2018 NFPA Fire Code Has Been Released
NFPA 1-2018 contains a new chapter on marijuana growing, processing or extraction facilities and another new chapter on cleaning and purging of flammable gas piping systems.
The 2018 NFPA Fire Code, NFPA 1-2018, has been released. A recent ANSI blog post says it contains a new chapter on marijuana growing, processing or extraction facilities and another new chapter on cleaning and purging of flammable gas piping systems.
The updated NFPA 1 underwent a three-year revision cycle. The post says the 2018 edition, "like its many predecessors, is intended for the inspection of permanent and temporary buildings, investigation of fires and hazardous materials, review of construction plans, fire and life safety education of fire brigades, design of fire protection systems, and a range of other concerns associated with fire and life safety. It is applicable to new and existing conditions, and it can be useful for fire marshals, code officials, inspectors, facility owners and managers, and anyone else who is responsible for life safety, building safety, and hazardous materials."
The new Chapter 38, "Marijuana Growing, Processing, or Extraction Facilities," applies to new or existing facilities that are being constructed or altered to grow and process marijuana for medical or recreational use in many U.S. states. The chapter doesn't apply to retail sale. The new Chapter 55, "Cleaning and Purging of Flammable Gas Piping Systems," specifies cleaning and purging of new and existing piping found in electric generating plants to comply with NFPA 56, Standard for Fire and Explosion Prevention During Cleaning and Purging of Flammable Gas Piping Systems.
The post says among the changes in the new code are additional references for the qualifications of fire inspectors, plan examiners, and fire marshals, as well as additional minimum fire prevention inspection frequencies for existing occupancies. There is added guidance for outdoor storage of wood and wood composite pallets or listed pallets equivalent to wood, and Chapter 52 on Energy Storage Systems has been thoroughly revised, it says.