NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - 24
Safety Policy by Meghan Housewright
NEWS AND VIEWS
FROM THE NFPA
POLICY INSTITUTE
Right Here, Right Now
WHY THE NEW NFPA FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY POLICY INSTITUTE CAN BE AN INDISPENSABLE
RESOURCE FOR DECISION MAKERS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
lmost every community
life safety. As director, I will lead efforts
has a notorious building
to analyze issues that challenge fire and
that's known to local code
life safety systems and reach policymakofficials for all the wrong
ers with recommended approaches that
reasons. Near where I
help fulfill one of government's primary
live, that building is the Lynnhill Conresponsibilities-protecting public safety.
dominium Complex in Temple Hills,
It is a critical time to look at our safety
Maryland. The building, constructed
ecosystem and the factors that ensure it
in the 1970s, has no sprinklers and has
functions properly. We have seen a recent
long been plagued with code violations,
spate of troubling large-loss fires, includunpaid utility bills, and negative heading the Ghost Ship Fire in Oakland last
lines in The Washington Post. In August,
year that killed 36 people, deadly strucciting dangling wires, combustible debris
ture fires in Hawaii and London, and huge
in the hallways, broken fire doors, and an
wildfires that continue to rage across the
It is a critical time
inoperable fire alarm system, the Prince
U.S. In addition to fire, policymakers
to look at our safety
Georges County fire chief ordered the
face an array of diverse challenges that
ecosystem and the
building evacuated and shuttered. While
indirectly affect life safety in their commufactors that ensure it
it was the right call from a safety standnities: more severe weather, demographic
functions properly.
point, it also left 130 residents, many of
changes, urbanization, changes to infrathem lower-income and elderly, unsure
structure, and many others.
where they would next call home.
With these challenges as a backdrop,
Government has long played a centhe institute will look at topics that impact
tral role in reducing fire and life safety
public safety, including timely codes and
risks for its citizens, either directly through physical resources standards adoption, the balance between safety and cost, the
and personnel, or indirectly through laws and policies. These support of code enforcement activity, and the development of
actions and policies play a significant role in the fire prevention skilled professionals who can apply the code. We will also look
and protection system that safeguards lives and property. But at educating policymakers and members of the public about the
the world is a complex place, and the Lynnhill situation is a dangers fire hazards pose and the need to work together for soluperfect example of how policies on fire safety are intertwined tions for all of our stakeholders without compromising safety.
with an array of other public policy issues-in this case, affordDecisions like the one to condemn Lynnhill can be complex
able housing, public assistance, and homelessness-and how a and cause safety officials to weigh a number of factors, relychange to one variable can impact numerous others.
ing on the type of knowledge and information NFPA has long
That complexity is why the recently launched NFPA Fire and produced to protect lives. By developing ideas and approaches
Life Safety Policy Institute is so needed right now. The Policy that link fire and life safety with efforts to address other policy
Institute, which will be based in Washington, D.C., will be a challenges, the Policy Institute will help broaden the guidance
resource to help policymakers navigate the complex challenges and tools available for decision makers as they seek to avoid
of today's world and develop new ideas and policy recommen- fires and protect citizens. The public looks to its government
dations to strengthen and improve fire and life safety systems leaders to protect lives, property, and communities, and the
in the United States and internationally (see the "Dispatches" Policy Institute will be an important resource to help fulfill
item on page 19 to learn more). The institute will help govern- these expectations.
ment leaders understand the impact of their decisions on the
programs, rules, resources, and institutions needed to protect Meghan Housewright is director of the Fire and Life Safety Policy Institute.
24 | NFPA JOURNAL * N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7
MICHAEL HOEWELER
A
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - November/December 2017
Contents
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - 1
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - Contents
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - 3
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - 4
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NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - November/December 2017 - Cover4
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