Background
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) was founded in 1896. Its mission is to eradicate loss of lives, injury, property, and economic damages due to fire, electrical, and other related hazards. NFPA's codes and standards are operational in over 50 countries and have been translated into 14 different languages.
NFPA Codes and Standards
Since its establishment in 1896, the NFPA has unanimously published over 300 codes and standards, all of which are formulated to reduce or possibly eliminate the likelihood and effects of fire and other related hazards. These codes and standards are administered by more than 250 technical committees that comprise roughly 9,000 members and are adopted and used throughout the world.
We take an in-depth look at some of these codes and standards that are prominent in the OEM machine-building industry, among them are NFPA 70: National Electric Code, which provides guidance for the proper installation of electrical equipment and safeguarding of persons and property from electrical hazards, and NFPA 79: Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery, which covers machine’s control panel as well as its operating environment and interface, warning signs, documentation, and testing.
What NFPA certification means for your profession
To become certified by the NFPA, you must possess either a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in a fire protection-related discipline from an accredited university or college, which will include degrees in engineering fields that apply to the practice of fire protection. In addition, you must have two years of valid work experience specifically dedicated to curtailing both physical and financial fire damages.
When you are NFPA certified, it means that you can verify your ability to carry out your duties professionally and perfectly. Passing through NFPA indicates that you are eligible and have met the requirements which present your knowledge and skills to employers, customers, and the general public.