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July / August 2009 Lightweight Construction

Lightweight construction; the 2008 Firefighter Fatalities report; elevator evacuation; and how the DHS uses NFPA codes and stardards.

FEATURES

2008 Firefighter Fatalities Incidents

A selection of fatality incidents taken from the full report.

2008 Firefighter Fatalities Report

The United States lost 103 on-duty firefighters in 2008. This number is a repeat of last year's. Most died while responding to, or returning from, emergency calls. NFPA's Fire Analysis and Research department brings you the specifics.

Down from the Stratosphere

Elevator evacuation in certain situations is now permissible, according to NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®. The Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas has used elevators as it's primary evacuation route for 13 years. See how they made it work.

Lightweight Construction

Engineered wood construction assemblies burn quicker and fail faster than dimensional lumber, according to two recent studies. What does this mean for consumers and those who work in fire protection.

Mass Notification

Fort Knox, the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Pentagon all have mass notification systems with a lot of muscle. Take a peek beyond the top secret gates and learn from their experience.

The View From The DHS

How is the DHS using NFPA codes and standards to keep us safe? Bert Coursey, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's deputy director for the Test & Evaluation and Standards Division of the massive agency's Science and Technology Directorate, explains.

P.O.V.

First Word

When process meets commitment.

News+Analysis

Firewatch

Fire destroys former mill.

Looking Back

The murderous fourth.

THE EXPERTS

The 70E Connection

Now is not the time to ignore your electrical power system.

Research

Bigger, better hazardous materials standards.

Structural Ops

Why fires in different occupancies require different tactics.

Buzzwords

The expanding world of emergency communications systems.

Heads Up

Big changes in the world of storage sprinklers.

In Compliance

Pay attention to the inspection of doors.

Outreach

Look to NFPA for free outreach materials.