22 Keynotes January/February 2025 aloa.org It was not until 1896 that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was established, giving the hardware indus- try, building officials, fire officials, and end-users fire codes. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and NFPA 80 Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives are updated every three years. The current version of NFPA 101 is 2024 and the current version of NFPA 80 is 2025. The next version of each will be released in 2027 and 2028, respectively. As physical security pro- fessionals, we need to remain current on changes to life safety and fire codes. ALOA Security Professionals Inc. offers regular classes on code use. A Little History on NFPA The NFPA was established in 1896. Its roots are in the end of the industrial age when worker safety and well-being were just coming to the forefront with the birth of labor laws and workers’ rights. The industrial age was a particularly challenging dark time in history where child labor and unsafe working con- ditions were prevalent. Workers were required to work 16- to-18-hour work days. Often, workers risked their lives in an environment fraught with danger. The real danger of fire and overpopulated unsafe workspaces was commonplace. Worker Safety Driving Innovation Innovation was a driving force behind worker safety. Adding safeguards to buildings like fire sprinklers was a large part of the trend toward improving safety in the workplace. The first pat- ent for fire sprinklers was requested on August 11, 1874: US patent No. 154,076 by Henry S. Parmelee of New Haven, CT. As a historical reference, Edison patented his first lightbulb in 1879. Edison was one of the early pioneers of electrical safety. He was responsible for promoting insulated wires and creating fusible links. This took place during the era of the creation of large companies like General Electric and Ford Motor Company. The beginning of mass-pro- duced consumer goods produced safer work environments. NFPA 80: Fire Door Requirements and Inspection NFPA 101 — a model building code — references NFPA 80 throughout the code. NFPA 80 is the standard that describes how fire doors are to be installed, main- tained and inspected. NFPA 80, Chapter 5, has established a 13-step verification process for the required annual inspection of fire doors: Swinging Doors with Builders Hardware 1 Labels are clearly visible and legible. 2 No open holes or breaks exist in sur- faces of either the door or frame. 3 Glazing, vision light frames and glaz- ing beads are intact and securely fas- tened in place, if so equipped. 4 The door, frame, hinges, hardware and noncombustible threshold are secured, aligned, and in working order with no visible signs of damage. 5 No parts are missing or broken. 6 Door clearances do not exceed clear- ances listed in 4.8.4 and 6.3.1.7. 7 The self-closing device is operational; that is, the active door completely closes when operated from the full open position. 8 If a coordinator is installed, the inac- tive leaf closes before the active leaf. 9 Latching hardware operates and secures the door when it is in the closed position. 10 Auxiliary hardware items that inter- fere or prohibit operation are not installed on the door and frame. 11 No field modifications to the door assembly have been performed that void the label. 12 Meeting edge protection, gasketing and edge seals, where required, are inspected to verify their presence and integrity. 13 Signage affixed to a door meets the requirements listed in 4.1.4. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code Established in 1913 The NFPA 101 was established in 1913 and has been continually updated since. The need for life safety standards arose due to four deadly fires in the early 1900s. Before the NFPA established NFPA 101, it was referred to as the “building exit code.” NFPA deals with building occupants’ life safety. Fire alarm and sprinkle sys- tems and fire extinguisher requirements are all part of NFPA 101. This code pri- marily deals with construction, protec- tion and occupancy features necessary to minimize the danger to life from the effect of fire. I hope you have enjoyed this six-part series on institutional locksmith career essentials. My hope is that it was infor- mative and spurred you on to learn more about institutional locksmithing. ALOA and AIL have great resources that inform and enlighten you. Take a class or buy a book — perhaps do both. It couldn’t hurt! Steve Fryman, CRL, CAI, CISM, AFDI, is a second-generation locksmith with over 45 years of experience. He has been a business owner for 20 years and is currently working at Florida State University as a key compliance manager. Steve is a subject matter expert in institutional shop management.
