Building and life safety

In today’s world where new construction methods and materials as well as new technologies are being introduced at a fast pace, we perform research to identify emerging risks and use this to provide you with knowledge and tools to help you mitigate those risks.

To learn about older reports, you can:

• see the list of available archived reports;
• search and download from the NFPA Library & Archives catalog;
• contact the library at +1 617 984-7445.

You can also browse NFPA workshop and symposium proceedings on this topic.

Latest report

Home Structure Fires

This report examines causes and circumstances of home structure fires reported to local fire departments in the U.S. Estimates are provided of home fires and losses overall, and for fires in one- or two-family homes and for apartments or other multi-family housing.

Download the report.

Tools

EFFECT - Exterior Facade Fire Evaluation & Comparison Tool

This research tool,created by NFPA and project consultant Arup, enables inspectors and engineers to conduct initial fire risk assessments of high-rise buildings that may have combustible fa�ade systems.

See the EFFECT tool.

Property Inspection Prioritization (PIP)

PIP is an interactive tool designed to help building inspectors evaluate and compare the inspection priorities of different buildings. PIP seeks to replicate the assessments of an experienced fire inspector by drawing on data from seven building attributes combined with a machine learning algorithm trained on data provided by over 100 experienced building inspectors.

See the PIP tool.

Exterior walls

• High Rise Buildings with Combustible Exterior Wall Assemblies: Fire Risk Assessment Tool (2018)
• Residential Structure Fires Originating on Outer Walls, Spreading on Exterior Walls or Trim, and Beginning on an Outer Wall with Plastic (PDF) (2018)
• Fire Hazards of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components (2014)

Fire by property type

• Home Structure Fires (2018)
• Fires in Industrial or Manufacturing Properties (2018)
• Fires in Structures Under Construction, Undergoing Major Renovation, or Being Demolished (2017)
• Eating and Drinking Establishments (2017)
• Educational Properties (2017)
• Structure Fires in Health Care Facilities (2017)
• Dormitories, Fraternities, Sororities and Barracks (2017)
• Vacant Buildings (2017)
• High rise Building Fires (2016)
• Structure Fires in U.S. Warehouses (2016)
• Structure Fires in Residential Board and Care Facilities (2016)
• U.S. Hotel And Motel Structure Fires (2015)
• Structure Fires in Stores and Other Mercantile Properties (2015)
• Fires at Outside Storage Tanks (2014)
• Manufactured Home Fires (2013)
• U.S. Structure Fires in Office Properties (2013)
• U.S. Structure Fires in Religious and Funeral Properties (2013)
• Non-Home Structure Fires By Equipment Involved in Ignition (2013)
• Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings (2012)

Fire resistance

• Influence of Gap Sizes around Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware on Fire and Smoke Development (2018)
• Fire Safety Challenges of Tall Wood Buildings (2018)
• High Rise Buildings with Combustible Exterior Wall Assemblies: Fire Risk Assessment Tool (2018)
• Chimney Top Devices in International Codes (2015)
• Impact of Chimney-top Appurtenances on Flue Gas Flow (2014)

Evacuation and egress

• Mass Evacuation and Sheltering (2016)
• Egress Modelling in Health Care Occupancies (2014)
• Total Evacuation Systems for Tall Buildings: Literature Review (2013)
• Total Evacuation Systems for Tall Buildings (2013)

Victims of fire

• Home Fire Victims by Age and Gender (2018)
• Physical Disability as a Factor in Home Fire Deaths (2014)

Life safety issues

• Pilot Evaluation of the Remembering When™ Program in Five Communities in Iowa (2016)
• Aircraft Loading Walkways Literature and Information Review (2014)
• Evaluating Occupant Load Factors for Ambulatory Health Care Facilities (2014)
• Determining Self-Preservation Capability in Pre-School Children (2013)

NFPA codes & standards

• Guidance Document for Incorporating Resiliency Concepts into NFPA Codes and Standards (2015)
• Disaster Resiliency and NFPA Codes and Standards (2014)
• Validation of the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES in the 2013 Edition of the NFPA 101A (2014)
• Non-Fire Hazard Provisions in NFPA Codes and Standards: A Literature Review (2013)