The NFPA Podcast

When hurricane Ian tore through Florida in September, it left a trail of destruction—but not at Babcock Ranch, a 2,000-home development designed to be both sustainable and to withstand the worst natural disasters. Today on the podcast, we speak to an engineer who lives in and helped design Babcock Ranch about the community's unique features, as well as the growing trend toward building resiliency and what it could mean for the future of disaster recovery (1:06). Then, we debut a new segment on the podcast called "Code Corner," where NFPA technical experts answer your burning code questions. In the first installment, engineer Shawn Mahoney talks about protection strategies and requirements for atriums (35:58). Links

Watch the 60 Minutes segment on Babcock Ranch Read a 2015 NFPA Journal cover story on the concept of disaster resiliency

For years, flame retardant chemicals have presented a catch 22. When applied to furniture they can help prevent fire ignition and potentially save lives, however, many scientists believe the chemicals are harmful to both human health and the environment. Today on the podcast, we talk to pair of experts about the ongoing debate over the use of flame retardants, as well as some exciting breakthroughs that could result in fire-resistant furniture without the health concerns.

Links: Read more about the Chemical Insights Research Institute

A new book called California Burning details Pacific Gas & Electric's 117-year rise to becoming one of the largest utilities in the United States—as well as how the company's negligence, a changing climate, and state energy policy have all contributed to devastating wildfires in California. Today on the podcast, we welcome the book's author, Wall Street Journal energy reporter Katherine Blunt, to discuss these trends, and why California's experience could be a harbinger of things to come across the globe.

Learn more about California Burning Learn about NFPA's initiative, Outthink Wildfire

Thirty years ago, NFPA released NFPA 921, the world's first comprehensive guide on fire and explosion investigation. Since then, the profession has advanced leaps and bounds. However, a recent report on the profession argues that fire investigation can still be more art than science, with a lack of consistency, no system of peer review, and no higher-education requirements for investigators. On today's podcast, we talk about fire investigation with one of the experts who helped write that report. We discuss where the profession has been, where it should go, and how NFPA is at the center of many of the proposed changes. Links: Read the NFPA Feature "Work in Progress" about the fire investigation profession Read the OSAC report, "Strengthening Fire and Explosion Investigation in the United States: A Strategic Vision for Moving Forward"

On January 19, 2000, Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, then 18- year- old freshman roommates at Seton Hall University, were severely burned when the residence hall they lived in caught fire. The blaze, one of the worst at a college campus in US history, killed three students and injured more than 50 others. Shawn and Alvaro now travel the country speaking to students and responders about their journey. Today on the podcast, we chat with them about the Seton Hall fire, their grueling recovery, and what parents, students, and first responders need to know as students return to campuses this month.

LINKS: NFPA assets and information on campus fire safety and Campus Fire Safety Month The Center for Campus Fire Safety Learn more about Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos and see clips from the documentary, "After the Fire"

If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at [email protected].

For more than 50 years, firefighters have relied on aqueous film forming foam—better known as AFFF—to quickly and effectively put out dangerous liquid fuel fires. However, due to health and environmental concerns, AFFF is now being rapidly phased out across the world. On today's podcast, we talk with one of the world's leading researchers on firefighting foams about why AFFF is going away, the work that has gone into finding suitable replacements, and what fire departments need to know as they make the transition. LINKS: Read "The New Foam," the cover story of the Fall 2022 issue of NFPA Journal Read the 2022 Fire Protection Research Foundation report, "Firefighting Foams: Fire Service Roadmap" Read the 2020 Fire Protection Research Foundation report, "Evaluation of the Fire Protection Effectiveness of Fluorine Free Firefighting Foams"

As the number and severity of wildfires increase in many parts of the world, experts have concerns over what the health impacts of wildfire smoke inhalation might be. In today's episode, we hear from three researchers who are studying that topic by exposing mice to wildland fire smoke. So far, their research suggests inhaling wildfire smoke can lead to serious lung, heart, and even reproductive issues.

Learn more about NFPA's Outthink Wildfire™ program: https://www.nfpa.org/outthinkwildfire

If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at [email protected].

In May, journalists Madison Hopkins and Cecilia Reyes were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their investigative series, "The Failures Before the Fires," which exposed dangerous systemic flaws in how Chicago handles building code enforcement. On today's podcast, Hopkins and Reyes join us to discuss the details of their award-winning investigation, how the enforcement process can be biased in favor of landlords, and what lessons other cities can take from Chicago. Read the series, "The Failures Before the Fires," a collaboration between the Chicago Tribune and Better Government Association

If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at [email protected].

SMART fire sprinklers, which use less water and can employ a range of sensors to target exactly where a fire is happening, have potential to be a game changer, according to some experts. Today on the podcast, Jesse talks to Dr. Yibing Xin, a research manager at FM Global, who has conducted numerous fire tests on these devices. He discusses how the technology works, and what these and other SMART innovations could mean for the future of fire protection. LINKS: Read a report on SMART fire sprinklers and water cannons by FM Global Read an article on SMART sprinklers by Dr. Yibing Xin

From elevators that can decapitate you to grills that can explode in your face, short-term rental properties aren't short on things that can hurt you—or worse. In fact, short-term rental safety expert Justin Ford calls these properties the most dangerous sector of the travel and hospitality industry. In this episode, Angelo sits down with Ford to discuss a brief history of the short-term rental market, what safety hazards can exist in these properties, and, importantly, what owners and renters alike can do to maximize safety.

If you have questions, feedback, suggestions, or just want to say hello, you can reach The NFPA Podcast at [email protected].