by Brianna Crandall — June 18, 2021 — The global nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently launched a new Fire Prevention Program Manager Online Training Series to help the building industry understand and adopt the strategies defined in NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations, which calls for a fire prevention program and a designated manager to enforce safety onsite.
NFPA’s new online training series will help the building industry understand NFPA 241 measures, and train designated fire prevention program managers. Image courtesy NFPA
Fire Prevention Program Manager Online Training Series
Earlier this year, massive building under construction fires occurred in Las Vegas, NV; Dallas, TX; and Everett, WA, underscoring NFPA research that shows an average of 3,840 fires in structures under construction and 2,580 fires in structures under major renovation per year. Building-under-construction fires cause an average of 4 civilian deaths, 49 civilian injuries, and $304 million in direct property damage annually, while fires in buildings undergoing major renovation cause an average of 8 civilian deaths, 52 civilian injuries, and $104 million in direct property damage annually.
NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley stated:
We need to enhance safety on construction sites by ensuring that more building owners, contractors, trade workers, and code enforcers are informed about construction site fire prevention and protection strategies. This new online learning, centered around NFPA 241, was developed in the spirit of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, which emphasizes the importance of applying referenced standards, investing in safety, and a skilled workforce.
Although NFPA 241 calls for a fire prevention program manager, credentials for the role are virtually non-existent in the market today. To help construction company leaders, building owners, job site supervisors, code officials, fire marshals, facilities managers (FMs), and fire protection engineers have the skills needed to ensure the safety of buildings under construction, NFPA developed the new five-hour, five-part online learning series, assessment, and digital badge based on the anticipated job performance requirements (JPRs) for fire prevention program managers proposed for the next edition of NFPA 241.
The training covers general fire protection awareness for all people on construction sites and the role of fire prevention program managers on a construction project with an emphasis on:
- Building safety and fire protection systems
- Hazard protection
- Inspections, permits and procedures
This NFPA online training series is intended for fire prevention program managers who are new to the role. The course is designed to help learn how to actively manage a fire prevention program for a typical construction project.
To learn more about the Fire Prevention Program Manager Online Training Series and to register, visit the NFPA website.
The topic was also discussed by a panel of industry experts during the Addressing Fire Safety Challenges During Construction Webinar on April 15, available now to stream from the NFPA website. The panel discussed key considerations for construction site fire safety, including fire risks and the role of the fire prevention program manager, with time allotted for a robust Q&A session.
