The cost of cutting corners: NFPA President Jim Pauley discusses the dangers of sidelining fire safety codes and standards

January 7, 2025

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 fire serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting safety.

Seventy-two people lost their lives in a fire that could have been entirely prevented had proper fire safety measures been implemented.

The Phase 2 report released earlier this year criticized organizations for valuing speed and profit over human lives.

Progress in Europe to remove the external cladding implicated in the Grenfell disaster has been sluggish, and other regions continue to be at risk, evidenced by recent fires where outdated standards contributed to the devastation.

Similar negligence was evident in the 2016 Ghost Ship fire in California, where thirty-six individuals perished in a building that didn’t meet basic fire safety requirements.

In response to such tragedies, NFPA introduced the Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem™ in 2018, a framework consisting of eight interconnected components designed to protect people and property.

Disasters like Grenfell and the Ghost Ship fire can occur when even one element of this ecosystem is weakened.

Unfortunately, despite the lessons learned, there’s an active push to sidestep the consensus-based codes that form the foundation of fire safety.

Across the United States, we’ve observed legislative efforts aiming to replace well-established codes with hastily prepared alternatives.

These initiatives are often driven by building industry interests that consider safety measures too expensive or time-consuming.

Part of their strategy involves excluding fire safety professionals from the decision-making process, professionals whose expertise is essential for making informed choices.

These moves endanger lives by weakening fire safety regulations or halting updates to vital provisions.

Recent legislative actions in various states have undermined established fire safety standards.

For instance, a new law in New Jersey permits architects and engineers to self-certify compliance with building safety codes, effectively reducing independent oversight.

By prioritizing speed and cost savings over thorough, consensus-based standards and procedures, such measures put lives at risk and compromise the integrity of the fire safety protections that communities rely on.

It’s imperative that fire safety professionals are included in these decisions.

Excluding their expertise increases the risk of fires and puts lives in danger.

The complexities of modern risks—like wildfires, lithium-ion batteries, and green energy technologies—require us to maintain the consensus-driven process for developing fire codes and standards.

While safety often entails costs, these are minimal compared to the expenses associated with catastrophic losses.

Historic tragedies like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the Cocoanut Grove fire, and the Grenfell Tower fire have demonstrated the devastating outcomes of neglecting safety.

We cannot afford to overlook these lessons.

The pursuit of safety transcends any single organization.

It demands a collective effort from fire professionals, lawmakers, and citizens worldwide.

If we continue to ignore the lessons of the past, we set the stage for the next great tragedy.

But by uniting in advocacy for safety, we can prevent it.

About the FSJA Influencer

Jim Pauley is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

NFPA is a global, non-profit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards.

He also serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of the NFPA-affiliated Fire Protection Research Foundation.

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This article was originally published in the January 2025 issue of Fire & Safety Journal Americas.

To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

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