April 11, 2019
It’s been three years since the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published the most recent edition of the wide-ranging standard that spans “the application, installation, location, performance, inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire alarm systems, fire warning equipment and emergency warning equipment, and their components.” Since then, thousands of volunteers have contributed ideas and recommendations, the technical committee has debated the changes, and the final text has been proposed. A vote was held in June of 2018 and the 2019 edition was officially published in September 2018.
Whether you’re an architect, engineer, contractor, or building owner/manager, NFPA 72 matters. It will have an impact on how you design, test, install, and maintain life-safety systems in the future. The 2019 update is a significant one; there are nearly 200 changes in the document, ranging from minor edits of terminology to major new processes. So even if your jurisdiction will not immediately adopt the 2019 edition of NFPA 72, it’s important to know what’s on the way.