One professional organization that ASA works very closely with is the National Fire Protection Association, or more commonly known as the NFPA. This nonprofit organization holds a charter to eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The NFPA has over 300 codes and standards that provide consistent guidance to governmental agencies, accreditors and regulators. The association has no direct regulatory authority, but delegates enforcement to an authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), which could be a municipality, county, state or federal agency. The NFPA was founded in 1896 and has since grown into an organization with 50,000 members and 9,000 volunteers who shape codes and standards.
With changes in technology and advances in architecture and design, these codes and standards are in a constant state of revision. NFPA divides codes and standards into numbered sections, each with a specific domain. Complex facilities such as hospitals...