What are NFPA Standards and How are They Different to UNE or EN Standards?
The NFPA standards, originally developed in the United States, have gained traction in various international fire protection frameworks, including Europe and Latin America, due to their ability to address a wide variety of risks and their flexible approach that allows them to adapt to different contexts and types of buildings. Furthermore, their continuous update, based on practical tests and real-case studies, has gained significant acceptance among engineers, architects, and industry companies, who appreciate the technical rigor and exhaustiveness of these standards.
What will you learn in this article?
- You will understand the origin and objectives of the NFPA standards.
- You will explore how and why these standards are being implemented outside of the United States.
- You will understand the differences between NFPA and UNE-EN standards, highlighting practical cases.
What is the NFPA standard?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international organization founded in 1896, with the goal of developing and promoting fire protection standards. These standards have become a global benchmark for ensuring the safety of people, properties, and the environment against fire-related hazards. Over the years, the NFPA has developed codes and standards that cover a wide range of applications, from hazardous materials storage to the design of automatic sprinkler systems.
As stated by its president and CEO, Jim Pauley, in the article about the new NFPA solutions:
“Safety does not happen by accident. We have spent over a century developing codes and standards that save lives.“
In addition to its normative work, the NFPA has expanded its reach with the creation of NFPA Global Solutions, an entity offering compliance solutions, digital products, and advisory services that go beyond the traditional products and services NFPA provides. According to Jim Pauley:
“For a century, NFPA® has been the leading international advocate for eradicating deaths, injuries, property losses, and economic damage due to fires, electricity, and other related hazards. Last week, we took a monumental step to advance NFPA’s commitment to its mission of saving lives and properties.“
↠ Use of NFPA Standards in Europe and Latin America
Although Europe has its own set of standards, such as the UNE-EN standards, NFPA standards are increasingly used in specific projects. This is because NFPA standards allow for a wider range of risks and situations that are not addressed by European regulations, making them essential for certain types of buildings or facilities with specific risks.
For example, in Latin America, due to the significant number of industrial and urban fires that have caused major losses, countries such as Mexico, Chile, and Colombia have started applying NFPA standards in their fire protection regulations.
NFPA Codes and Standards
The NFPA has developed an extensive list of hundreds of fire safety standards, each applied to a different aspect.
For example, NFPA 30 covers the storage, handling, and use of flammable liquids and fuels; NFPA 130 was designed for fixed rail transit systems and passenger railway transportation systems, whether above ground, underground, or elevated; and NFPA 20 applies to stationary fire pumps and vertical pipe systems.
↠ What is NFPA 704 and What do its Colors Mean?
One of the most well-known systems of the NFPA is NFPA 704, a standard that classifies materials according to their potential hazards in the event of a fire. This classification is represented by a diamond with four colors, each of which reflects a type of risk:
- Blue Color: Represents the health hazard a material may cause.
- Red Color: Indicates the flammability level of a substance.
- Yellow Color: Represents the chemical instability of materials.
- White Color: Contains additional symbols to identify specific hazards, such as corrosivity or radioactivity.
This system is widely used in the chemical industry and in protecting facilities that store hazardous materials, as it allows for quick identification of risks. According to NFPA 704:
“All hazardous materials must be clearly labeled using this system to facilitate a rapid response in emergencies.“
Differences Between UNE-EN Standards and those of the NFPA
The differences between UNE-EN standards and NFPA standards depend on the specific application. Therefore, to know which standard is better for each case, we must consider the specific application. For example, when applied to fire doors, UNE-EN standards are more demanding than NFPA.
In some cases, NFPA standards are more applicable and cover a wider range of scenarios that European regulations have not addressed.
↠ Why Choose NFPA Standards for the Design of Fire Protection Systems?
The European regulations often do not consider some of the risks that are regulated in NFPA Standards.
When installing sprinklers, Fire Protection Technicians are regularly confronted with designs that would be highly impractical following the UNE EN 12845 Standard. However, given the diversity of risks included in NFPA 13, these designs become workable if they are implemented according to this Standard.
The experience and the number of tests that have been carried out to implement NFPA Standards mean they are often more complete and allow for more efficient design.
Bibliography:
Pauley, J. (2024, April 1). Jim Pauley on NFPA Global Solutions. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/es/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2024/04/01/jim-pauley-on-nfpa-global-solutions
National Fire Protection Association. (n.d.). Main page. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/es
National Fire Protection Association. (n.d.). NFPA 704: Standard Development. National Fire Protection Association. https://www.nfpa.org/es/codes-and-standards/nfpa-704-standard-development/704