As a result of this adoption, NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, which are already widely used across the United States, will protect West Virginia residents and their property in new and existing buildings.
NFPA 1 provides requirements necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire safety and property protection from hazards created by fire and explosion. It is the integration of two of the most widely adopted fire codes in the country: NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code, and the Uniform Fire Code. The 2003 edition of NFPA 1 is the culmination of a multi-year effort by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) to create the first fully integrated national fire code.
NFPA 101, used in all 50 states and adopted statewide in 39 states, mandates building design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements to protect building occupants from the dangers caused by fire, smoke, and toxic fumes.
“NFPA codes have been used in West Virginia for years and we have found them to be effective for protecting life and property in new and existing buildings within our state. Our assistant state fire marshals and local code officials have benefited from the training and services provided by the NFPA which has improved their ability to apply the codes properly,” says Sterling Lewis, State Fire Marshal.
West Virginia code officials participated in a training program developed by NFPA and offered to states that have adopted NFPA 1, NFPA 101, and other key NFPA codes and standards. Taught by NFPA technical experts, the training covered all of the codes’ requirements and the ways the codes may be utilized and enforced.
