The Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF)/NFPA Code Fund was established in 2006 and is supported each year by a generous financial contribution from NFPA of $150K/annually. The purpose of the Code Fund is to stimulate and provide a mechanism for facilitating research to support the work of NFPA Technical Committees.
The FPRF is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to plan, manage and communicate research in support of the NFPA mission. The mission of the NFPA is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education
Selection criteria/Process
All are encouraged to submit a project idea using the project statement form (docx, 409 KB). Project submittals for the Code Fund are reviewed on an annual basis at the end of the calendar year. The deadline for 2014 submittals is November 30, 2013. We are seeking ideas of small research or data projects that may help Technical Committees resolve issues or stimulate some further research funded by others. Code Fund projects have typically been reasonably small in size (~$30K or less) and completed within one year. We also have an opportunity to provide some smaller projects to current graduate students, so no project is too small.
The review process is conducted based on recommendations provided by a project review panel, with consideration of factors including but not limited to the following: magnitude of problem, relevance to mission, available other funding, likelihood of success, required time frame, relation to strategic research agenda, and balancing projects across the broad spectrum of NFPA subject areas. Each year the Code Fund seeks to partially or fully fund the top prioritized projects based on the available resources.
The Foundation would like to keep the idea generation process on-going throughout the year, so please fill out and submit the project statement form at any time. Submitters are encouraged to submit their project ideas soon after they are considered by TCs or CCs, such as following a first draft or second draft meeting. As project ideas are received, the Foundation will consider how to best pursue. For example, this could mean traditional fund raising to support a project or submission to the pool of Code Fund project ideas for the upcoming year. If you have questions, please contact Amanda Kimball.
Successful Code Fund Application Examples
Current year Ppojects
Summary of the 51 Code Fund project submittals for 2013. (PDF, 3 MB)
16 selected projects:
- Guide to Applying Reliability Based Decision Making to ITM Frequency for Fire Protection Systems and Equipment, Phase II (NFPA 25)
- Defining the Landscape for PPE Care and Maintenance (NFPA 1851)
- Technical Basis for Separation Distances in NFPA Codes and Standards (NFPA 400) (PDF, 102 KB)
- Non-fire Hazard Provisions in NFPA Codes and Standards that Address Life Safety (NFPA 101) (PDF, 106 KB)
- Validation of the Fire Safety Evaluation Systems (FSES) in the 2013 edition of NFPA 101A, Guide on Alternative Approaches to Life Safety (NFPA 101A)
- Evaluation of PPE ESE (electronic safety equipment) Intrinsic Safety (NFPA 1801, 1981, 1982)
- Quantifying Heavy Snowfall in NFPA 58 (NFPA 58)
- Evaluation of Required Fire Flow Criteria in NFPA 1, Fire Code (NFPA 1)
- Hydrant Flow Testing Study (NFPA 20, 24)
- Glass Boarding Bridges (NFPA 415) (PDF, 111 KB)
- Determining Self-Preservation Capability in Pre-School Children (NFPA 101, 5000) (PDF, 159 KB)
- Evaluating Occupant Load Factors for Business Operations (NFPA 101, 5000) (PDF, 105 KB)
- Development of Permeation Test Method for Zippers and Other Closures (NFPA 1991, 1994)
- Evaluating Occupant Load Factors for Ambulatory Health Care Facilities (NFPA 101, 5000) (PDF, 105 KB)
- Hybrid Water Mist Fire Protection Systems (NFPA 750, 2001) (PDF, 109 KB)
- Nuisance Resistance of Smoke Alarms (NFPA 72)
Prior projects
The following are the Code Fund projects from prior years:
2012 selected projects
- Determining the Appropriate Emergency First Responder PPE for Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Fires (NFPA 70E, 1851, 1855, 1951, 1971, 1975, 1999)
- Guide to Applying Reliability Based Decision Making to ITM Frequency for Fire Protection Systems and Equipment (all NFPA standards that have inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements) (PDF, 98 KB)
- Development of Quantitative Risk Assessment Examples for Operating Rooms (NFPA 99) (PDF, 190 KB)
- Defining Emergency and Non Emergency Use of Buildings by Occupants (NFPA 1, 101, and 5000) (PDF, 182 KB)
- Assessment of Total Evacuation Systems of Tall Buildings (NFPA 101) (PDF, 76 KB)
- Sprinkler Protection for Cloud Ceilings (NFPA 13) (PDF, 51 KB)
- Combustible Metals Case Studies (NFPA 484) (PDF, 107 KB)
- Evaluation of Fire Service Training Fires (NFPA 1403)
- Assessing the List of Typical Oxidizers (NFPA 400)
2011 selected projects
2010 selected projects
2009 selected projects
2008 selected projects
2007 selected projects
2006 selected projects