The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently
announced that the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador has adopted
the 2006 Edition of NFPA 101®,Life Safety Code®.
The adoption became effective on April 1, 2007.
TheLife Safety Codeis used with
the National Building Code of Canada and the National Fire Code of Canada to
address existing buildings and rehabilitation, areas not addressed by either of
these codes.
Newfoundland and Labrador has adopted editions of theLife Safety Codeto address existing building
standards since 1979.
"TheLife Safety Codeprovides
important direction on minimum standards and requirements concerning building
structures," stated Fred Hollett, fire commissioner of Newfoundland and
Labrador. "TheLife Safety Codehas been an
important resource in assisting with training and implementation for national
building and fire codes for the province and is essential to ensure that public
safety interests are met."
The Newfoundland and Labrador model that addresses existing
buildings and building rehabilitation is being promoted to the other Canadian
provinces to solve the current gap in the codes.
“This is not a great leap for many of these jurisdictions as
NFPA 101 is well used as a source of information to augment information that
might not already be in the Canadian Model Codes,” said Sean Tracey, Canadian
regional manager for NFPA. “There are numerous examples of code equivalencies
and interpretations from the provinces using theLife Safety
Code.”
NFPA’sLife Safety Codehas
also been adopted by the province of Prince Edward Island for more than 20
years. It is currently used in every U.S. state, and adopted statewide in 39
states. TheLife Safety Codesets minimum building design, construction,
operation, and maintenance requirements necessary to protect building occupants
from dangers caused by fire, smoke, and toxic fumes. TheLife Safety Codealso
provides prompt escape requirements for new and existing buildings.
Newfoundland and Labrador will be participating in a
training program developed by NFPA and offered to states that have adopted NFPA
1, NFPA 101 and other key NFPA codes and standards. This training is being
customized for the specific needs of Newfoundland and Labrador and will cover
the code’s requirements and the numerous ways it can be utilized and enforced
with the National Building and Fire Codes of Canada. This training and the
associated codebooks are free to government code enforcement officials.