Dana Kamal named NFPA’s International Business Development Director

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has named Dana Kamal as Director, International Business Development, who will oversee regional planning, direction, coordination, and support of the association’s international development functions in the Middle East and North Africa.

Kamal, an engineer with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare business development and operations, will cultivate meaningful alliances throughout the GCC states (the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf), implementing new strategies with existing and new stakeholders, and representing NFPA in regulatory, legislative, and technical circles.

In 2017, NFPA established a Middle East North Africa (MENA) Advisory Committee with most members residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Advisory Committee works to expand safety and enforcement efforts and enhance communication between private sector leaders and government authorities. Kamal, who recently served as NFPA advisor to the MENA region, will work closely with the Committee and others to champion building, life safety and fire protection standards, and promote effective code compliance in the built environment.

In addition to sharing NFPA resources and expertise, Kamal will serve as an authoritative representative for media, government, and other decision makers, and work to make training more accessible to local leaders and professionals in the region.

She will also assist with the translation of NFPA codes for local use. Her technical review work with Professor Abdullah Al-Mhaidib, Faculty of Engineering at Kings Saud University, for NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, in Arabic, for example, was an important step for the association in the advancement of codes and standards in the local language.

Jim Pauley, NFPA president and CEO, commented on Kamal’s appointment: “NFPA has a long-standing presence in the Middle East, working closely with government officials and private entities conducting business in the Gulf region.

“The region has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years therefore, it is critical for authorities, the workforce, and the public to ensure safety practices keep pace with progress. The experience and knowledge Dana Kamal brings to this role is vital to the work we do to provide relevant resources in Arabic for those charged with protecting people and property.”

Kamal holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Ajman University of Science & Technology in the UAE and a master’s degree in healthcare management from the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland in Dubai. In addition, She also holds numerous certifications in the areas of emergency management and fire safety, hospital planning, and design.

Kamal began her career at GME Company as a biomedical engineer overseeing the setup of radiology and cardiology operating theatres. She later joined Dubai Health Care City (DHCC) to work on one of the largest health information systems projects in the country, connecting patients’ identification and records under one network for more than 13 government hospitals and 80 ambulatory service centers.

Kamal later joined the DHCC business development department to assist in the launch of the Boston University Institute for Dental Research and Education Dubai and the Boston University Dental Health Center Dubai, a state-of-the art medical facility offering expert dental education, research, and care in the Gulf region. She went on to enlist her managerial and technical knowledge toward the commission of The Dubai Mall Medical Center and other community-based clinics under Emaar Healthcare Community Services. Most recently, Kamal worked as senior manager of facilities systems and program support at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, strategizing and managing utility systems and life safety and clinical education programs for more than 10 years.

The NFPA gears up for Campus Fire Safety Month

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The annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign is set to launch this September as schools across the US return to in-person learning with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) working together to help ensure living spaces are as safe as possible for students.

Campus Fire Safety Month raises awareness about the threat of fires in both on and off-campus housing, highlighting relevant information to students, their parents, and campus housing staff and administrators who are encouraged to take proactive measures to protect themselves, their family, and peers from fires and make living spaces as safe as possible upon a student’s return to school.

According to data from CCFS, from January 2000 to April 2022, 94 fatal fires have been documented that occurred on a college campus, in Greek housing, or in off-campus housing within three miles of the campus and claimed 134 lives.

Of the 94 fires documented, 38 were accidental and involved cooking, candles, smoking, or electrical equipment, and took the lives of 51 students. NFPA research shows that September and October are the peak months for campus fires, particularly during the evening between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice president of Outreach and Advocacy and CCFS Advisory Council member, commented: “As students return to college life this fall, we encourage them to review fire safety tips to learn how to prevent fires. The more prepared we are, the more we can do to reduce fire risk.

She added: “Campus Fire Safety Month provides a great opportunity to share materials and action steps and foster a culture of awareness and preparedness about fire safety on our college campuses.”

Campus Fire Safety Tips

Know and practice the building’s evacuation plan, as well as alternate routes out of the building.

Cook in intended areas only, and never leave cooking equipment unattended when in use, even briefly.

Test smoke alarms monthly in an apartment or a house. Ensure smoke alarms are installed in all sleeping areas, outside of all sleeping areas, and on every level of the apartment or house. Never remove or disable smoke alarms.

Keep combustible items away from heat sources and never overload electrical outlets, extension cords, or power strips. Many fires are caused by portable light and heat sources, like space heaters and halogen lamps.

Keep common areas and hallways free of possessions and debris. Never block exit routes.

National Fire Protection Association elects Russell Leavitt as Chair

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During the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) annual conference, Russell B. Leavitt, Executive Chairman of Telgian Holdings, Inc. was elected to the role of NFPA Chair of the Board, a position he will hold for two calendar years.

