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 enacted laws or are considering new ones that restrict state agencies from updating fire and building codes.
He cited North Carolina as an example, writing that a freeze on changes to building codes until 2031 means the codes will not reflect emerging fire and electrical hazards.
He also wrote that lawmakers in several states are considering proposals that would allow new six story residential buildings to have a single stairway, describing efforts to bypass expert reviews through legislative maneuvers.
Pauley opened discussing a recent fire at a bar during a New Year’s celebration in the Swiss Alps that killed 41 people, writing that reports suggest the fire started from sparklers placed on champagne bottles positioned too close to flammable soundproofing foam on the ceiling.
He wrote that investigators are examining whether the venue had adequate fire protection systems, sufficient exits and appropriate building materials, along with why safety officials failed to perform annual safety inspections for five years.
He linked that incident to historical nightclub fires in the United States, citing the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire in Boston and the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island as examples involving flammable interior materials and ignition sources.
He wrote: “These tragedies and many like them are what happens when safety requirements are ignored, diluted or not enforced – when we choose cost-cutting over proven protection.”
Pauley also wrote that safety codes have evolved through a consensus driven process that considers risk, use, occupancy and building materials, and that government decides which codes become law and how they are enforced while independent standards development organizations create standards through technical processes and broad stakeholder input.
He argued that state debates are increasingly framing life saving codes and standards as obstacles to affordable housing, writing that lawmakers should address root causes such as restrictive zoning and land costs.
He cited fire sprinklers as an example, referencing a 2016 ProPublica investigation and writing that sprinklers can reduce civilian fire death rates by 90 percent and firefighter injuries by 35 percent, and that only California and Maryland have adopted the latest code requirement for sprinklers in new residential construction.
Pauley wrote that the National Fire Protection Association has launched a campaign called “Safety Doesn’t Happen by Chance” focused on defending codes and standards and raising awareness of how they are developed.
He wrote that code decisions should remain grounded in the expertise of professionals who study fire behavior, building design and risk management.
