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 a list of reports, or 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

Fires in Structures under Construction or Renovation

Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 4,300 fires in structures under construction per year in 2016 through 2020.

Download the report.

Tools

• EFFECT - Exterior Facade Fire Evaluation & Comparison Tool
• Property Inspection Prioritization (PIP)

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 (2023)
• Fires in Structures Under Construction (2022)
• Fires in Animal Housing Facilities (2022)
• Structure Fires in U.S. Warehouses (2022)
• Fires in Dormitory-Type Properties (2021)
• Service or Gas Station Fires (2020)
• Fire Safety Challenges of ‘Green’ Buildings and Attributes (2020)
• Structure Fires in Schools (2020)
• Fires in Industrial or Manufacturing Properties (2018)
• Eating and Drinking Establishments (2017)
• Structure Fires in Health Care Facilities (2017)
• Vacant Buildings (2017)
• High rise Building Fires (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)
• Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings (2012)

Fire resistance

• Fire Door Experimental Testing to Study the Influence of Door Gaps Around Swinging Fire Doors (2022)
• Digitized Fuel Load Survey Methodology Using Machine Vision (2019)
• 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

• A Review of Dynamic Directional Exit Signage: Challenges and Perspectives (2022)
• 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)

Life safety issues

• Modern Vehicle Hazards in Parking Structures and Vehicle Carriers (2020)
• Railing Height, Design, and Criteria Review (2019)
• Pilot Evaluation of the Remembering When™ Program in Five Communities in Iowa (2016)
• The Environmental Impact of Fire (2015)
• 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

• Cybersecurity for Fire Protection Systems (2021)
• 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)