NFPA Board Members are selected based on business industry experience, as well as the respect of peers in the safety community, a proven commitment to the association’s goals and an appreciation for the relationship NFPA must maintain with society as its needs evolve.

As NFPA Chair, Leavitt will work with the association as it delivers information, knowledge and training nationwide. Leavitt has served in a variety of positions for NFPA for over three decades, most recently as 1st Vice Chair. In addition to this leadership position within the organization, Leavitt also serves on the NFPA 13 Sprinkler System Discharge and Installation Technical Committees, as well as on NFPA 3, NFPA 4 and the Cultural Resources (NFPA 909 and 914) Technical Committees.

Commenting on his appointment, Leavitt said: “I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the outgoing chair, Amy Acton. It is an honour to serve with my fellow board members, the executive leadership team, and all of the associates of NFPA. There are no individuals anywhere who have more passion or a greater commitment to making the world a safer place to live and work.”

NFPA Immediate Past Chair, Amy Acton, said: “Having the great fortune to work alongside Russ on the NFPA board, I know he will continue to bring forward his deep expertise, drive, and passion for the mission of the NFPA. As the Chair, he will help advise and support the organization as it works to expand its impact and continues to make this world a safer place.”

Leavitt is a senior instructor for the NFPA, American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and Fire Smarts, and he conducts fire and life safety seminars both nationally and internationally on a variety of related subjects. Examples include Expo Fire Protection Mexico & International Congress and International, EduCODE International Conference, Fire Sprinkler Americas Conference, and FireCon, among others.

During the course of his career, Leavitt has also authored numerous industry training materials and informational articles including “Fire Safety Codes and Standards: What You Need to About NFPA.”

Success for NPFA community wildfire safety prevention programme

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released a new report, Residents Reducing Wildfire Risks: Findings from the NFPA® Firewise® Sites of Excellence Pilot, 2019–2020, showcasing the work of seven active Firewise USA communities to build wildfire-ignition resistance and avert wildfire disasters.

The report is the result of an NFPA two-year pilot, “Sites of Excellence,” in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and state forestry agencies.

Michele Steinberg, wildfire division director at NFPA, said the pilot program underscores the true power and impact of Firewise communities working together to reduce their collective risk to wildfire.

“Individuals taking steps to protect their own homes can only accomplish so much,” said Steinberg. “The results of this pilot program show that the greatest potential for wildfire risk reduction lies with entire neighborhoods working in lock step with one another.”

According to the report, seven sites in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin saw higher levels of engagement and interest in the Firewise program and wildfire mitigation efforts; in six of the seven sites, more than 80 percent of adjacent households achieved the goal of mitigation in the home ignition zone.

Their work demonstrated that community wildfire resilience is achievable and that such a program can also foster improved community cohesion and better communication among residents, emergency responders, and land managers.

Developed for NFPA by postdoctoral scholar Dr. Rebecca Miller, the report and corresponding story map shows the challenges, successes, and best practices discovered during the pilot. Its findings will help direct future Firewise program changes and inform policy to support increased implementation of risk reduction practices in communities facing wildfire threats to life and property.

New report released on the environmental impact of fire

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The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of National Fire Protection Association, recently published a research report on the “Environmental impact of fires in the built environment: Emission factors”.

This study builds on existing emission factors (EFs) for a range of fire conditions and developed new EFs for relevant building materials and has produced a database that can be built upon with future research.

In 2020, the FPRF undertook a study that developed a research road map identifying research needs to be able to quantify the environmental impact of fire from the built environment and its economic consequences, where lack of relevant data concerning emissions was identified as one of several pressing needs.

Following the development of the research road map, the FPRF began follow up research to develop a database of existing emission factors for a range of fire conditions and the development of some new EFs for building materials.

Details of which material have been studied was determined through a combination of factors, including typical materials used to describe buildings in LCA models, materials identified in a separate French research project (funded by the French Ministry of the Environment in the context of the annual funding for INERIS), and a database of prior experiments characterizing a number of existing materials.

A special focus was put on scaling to investigate the predictive capabilities of small-scale test methods for development of EFs for large-scale conditions. The report provides details of large-scale and small-scale experiments conducted at INERIS (France) and small-scale experiments conducted at Lund University (Sweden), in 2019-2020 spanning a period of around 18 months.

In addition to conducting experiments to confirm existing data and develop new data, a database of existing experimental data relevant for the development of EFs has been created containing some 90 products and materials. This database represents the first up-to-date published resource with a collation of emission factors for a broad variety of species to the best knowledge of the authors.

The research report along with the database is available from the FPRF website.

NFPA launches course to educate on water-based fire suppression systems

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced the launch of a new Certified Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP) Learning Path to help fire safety professionals prepare for an advanced certification exam in the design and review of safe and effective water-based fire suppression systems.

