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

Modern Vehicle Hazards in Parking Structures and Vehicle Carriers

This report details an analysis of the current scientific literature regarding the fire hazard modern vehicles represent to parking garages and marine vessels. The changes in vehicle and garage design have been documented, and the factors that most impact the fire development have been identified. Areas where current codes may be inadequate are presented and knowledge gaps and potential areas of research required to address the hazard are identified.

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

• Fires in Structures Under Construction or Renovation (2020)
• Structure Fires in Schools (2019)
• Home Structure Fires (2019)
• Fires in Industrial or Manufacturing Properties (2018)
• Eating and Drinking Establishments (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)
• Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings (2012)

Fire resistance

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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)