Help Preserve What Makes U.S. Buildings Safe | Engineering News-Record

NewsIdeasViewpoint Viewpoint Help Preserve What Makes US Buildings Safe By Russ Leavitt Credit: Getty Images January 29, 2026 Russ Leavitt I started my fire protection career over four decades ago as a fire sprinkler layout technician and the rules for designing a fire sprinkler system were in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 13, referred to as the Red Book and pocket-sized. My instructors drilled into me that it was the Bible for fire sprinkler systems and I was to learn it backward and forward because its requirements were essential for installing systems that would operate properly and protect people and buildings. As I used the standard, I did not understand how its content was developed and adopted. Frankly, in my naivety, I simply assumed that some really smart person or persons wrote and updated it. Later I learned about the NFPA standard-making process and now, sadly, see that system, and how it is paid for, come under continued attack. Codes and standards created by private entities are a roadmap for success that is unequaled for fire and life safety. The widely used NFPA standard and others are created with input from any interested party, allowing all stakeholders to serve on technical committees. Interest groups are limited to no more than 30% of committee voting members and a minimum of two-thirds of the committee must agree to enact a change. Public access is also allowed. Using NFPA as an example, the development processes are largely...