GIS Data Exchange Committee and the NFPA Standards Making System
This briefing... NFPA Technical Committees New GIS Data Exchange Committee Background of the NFPA Standards Making Process Status of the new Committee in the process An invitation
Who is the NFPA? Voluntary Membership Association Not-for for-profit Independent Member Organization
Who is the NFPA? Organized in 1896 Headquarters: Quincy, MA, USA Regional Offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, and also Reps throughout the World NFPA Membership: Approximately 78,000 members More than 80 trade and professional organizations
Who is the NFPA? AEBO Aviation BFSSystems Education Electrical FS&Tech Ed Fire Service Health Care Industrial IFMA Latin Am Lodging Metro Chiefs Rail Research Wildland 16 NFPA Membership Sections
Who is the NFPA? Mission: Reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating... Scientifically-based consensus codes & standards Research Training and Education
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process 1) ~78,000 Members 2) Board of Directors Approximately 23 members Elected by Membership 3) Standards Council 4) Technical Committees
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process Technical Committees These are the consensus bodies in system Typical maximum size of 30 Overall; ~ 7,000 Volunteers ~ 225 Technical Committees, balanced by interest categories ~ 300 Codes & Standards
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process Technical Committees Membership is continually monitored All members reappointed annually Inactive members removed Don t t need to be general NFPA member to be a TC member
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process Technical Committees Carefully balanced by 9 interest categories (1) Applied Research/Testing Laboratory; (2) Consumer; (3) Enforcing Authority; (4) Installer/Maintainer; (5) Insurance; (6) Labor; (7) Manufacturer; (8) Special Expert; (9) User
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process Inherent safeguard against dominance 1/3 Balance Rule: A committee can never have more than 1/3 of its membership from any one interest category Consensus Requirement: Minimum 2/3 on all changes Some situations require ¾ majority
GIS Data Exchange Project How did the project develop? What are the issues?
Need for Committee Ability to exchange geographic information to support risk assessment and incident management Mutual aid and Resource Exchange Participation in national preparedness Utilize critical infrastructure data distributed through national systems
Four Recommendations 1. Develop common fire service messaging standards and protocols for exchanging data between two or more systems
Four Recommendations 2. Support the national directives for information management systems: Interoperability Reliability, Scalablity and Portability Resiliency and Redundancy
Four Recommendations 3. Ensure operational relevance and sustainability Ability to maintain local control of functionality Diminish redundancy in data collection
Four Recommendations 4. Leverage and support existing relevant standards in partnership with the US Fire Administration, DHS-NIMS Integration Center, and the Federal Geospatial Data Committee
Fundamentals of the NFPA Process Essentials of the NFPA system Due process Openness Lack of dominance Allows us to find society s s balance between: Acceptable risk Commitment of resources
A Uniquely Open Process 1) Call for Proposals 2) Report on Proposals (ROP) 3) Report on Comments (ROC) 4) Technical Committee Report (TCR) Session of the Annual Meeting 5) Standards Council Consideration/Issuance
A Uniquely Open Process Two revision cycles per year Fall (November) Annual (June) One association general meeting per year Annual Meeting (June) Technical Committee Reports (TCR) presented Certified motions can be made
Where we are now The Standards Council accepted the concept of the Data Exchange Project Seeking potential members for the Technical Committee
The Data Exchange Committee is being formed An appointed chair and the NFPA Staff Liaison will select the committee members An organizational meeting will be called to finalize the scope and purpose of the committee and projects (documents) it will undertake.
Choices for Documents Code Standard Recommended Practice Guide
Resources to Support NFPA Documents Statistical Data Event Analysis Research Other: Public education; Literature archives; Member conferences; Advisory services; Higher learning, etc
Development of Full-Consensus Model Documents U.S. decentralized approach works well Based on private, independent organizations Relatively unique in the world Public Law 104-113 113 (New Tech Act) Participate and use private sector documents Examples of success in NFPA system: NFPA 101 Life Safety Code; NFPA 301 Merchant Vessels; NFPA 501 Manufactured Housing; NFPA 804 Nuclear Power Plants; NFPA 820 Wastewater Treatment; NFPA 2001 Halon Alternatives
NFPA Standards & DHS The following have been adopted by DHS (Partial List): NFPA 1000 Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation and Certification Systems NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications NFPA 1006 Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications NFPA 1021 Fire Officer Professional Qualifications NFPA 1500 Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program NFPA 1901 Automotive Fire Apparatus NFPA 1906 Wildland Fire Apparatus NFPA 1936 Powered Rescue Tools NFPA 1600 Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs NFPA 1851 Selection, Care and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles NFPA 1852 Care, and Maintenance of Open Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) NFPA 1951 Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Operations NFPA 1981 Open Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services NFPA 1982 Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) NFPA 1991 Vapor Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies NFPA 1992 Liquid Splash Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies NFPA 1994 Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents
An Invitation Information on the NFPA Codes and Standards System Introductory letter Technical Committee Application Deadline for application 1 April 08