development of fire safety codes and standards. The ceremony took place during the association’s Technical Session, immediately following the NFPA Conference & Expo held […]
SAM House explains rebuilding after wildfire
Registered architect Gary Hendren explains how S.A.M. House uses fire-resistant walls and roofs to reduce ignition risk during wildfires while resisting wind and flooding Recurrent wildfires in California are exposing a mismatch between how homes are built and the conditions they now face. Communities must rebuild after repeated losses while navigating stricter codes, slower permitting, […]
Siderise: Fire safety in exterior walls
Open state fireblocks only work if fixed correctly. Siderise explains why poor installation can let fire spread through façade cavities Horizontal open state mineral fiber fireblocks incorporating intumescent strips are a relatively new passive fire protection solution for rainscreen facades in the USA. Sometimes referred to as open state cavity barriers (OSCBs), they permit ventilation and drainage under normal conditions and inhibit fire spread once the […]
NFPA President warns states against weakening safety codes
NFPA commentary on safety codes The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has published an opinion article warning that some states are weakening building and fire safety codes by limiting how often they can be updated. In a March 2, 2026 commentary published by Governing, Jim Pauley, NFPA president and CEO, wrote that multiple states have […]
Mississippi case leads to sentencing over defective fire suppression systems
Fire suppression systems at center of multi-county case The owners of Finnegan Fire Safety Equipment have been sentenced after pleading guilty in a multi-county investigation into the sale and installation of faulty fire suppression systems in commercial kitchens across Mississippi. The sentencing was announced by the Mississippi Office of the State Fire Marshal, as reported […]
Putting safety at the forefront with Ralph Suppa
Ralph Suppa, Fire Captain & CEO of Cervitas Solutions deep dives into responding to EV, E-bike and lithium-ion battery fires Those in the fire service hate two things: 1) The way things are and 2) Change. Lithium-ion batteries are forcing us to wrestle with both simultaneously. Electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems (BESS), e-bikes, scooters and battery tools are now part of everyday life. […]
Pye-Barker acquires Tampa-based fire sprinkler specialists
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety has acquired Universal Fire Systems, a 34-year fire sprinkler specialist in Tampa, Florida, adding a portfolio of landmark commercial projects to its growing presence in the state. This acquisition aspires to strengthen Pye-Barker‘s fire protection capabilities across the Tampa Bay market, enhancing its full fire code compliance services to better protect customers […]
Energy Safety Response Group: Safely, compliantly and effectively
Nick Warner, Principal and Co-founder of Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG) explains the impact of regulatory requirements and codes and navigating the evolving regulatory landscape In the past decade, the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the rapid rollout of battery energy storage systems (BESS) worldwide have introduced new and complex challenges for the fire service when […]
