Regulatory progress for fire protection in Latin America is a reality. A variety of regulations, adaptations, and adoptions focuses on giving the region the foundation it so badly needs. However, are we already in the scenario where fire protection is taken for granted? Do we have the infrastructure in the region to confirm that the elements of a compartmentalized site will perform as expected in the event of a fire? We will study advances, setbacks, and opportunities for all professionals in the field within the region.

The Peruvian Regulation in the Hydrocarbons Sector uses approximately 20 NFPA standards, including NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code. On January 23, 2020, a tanker truck carrying 2500 gallons of LPG had a malfunction that generated an immediate leak of LPG in liquid phase, generating a cloud that traveled for two blocks. The cloud caught fire, causing 20 deaths from burns and 30 injured, with more than 24 houses burned. This incident led to an evaluation of the entire regulatory and liability process. This session will explain the facts concerning the incident, the impact, the normative issues based on NFPA codes and standards, and the gaps found.

Based on real incidents that the food industry has faced, including photographs that reflect the Latin American reality in terms of accident prevention, we will develop an analysis methodology for the correct evaluation of areas, and/or equipment, that present exposure to explosion due to accumulation of dusts. Also, we will propose some actions that could be carried out to reduce the probability of occurrence of dust explosions. This session will summarize the NFPA standards linked to the analysis and control of this type of event, such as NFPA 61, NFPA 68, NFPA 69, NFPA 70, NFPA 499, NFPA 654, and the new NFPA 652 standard.

Witnessing the growth that the fire protection industry has had in recent decades in Latin America leads to some questions: How far has conscious progress been made in the field of fire protection and safety in the industry in general and in society? Has education in our region been increased according to our needs to generate more and better specialized professionals that allow us to meet the requirements of the challenges that lie ahead in the short term? What have those who are part of stakeholder management done in this community? We will share our perceptions from the last few years, offer our analysis, and consider what would be the expectations going forward. We will discuss proposals that could emerge in the region regarding professional development in the field of fire protection.

The current state of fire protection in hospitals in Latin America is widespread, ranging from countries with strict regulations and application of NFPA standards, to countries with limited or obsolete regulations; and in some instances, no regulation at all in fire protection of health care facilities. For this reason, it’s crucial to standardize the requirements based on recognized and updated safety frameworks like NFPA standards, well-known and accepted for their frequent revisions and quality, to provide an optimum level of safety in this type of critical facilities.

This session will discuss some major areas of ecosystem framework reflection within the health care industry. It will provide a closer look at NFPA elements of design and operations to help increase effectiveness in managing the life safety program and responding to emergencies. Finally, it will delve into some important topics such as the need to engage with external authorities in the preparedness phases of the projects as well as during operations.

Over the past decade the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has experienced a significant increase in the region’s awareness and dedication to the fire and life safety industry. Local authorities have worked hard to improve the quality of both preventive and protective fire and life safety measures and have enhanced the portfolio of their authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), referred to as Civil Defence. History has proven that an effective government system with long-term plans provides for an environment of evolution, growth, and advancement. With this vision, the GCC countries began the empowerment of their AHJs. This session will address some of the common challenges and opportunities faced by the Civil Defense Authorities in the region, highlighting the commitment of Qatar Civil Defence to growth and expansion for their country.

While NFPA marks 125 years of protecting people and property from fire, electrical, and related hazards by developing and promoting the use of its fire codes and standards, it is fitting that many of those fire codes applicable to the industrial and chemical sector have existed for much of that journey. This presentation seeks to show how strong the connection is between those standards and the diverse global industries whose processes involve the hazards of fire, explosion, and reactivity. Management of process safety practices emerged as a critical element within industries during the 1980s and resulted in even greater attention to safety and health behaviors. The NFPA Fire and Life Safety EcosystemTM captures those behaviors in a manner unique for each of the stakeholders, forming an essential network that can drive fire and life safety through the next century. 

NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, requires that a sprinkler system be supplied by at least one automatic water supply; however, this requirement assumes that the one automatic supply is reliable, which is typically the case in the United States. When NFPA codes and standards are used on a global scale, many countries are requiring installing at least two fire pumps. The reasoning is that the reliability of the water supply and fire protection system will increase by adding a second fire pump. But is this true? During this presentation, the speaker will address determining the number of fire pumps to use as part of a water supply for a private fire protection system based on his international experience with different country requirements.

Hot work accidents occur throughout many industries in the United States, including food processing, pulp and paper manufacturing, oil production, fuel storage, and waste treatment. This session will define hot work activity, review case studies and recent incidents, identify best practices, review potential risks, and explain the importance of a fire watch and the importance of incident pre-planning. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of what to look for and what steps to take when hot work activity is required in their facilities.