The CWBSP Learning Path will give eligible certification candidates the opportunity to increase their proficiency as a water-based systems designer and prepare for the Certified Water-Based Systems Professional (CWBSP) exam, available to take online or at hundreds of in-person testing sites worldwide.

To earn the certification candidates must have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience and obtain an attestation from a supervisor or employer.

Students who participate in the CWBSP Online Learning Path can review the layout and design requirements for fire suppression systems, including sprinkler, standpipe, and underground systems.

They will also be able to examine design considerations for fire pumps, water tanks, and hangers. Interactive exercises, real-life scenarios, and short videos will give students the opportunity to reinforce what they have learned.

The CWBSP Learning Path includes a practice test component and a final Capstone activity so students can assess their progress before taking the exam.

All participants of the CWBSP Learning Path will receive one year of access to exclusive online content and lessons developed by NFPA experts who have an intimate understanding of codes and standards and how they work together to support professional credentialing.

Dan Pickel, NFPA director of certification and accreditation, commented: “The NFPA Certified Water-Based Systems Professional credential was created in 2018 after discussions with leaders in the field of water-based systems design who indicated a strong desire for a credential that will assess and verify the knowledge and expertise necessary to be a water-based systems designer.

“The CWBSP was then developed in consultation with professionals from a wide variety of specialties, which helped us to create effective content and context for this new certification offering that can help professionals meet and exceed their career goals and give employers a benchmark to hire the most qualified candidates.”

NFPA issues warning over electric shock drowning hazards

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In response to the number of news headlines about deaths related to electric shock drowning (ESD), the National Fire Protection Association NFPA has issued some guidance on how to stay safe when swimming this summer.

The warning, which comes ahead of the July 4th holiday weekend, a time when more people travel to the water’s edge, head out on their boats and spend time at the pool, reminds people about potential electrical hazards that exist in swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, onboard boats and in waters surrounding boats, marinas, and launch ramps.

Electric shock drowning can occur when faulty wiring sends electric current into the water that can pass through the body and cause paralysis. When this happens, a person can no longer swim and ultimately drowns. 

The NFPA said swimmers, pool and boat owners should familiarise themselves with the following information and share it with people they know before embarking on any water activities:

Tips for swimmers

  • Never swim near a marina, dock, or boatyard, or near a boat while it is running.
  • While in a pool, hot tub or spa, look out for underwater lights that are not working properly, flicker, or work intermittently.
  • If you feel a tingling sensation while in a pool, immediately stop swimming in your current direction. Try and swim in a direction where you had not felt the tingling. Exit the water as quickly as possible; avoid using metal ladders or rails. Touching metal may increase the risk of shock.

 Tips for pool owners

  • If you are putting in a new pool, hot tub, or spa, be sure the wiring is performed by an electrician experienced in the special safety requirements for these types of installations.
  • Have a qualified electrician periodically inspect and — where necessary — replace or upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that keep your pool, spa, or hot tub electrically safe. Have the electrician show you how to turn off all power in case of an emergency.
  • Make sure any overhead lines maintain the proper distance over a pool and other structures, such as a diving board. If you have any doubts, contact a qualified electrician or your local utility company to make sure power lines are a safe distance away.

Tips for boat owners

  • Avoid entering the water when launching or loading a boat. Docks or boats can leak electricity into the water causing water electrification.
  • Each year, and after a major storm that may affect the boat, have the boat’s electrical system inspected by a qualified marine electrician to be sure it meets the required codes of your area, including the American Boat & Yacht Council. Make the necessary repairs if recommended. Check with the marina owner who can also tell you if the marina’s electrical system has recently been inspected to meet the required codes of your area, including the .
  • Have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed on the boat; use only portable GFCIs or shore power cords (including “Y” adapters) that are Marine Listed when using electricity near water. Test GFCIs monthly.

For more information about electric shock drowning, visit nfpa.org/watersafety.

Three join NFPA board of directors

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has completed the election of its Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting on June 6, 2022, which includes three new members: “Butch” Browning, Adrián Gallardo Landeros, and Mark Ghilarducci. Patrick Morrison was re-elected for his second three-year term.

Browning served as the Louisiana State Fire Marshal since 2008 and on the NASFM (National Association of State Fire Marshals) Board of Directors for the last 12 years. With more than 35 years in the fire service, He will assume the role of Executive Director of NASFM July 1st.

Landeros has served as the general director of Servicios de Información Estratégica, S.C. for the last 20 years. During his career, he has provided professional advice and consulting services to 12 Mexican state governors, legislative bodies, and several federal ministries. He has also coordinated or co-authored more than 20 books on Mexican economic and political issues.

