NFPA campaign highlights public role in protecting safety standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has launched a nationwide campaign warning that the development of US safety standards is increasingly at risk.
According to NFPA, the campaign – titled A Code for Every Moment – aims to improve public understanding of how fire and life safety codes are developed and to protect the independent system behind them.
NFPA said the public awareness campaign is one of the largest it has ever undertaken in its 125-year history.
The association reported that recent research revealed widespread misunderstanding among Americans, with most incorrectly believing that government agencies, rather than private organisations, create safety standards.
NFPA stated that this misunderstanding is contributing to efforts by special interest groups to weaken the independent standards development process.
Public misunderstanding of safety standards process identified
NFPA explained that safety codes affect many aspects of everyday life, including electrical systems, building exits, and fire protection.
The association warned that the current system of code development is vulnerable to misuse and misrepresentation, largely due to public misunderstanding.
The research cited by NFPA showed that many Americans are unaware of how standards are created, and that this lack of knowledge has allowed misinformation and private interests to gain influence.
NFPA also reported that some for-profit companies are using these codes without compensating their developers, undermining the sustainability of the system.
Despite this, NFPA stated that when people are informed of the independent, consensus-based process used to create safety standards, they tend to support protecting that process.
NFPA calls for legislative support through Pro Codes Act
NFPA has urged support for the Pro Codes Act, a piece of federal legislation intended to preserve the copyright protections that standards developers rely on.
The organisation said the legislation would also ensure that any standards referenced in public law are available for free viewing on public websites.
NFPA explained that maintaining copyright is essential to the ability of independent bodies to create and update standards used in construction, infrastructure and fire safety.
Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA, said: “The codes and standards development system has been one of the most successful public-private partnerships in history – safeguarding countless lives, creating economic growth and saving billions of taxpayer dollars.
“We can all do more to protect the safety standards that protect us.
“Whether you’re a policymaker, professional, or simply someone who cares about public safety, your voice matters.”
President and CEO highlights campaign aims and importance
Pauley explained the motivation behind the new campaign.
He said: “Safety doesn’t happen by chance.
“We’ve spent more than a century developing codes and standards that safeguard lives, enable innovation, and save billions in taxpayer dollars.
“But we must do more to help people understand how this essential system works, and why it must be protected.”
NFPA added that A Code for Every Moment is designed to connect everyday safety with the code infrastructure that supports it.
The campaign includes educational outreach aimed at both the public and policymakers.
NFPA encouraged people to visit DontChanceSafety.org to find out more about how to engage with the campaign and support the protection of independent safety standards.
Copyright, compensation and accessibility central to NFPA’s message
According to NFPA, the risk to safety codes does not come only from public misunderstanding, but also from the commercial use of codes without financial support for their creators.
The association reported that companies using safety standards without compensation weaken the system’s ability to function and update its guidance.
It said this issue is further compounded by misinformation campaigns seeking to reframe code development as a governmental rather than private and collaborative effort.
The organisation reiterated that copyright protections are necessary to keep safety standards viable.
It stated that making standards freely viewable while retaining copyright protections is one way to balance public access with the need to support independent code development.
NFPA campaign highlights public role in protecting safety standards: Summary
The National Fire Protection Association has launched a new campaign titled A Code for Every Moment.
The campaign seeks to educate the public and policymakers about how safety standards are developed in the United States.
NFPA reported that most Americans believe safety standards are created by government agencies.
In fact, they are developed by independent organisations like NFPA through a consensus process.
NFPA warned that this misunderstanding has led to misuse, underfunding, and legal challenges to the standards system.
The organisation urged support for the Pro Codes Act, which would protect copyright for standards developers.
The legislation would also require referenced standards to be viewable for free on public websites.
NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley said that the system must be better understood and defended.
NFPA stated that for-profit companies are using standards without compensation, which threatens the viability of the current model.
The campaign includes public outreach and encourages people to visit DontChanceSafety.org to get involved.