NATIONAL
WILDLAND FIRE SAFTEY
STANDARDS:
Developing and Using NFPA 1141
and 1144
Ryan Depew
NFPA Staff
Wildland Fire Safety Standards
• Standardization and Utilization
• NFPA 1141 Overview
• NFPA 1144 Overview
• Brief Overview of Standards Development
• How YOU Can Get Involved!
What are NFPA Standards?
• Standard - A document, the main text of
which contains only mandatory provisions
using the word “shall” to indicate
requirements and which is in a form generally
suitable for mandatory reference by another
standard or code or for adoption into law.
Wildland Fire Safety Standards
• NFPA 1141: Standard for Fire Protection
Infrastructure for Land Development in Wildland,
Rural, and Suburban Areas, 2012 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1141
• NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure
Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1144
NFPA 1141
Fire Protection Infrastructure
for Land Development in
Wildland, Rural, and
Suburban Areas, 2012
Utilizing NFPA 1141
• Planners, Developers, and Communities
–Means of Access/Egress
–Building Separation
–Fire Protection
–Water Supply
–Community Safety and Emergency
Preparedness
NFPA 1144
Standard for Reducing Structure
Ignition Hazards from Wildland
Fire, 2008
Utilizing NFPA 1144
• Homeowners/Property Owners
–Structure ignition zone
–Hazard mitigation
–Proper construction
–Fuel Modification
Firewise Communities/USA®
• Recognition Program Fall
2002
• Over 700 Active
Communities in 40 States
• $76 Million in Wildfire
Safety Actions
• www.firewise.org
www.nfpa.org/1141
• NFPA 1141: Standard for Fire Protection
Infrastructure for Land Development in
Wildland, Rural, and Suburban Areas, 2012
Edition
• AHJ’s, Planners, Developers, and Communities
www.nfpa.org/1141
Main Topics
• Means of Access
• Building Separation
• Fire Protection
• Water Supply
• Community Safety and Emergency
Preparedness
www.nfpa.org/1141
• Chapter 5 Means of Access
– Number of Access Routes
– Roadway Requirements
– Grades – 10%
– Dead Ends – Turn Arounds
– Fire Lanes
– Parking Lots
www.nfpa.org/1141
www.nfpa.org/1141
• Chapter 6 Building Access and Separation
– Fire Apparatus Access – Proximity to Structure
• 150’ to all exterior walls, 300’ with NFPA 13, 13R
– 30 feet between structures
– 30 feet from property line
Bastrop County Complex Fire
September 2011
• Over 34,000 Acres
Burned (Approx. 55
sq. miles)
• Over 1500 Structures
Lost
Tahitian Village Survey
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Tahitian Village
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Bastrop County Complex Fire
www.nfpa.org/1141
• Chapter 7 Fire Protection
– Sprinkler Systems, Standpipe Systems, Warning
Systems
• Chapter 8 Water Supply
– Municipal systems, Fire Hydrants, Modifications
• Chapter 9 Fire Protection During Construction
– Jobsite Cleanliness, Extinguishers
www.nfpa.org/1141
• Chapter 10 Community Safety and Emergency
Preparedness
• Assessment of Hazards
• Development of Operational Plan
– Command & Training
– Public Notification & Education
– Safety & Evacuation
– Mutual Aid Resources
www.nfpa.org/1144
• NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure
Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008
Edition
• Homeowners/Property Owners
Structure Ignition Zone
Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards
from Wildfire
Building
Design
Fuel
Modification
Assessing
Hazards
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Chapter 4 Assessing Wildland Fire Hazards in
the Structure Ignition Zone
– From Chimney to Eaves
– From Top of Exterior Wall to Foundation
– From Foundation to Immediate Landscape
– From Immediate Landscape to 200’
– Mitigation Plan
Hazard Assessment
Sample Checksheets…
Guide Your Review
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Chapter 5 Building Design, Location, and
Construction
– General Construction – NFPA 1141
– Location and Separation – 30 Feet
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Roof Design and Materials
• Attic Vents and Screening
• Overhanging projections
– Balconies, Decks, Patio
Coverings, Open Roofs
– Heavy Timber, Ignition
Resistant, etc.
