NFPA Journal - September/October 2012 - (Page 13)

>> in a flash NEWS FROM NFPA + BEYOND Flocking Together Newcomers fuel a debate on sprinklering animal housing facilities, and end up getting a crash course in NFPA and its code development process. by fred durso, jr. To Karen Davis, describing the number of animals that have perished in structure fires this year as “alarming” is an understatement. From March to July, seven reported fires in animal housing facilities were responsible for killing 535,000 chickens, turkeys, and pigs, according to Davis, president of United Poultry Concerns (UPC), a nonprofit that advocates for the respectful treatment of domestic fowl. “This number is staggering,” she says. “These animals are in a situation where they are completely incarcerated and can’t escape. it’s horrific to think that our society would put animals in a position where they’re not protected by preventable fires.” Davis was thrilled when nFPa members at this year’s association Technical Meeting in Las vegas voted in favor of a certified amending motion for nFPa 150, Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities, that would require sprinklers in poultry farms, pet shops, barns, and a range of other structures used to house animals. (nFPa 150 already requires sprinklers in facilities housing public policy outreach for approximately animals that are defined as dangerous or 60,000 pork producers in the U.s. He spoke cannot be easily moved, such as bears and against sprinklers at the standards Council elephants.) However, the measure failed appeals meeting in august. “The basis of our to pass the subsequent balloting by the appeal was nothing more than that there’s a standard’s animal Housing Facilities nfpa’s code development process Committee, which reaffirmed its decision “provides multiple opportunities for members not to include the new of the public to voice their opinions.” provision in the 2013 edition so it could further research the issue. due process element here, and we needed an opportunity to look at what’s going on.” The committee’s decision prompted parties on both sides of the issue to appeal to Formica argues sprinkler installation nFPa’s standards Council—a process that costs would serve as an added burden to has educated a number of newcomers on pork farmers. since their barns are typically nFPa and its code development process, and metal with concrete floors—facilities where has even generated interest in committee par- fires are rare, he says—Formica contends ticipation. “We had never heard of nFPa, let alone that this process was underway,” says ONLINE Michael Formica, chief environmental counFor more information on NFPA 150, Fire sel for the national Pork Producers Council and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities, visit nfpa.org/150. (nPPC), a trade association that conducts CODES + STANDARDS Photograph: Shutterstock SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 NFPA JOURNAL 13 http://www.nfpa.org/150

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - September/October 2012

NFPA Journal - September/October 2012
Contents
First Word
Mail Call
In a Flash
Perspectives
Firewatch
Research
Heads Up
Structural Ops
In Compliance
Buzzwords
Outreach
Electrical Safety
Wildfire Watch
Lessons of Comayagua
After Waldo Canyon
Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires in 2011
Fire Loss in the United States in 2011
Section Spotlight
Research + Analysis
What’s Hot
Looking Back

NFPA Journal - September/October 2012