Ghilarducci, serves as the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to his appointments at Cal OES and FEMA, he served as deputy state fire chief at Cal OES. He also has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and government management at the local, state, and federal levels.

Morrison, the Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine at IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters), was elected to his second three-year term.

Previously, the Board elected a slate of officers that includes Russell Leavitt as chair, R. David Paulison as first vice chair, John Bonney as second vice chair, Roger Montembeault as secretary, Donald Cook as assistant secretary, Michael Wallace as treasurer, Stacy Welch as assistant treasurer, and Amy Acton as immediate past chair.

GFCI wins NFPA’s Philip J. DiNenno Prize for 2022

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced Electrical Shock Hazard Protection by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Protection as the winner of the 2022 Phillip J. DiNenno Prize, which recognizes pioneering innovations that have significantly impacted building, fire, and electrical safety. The prestigious award is named for the late Philip J. DiNenno, the greatly respected former CEO of Hughes Associates, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to fire safety.

The 2022 DiNenno Prize selection reflects a departure from the traditional recognition of one or more individuals who have played a pivotal role in the creation of a fire and life safety technology. Instead, it honors the ground-breaking technology itself, as its innovators are no longer living.

The (GFCI) concept has evolved since its inception in the 1940s into a series of sophisticated protection devices that have increased protection of people from electric shock. It has also allowed for greater degrees of safe electrical power usage among numerous applications in all types of environments. In addition, widespread installation of GFCI protection throughout the built environment has directly led to significant, quantifiable increases in society’s current levels of electrical safety. Furthermore, GFCI technologies will continue to prevent tragedies attributable to electrocutions even more so in the future.

“GFCI technology in itself is very important in electrical safety, saving hundreds of lives per year,” said Craig Beyler, DiNenno Selection and Prize Committee Chair. “This year’s recommendation remains true to the core tenets of the DiNenno Prize and continues to honor live and deceased innovators equally.”

The DiNenno Prize typically features a $50,000 award to its recipients. In absence of living recipients, the Phoenix Burn Society for Burn Survivors and the Electrical Fire Safety International (ESFI) have been selected as the beneficiaries of the prize and will each receive a cash donation to support their work in reducing loss from electrical hazards.

The award will be officially presented at the NFPA “Stars at Night” award ceremony in coordination with the NFPA Conference & Expo (C&E) in Boston this June. Jack Wells and Henry Zylstra, who each played a critical role in the advancement of GFCI technology, will serve as legacy presenters of the DiNenno Prize.

In addition, there will be a special panel presentation on Ground Fault Circuit (GFCI) Protection at C&E on Monday morning at 8:00 am. Wells, Zylstra, Alan Manche and Steve Rood will serve as presenters, reviewing the role GFCI has played in electrical safety; Wells and Zylstra will share stories about their involvement in the development and commercialization of GFCI technology.

NFPA receives $225,000 from General Motors

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The NFPA has received a $225,000 grant from General Motors to deliver free electric vehicle training to 12,000 volunteer and underserved U.S. fire departments.

The funding comes at a critical time, as more EVs continue to enter the roadways but many fire departments remain untrained in effectively mitigating associated incidents.

“While firefighters have had more than 100 years to learn how to handle incidents with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they’ve had very little time to understand and train for those involving EV and hybrid vehicles,” said Andrew Klock, emerging issues lead manager at NFPA. “As electric vehicles increasingly dominate our roads in the coming years, ensuring that fire departments are adequately trained and equipped to deal with them is critically important.”

A 2020 report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that the U.S. fire service is not prepared to fight electric vehicle fires. This issue is more prevalent among volunteer and underserved departments, which often don’t have the resources to receive the needed training; about two-thirds (67 percent) of U.S. fire departments are served by part-time or volunteer firefighters, according to NFPA data.

Through the General Motors grant, NFPA will work in coordination with U.S. fire service organizations and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Coalitions to conduct outreach among targeted audiences to maximize participation in the NFPA Electric Vehicle Safety training program, which will be provided online at no cost for one year.

“Providing free access to our training plays a pivotal role in helping ensure that volunteer and underserved fire departments are adequately trained and prepared to handle EV incidents,” said Klock. “Thanks to General Motors’ generous support, we’ll be able to provide the needed training to thousands of fire departments that otherwise would not be able to access it.”

NFPA is an ANSI-accredited national codes and standards developer for emergency responder qualifications, equipment, and tactics. Over the past 12 years, the association has worked to develop and refine its EV safety program in collaboration with NTSB, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the National Highway and Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), and numerous national research laboratories. These and associated efforts have earned NFPA widespread recognition among the major fire service organizations in North America as the leading EV safety training program for first responders.

NFPA also serves on the SAE J2990 Committee for EV Safety and continues to engage with the U.S. DOE, DOT, and NHTSA to conduct testing and determine new methods to combat EV incidents.