– 1 Hour Fire Rated Assembly
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Exterior Vertical Walls
– Ignition Resistant, 20 Minute Rated Assembly
• Exterior Openings
– Windows, Doors, Attic Vents, Subfloor Vents
– Screened with Noncombustible Wire Mesh
– Tempered, Multilayer, Block, 20 Minute Rating
– Solid-core, 20 Minute Rating
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Chimneys and Flues
– Spark Arresters
• Accessory Buildings
– 30 Feet
• Exterior Exposure Hazards
– Heat sources
– Grills, Outdoor FireplacesSpark Arresters
– Combustible Materials – 30
Feet
Bastrop County Complex Fire:
Cola Vista
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Fire Spread
Cola Vista Neighborhood
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Fire Spread
BastropNoncombustible
County Complex
Fire
Trim
Metal Roof
Noncombustible Siding
Bastrop County Complex Fire
Metal Framework
Double-Paned Windows
Noncombustible Decking
Bastrop County Complex Fire:
Cardinal Lane
Bastrop County Complex Fire
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Chapter 6 Fuel
Modification Area
The “3 R’s” of Defensible
Space Landscaping
– Removal
– Reduction
– Replacement
Structure Ignition Zone
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Home Ignition Zone 1: The home and its
immediate surroundings, up to approximately
30 feet.
– Low-flammability plants, landscaping materials,
accessories
– Prune limbs 10 ft. from ground; generous space
between trees
– Mow, prune, and water regularly
– NO firewood or propane tanks
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Home Ignition Zone 2: 30 to 100 ft from home
– 30 ft between tree clusters; 20 ft between
individual trees
– Fuel breaks
– Branches and leaves 6 to 10 feet from ground
– Remove heavy accumulation of flammable debris
www.nfpa.org/1144
• Home Ignition Zone 3: 100 to 200 ft from
home
– Remove heavy accumulation of woody debris
– Remove smaller conifers growing between trees
– Reduce density of taller trees
Bastrop County Complex Fire
>100ft
Bastrop County Complex Fire
>100ft
BEST PRACTICE:
Utilizing Both Standards
• NFPA 1141: Standard for Fire Protection
Infrastructure for Land Development in Wildland,
Rural, and Suburban Areas, 2012 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1141
• NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure
Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1144
The NFPA Process
• Who Writes the
Standard?
• How Does it Work?
• How Can YOU
Participate?
NFPA Process:
Who Writes the Standards?
NFPA Technical Committees
• “Consensus bodies”
• Typical maximum size of 30
• Overall; ~ 7,000 Volunteers
• ~ 225 Technical Committees,
balanced by interest categories
• ~ 350 Codes & Standards
NFPA Process:
NFPA 1141 & NFPA 144
• Technical Committee on Forest
and Rural Fire Protection
• TC Scope: This Committee shall have primary
responsibility for documents on fire protection for
rural, suburban, forest, grass, brush, and tundra areas.
This Committee shall also have primary responsibility
for documents on Class A foam and water enhancing
gels, and their utilization for all wildland and structural
fire fighting. This excludes fixed fire protection systems.
NFPA Process: Five Steps
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
NFPA Process:
Getting Involved
•
•
•
•
Public Proposals
Public Comments
Committee Membership
www.nfpa.org
– Document Information
– Proposal and Comment Forms
– Application for TC Membership
NFPA Process:
Upcoming Changes
• Re-engineering of the Process
• Board of Directors – Approved November
2010
• Regulations Governing the Development of
NFPA Standards (Fall 2013 Cycle)
– Take Advantage of Technology
– Online Submission for Ease of Use
– Living Document for TC Work
Wildland Fire Safety Standards
• Standardization and Utilization
• NFPA 1141 Overview
• NFPA 1144 Overview
• Brief Overview of Standards Development
• How YOU Can Get Involved!
Wildland Fire Safety Standards
• NFPA 1141: Standard for Fire Protection
Infrastructure for Land Development in Wildland,
Rural, and Suburban Areas, 2012 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1141
• NFPA 1144: Standard for Reducing Structure
Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire, 2008 Edition
• www.nfpa.org/1144
NFPA Standards:
www.nfpa.org/DOC#
• NFPA 1142: Standard on Water Supplies for
Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting
• NFPA 1143: Standard for Wildland Fire
Management
• NFPA 1051: Standard for Wildland Fire Fighter
Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1977: Standard on Protective Clothing and
Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
• NFPA 1984: Standard on Respirators for Wildland
Fire Fighting Operations
Questions