Summary of NFPA Standards?

[ranahan]

Frequent reader of the forums, but first time posting, so bear with me if y'all don't mind...

The NFPA standards, while not holding the power of law, are much of the basis on which we train and operate. Having a reference copy of them would be a great help.

But I know how much it costs to get full copies (even online) of the standards from NFPA. And I know from experience that the language and writing style they use is a bit difficult to understand.

So I'm hoping some of you wise folks might know of some sort of summary of the NFPA standards. Hopefully one of you guys can hook me up; I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks in advance!

[CaptOldTimer]

The NFPA Standards are what they are, Standards. They make an interesting reading, providing you can't get to sleep and need a sleep pill!!

They are of value. I haven't found any problems reading them or understanding any of them.

Depending on what you are looking for in a standard is what I guess you are meaning by "SUMMARY".

If you are a member, which I am and have been for years, I get a discount for what I need from NFPA. They now have all the standards on CD, so you don't need all the booklets or binders full of the standards. We have it both ways. The binders full with standards on an subscription service. Easy to replace any updated standard this way.




Stay Safe & Well out there....

[ranahan]

Originally posted by CaptOldTimer
The NFPA Standards are what they are, Standards. They make an interesting reading, providing you can't get to sleep and need a sleep pill!!

They are of value. I haven't found any problems reading them or understanding any of them.

Depending on what you are looking for in a standard is what I guess you are meaning by "SUMMARY".

If you are a member, which I am and have been for years, I get a discount for what I need from NFPA. They now have all the standards on CD, so you don't need all the booklets or binders full of the standards. We have it both ways. The binders full with standards on an subscription service. Easy to replace any updated standard this way.


I agree that the standards I've seen are quite boring. And that they are certainly of value. Sometimes, however, the wording of particular phrases is quite unclear -- it's kinda hard to tell just what the writer originally intended. But I digress.

I'd love to have the money to buy the standards, or even the CDs, but I really don't have that much money to put down, whether I was a member of NFPA or not. And neither do the departments I serve with (POC in TN, volunteer in NC).

What I was hoping for was that someone could recommend some book out there that neatly, discretely discusses the high points of all the NFPA standards that relate to firefighting. Think of a quick-reference to the standards rather than a full version of them all, and you'll know what I'm looking for. I don't know if such a thing exists, but I've got my fingers crossed that someone out there has seen something similar, and that they can give me a recommendation on whether or not it's worth the trouble of getting.

Hopefully that clarifies my intent. Thanks for replying to my original post.

[mcaldwell]

So your essentially looking for the COLES NOTES of the NFPA right? It wasn't right there next to the Shakespeare Isle? ;)

I've never seen such an animal, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there.

[ranahan]

Originally posted by mcaldwell
So your essentially looking for the COLES NOTES of the NFPA right? It wasn't right there next to the Shakespeare Isle? ;)

I've never seen such an animal, but that doesn't mean there isn't one out there.

Actually, yeah...that describes what I'm looking for pretty well! Cliffs Notes on NFPA standards, or something thereabouts. Just something that gets across the general ideas of each standard, and serves as a quick reference in case you need to figure out which standard it is that covers a particular topic. It's not something you'd want to make direct quotes from, but for general reference, for training purposes and such it could be of use.

I've never seen such a thing myself, but I have my fingers crossed. And who knows -- maybe someone reading these posts will take the time to create and market a product like that.
[If any of you do, give me a discount on the price, as it was my idea and all...]