Department of Homeland Security Adopts NFPA Standards for Emergency Responders

October 20, 2008 – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has adopted two additional NFPA standards for first responders: NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents and NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.

These two standards set minimum requirements for personnel responding to incidents involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. NFPA 472 sets minimum competency levels for personnel responding to such incidents, and NFPA 473 covers the requirements for basic life support and advanced life support personnel in the pre-hospital setting. In addition to these adopted standards, DHS previously adopted a number of NFPA standards for emergency responders.

These adopted standards set requirements for all federal agencies and state and local officials responsible for procuring equipment and services used by emergency responders.

The documents adopted require that any procurement decisions involving professional qualifications, occupational safety and health, fire apparatus, personal protective clothing, powered rescue tools and other equipment must fully use these standards when using federal funds.
The adopted NFPA standards are:

• NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents
• NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.
• NFPA 1000, Standard for Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation and Certification Systems
• NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1006, Standard for Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program
• NFPA 1582, Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments
• NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs
• NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles
• NFPA 1852, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
• NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus
• NFPA 1906, Standard for Wildland Fire Apparatus
• NFPA 1912, Standard for Fire Apparatus Refurbishing
• NFPA 1936, Standard on Powered Rescue Tools
• NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Operations
• NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting
• NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services
• NFPA 1981, Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services
• NFPA 1982, Standard on Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)
• NFPA 1991, Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies
• NFPA 1992, Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies
• NFPA 1994, Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents
• NFPA 1999, Standard on Protective Clothing for Emergency Medical Operations
• NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire
• NFPA 2113, Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire

All NFPA safety codes and standards are developed through a process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The IAFF has participated with the committees responsible for these adopted standards.

Further, DHS has also adopted the following standards which must also be followed for procurement if any federal funds are used:

ANSI/ISEA 105-2005, American National Standard for Hand Protection Selection Criteria
ANSI/ISEA 107-2004, American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear
ANSI Z87.1-2003, American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices
ANSI Z89.1-2003, American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection
NIOSH Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Standard for Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (December 2001)
NIOSH Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Full Facepiece Air Purifying Respirator (APR)**
NIOSH Standard for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Air-Purifying Escape Respirator and CBRN Self-Contained Escape Respirator**