After months of deliberation and a lengthy voting process, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently announced that NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code has been approved.
NFPA 5000 contains provisions for the design and construction of buildings and structures, as well as the design of integrated building systems for health, safety, comfort and convenience. It provides for the selection and design of building construction types and structural design systems and assemblies, as well as fire protection and egress design requirements for life safety and protection.
NFPA hopes to make the standard the cornerstone of the Comprehensive Consensus Codes (C3), a set of standards developed through a partnership with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The C3 group of standards will include the National Electrical Code and cover topics like the National Fire Code and flammable and combustible liquids.
Upon publication, the standard will be available for free review online by the public through NFPA’s Web site, www.nfpa.org.