[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 229 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62750-62752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28708]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Proposes To Revise 
Codes and Standards

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) proposes to 
revise some of its safety codes and standards and requests proposals 
from the public to amend existing or begin the process of developing 
new NFPA safety codes and standards. The purpose of this request is to 
increase public participation in the system used by NFPA to develop its 
codes and standards. The publication of this notice of request for 
proposals by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
on behalf of NFPA is being undertaken as a public service; NIST does 
not necessarily endorse, approve, or recommend any of the standards 
referenced in the notice.
    The NFPA process provides ample opportunity for public 
participation in the development of its codes and standards. All NFPA 
codes and standards are revised and updated every three to five years 
in Revision Cycles that begin twice each year and that takes 
approximately two years to complete. Each Revision Cycle proceeds 
according to a published schedule that includes final dates for all 
major events in the process. The process contains five basic steps that 
are followed both for developing new documents as well as revising 
existing documents. These steps are: Calling for Proposals; Publishing 
the Proposals in the Report on Proposals (ROP); Calling for Comments on 
the Committee's disposition of the proposals and these Comments are 
published in the Report on Comments (ROC); having a Technical Report 
Session at the NFPA Annual Meeting; and finally, the Standards Council 
Consideration and Issuance of documents.

    Note:  Under new rules effective Fall 2005, anyone wishing to 
make Amending Motions on the Technical Committee Reports (ROP and 
ROC) must signal their intention by submitting a Notice of Intent to 
Make a Motion by the Deadline stated in the ROC. Certified motions 
will then be posted on the NFPA Web site. Documents that receive 
notice of proper Amending Motions (Certified Amending Motions) will 
be presented for action at the annual June Association Technical 
Meeting. Documents that receive no motions will be forwarded 
directly to the Standards Council for action on issuance.

    For more information on these new rules and for up-to-date 
information on schedules and deadlines for processing NFPA Documents, 
check the NFPA Web site at www.nfpa.org or contact NFPA Codes and 
Standards Administration.

DATES: Interested persons may submit proposals on or before the dates 
listed with the standards.

ADDRESSES: Amy Beasley Cronin, Secretary, Standards Council, NFPA, 1 
Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Beasley Cronin, Secretary, 
Standards Council, at above address, (617) 770-3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops building, 
fire, and electrical safety codes and standards. Federal agencies 
frequently use these codes and standards as the basis for developing 
Federal regulations concerning safety. Often, the Office of the Federal 
Register approves the incorporation by reference of these standards 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51.
    When a Technical Committee begins the development of a new or 
revised NFPA code or standard, it enters one of two Revision Cycles 
available each year. The Revision Cycle begins with the Call for 
Proposals, that is, a public notice asking for any interested persons 
to submit specific written proposals for developing or revising the 
Document. The Call for Proposals is published in a variety of 
publications. Interested parties have approximately twenty weeks to 
respond to the Call for Proposals.
    Following the Call for Proposals period, the Technical Committee 
holds a meeting to consider and accept, reject

[[Page 62751]]

or revise, in whole or in part, all the submitted Proposals. The 
committee may also develop its own Proposals. A document known as the 
Report on Proposals, or ROP, is prepared containing all the Public 
Proposals, the Technical Committees' action and each Proposal, as well 
as all Committee-generated Proposals. The ROP is then submitted for the 
approval of the Technical Committee by a formal written ballot. If the 
ROP does not receive approval by a two-thirds vote calculated in 
accordance with NFPA rules, the Report is returned to the committee for 
further consideration and is not published. If the necessary approval 
is received, the ROP is published in a compilation of Reports on 
Proposals issued by NFPA twice yearly for public review and comment, 
and the process continues to the next step.
    The Reports on Proposals are sent automatically free of charge to 
all who submitted proposals and each respective committee member, as 
well as anyone else who requests a copy. All ROPs are also available 
for free downloading at www.nfpa.org.
    Once the ROP becomes available, there is a 60-day comment period 
during which anyone may submit a Public Comment on the proposed changes 
in the ROP. The committee then reconvenes at the end of the comment 
period and acts on all Comments.
    As before, a two-thirds approval vote by written ballot of the 
eligible members of the committee is required for approval of actions 
on the Comments. All of this information is compiled into a second 
Report, called the Report on Comments (ROC), which, like the ROP, is 
published and made available for public review for a seven-week period.
    The process of public input and review does not end with the 
publication of the ROP and ROC. Following the completion of the 
Proposal and Comment periods, there is yet a further opportunity for 
debate and discussion through the Association Technical Meeting that 
take place at the NFPA Annual Meeting.
    The Association Technical Meeting provides an opportunity for the 
final Technical Committee Report (i.e., the ROP and ROC) on each 
proposed new or revised code or standard to be presented to the NFPA 
membership for the debate and consideration of motions to amend the 
Report. Before making an allowable motion at an Association Technical 
Meeting, the intended maker of the motion must file, in advance of the 
session, and within the published deadline, a Notice of Intent to Make 
a Motion. A Motions Committee appointed by the Standards Council then 
reviews all notices and certifies all amending motions that are proper. 
Only these Certified Amending Motions, together with certain allowable 
Follow-Up Motions (that is, motions that have become necessary as a 
result of previous successful amending motions) will be allowed at the 
Association Technical Meeting.
    For more information on dates/locations of NFPA Technical Committee 
meetings and NFPA Annual Association Technical Meeting, check the NFPA 
Web site at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=822&itemID=22818
    The specific rules for the types of motions that can be made or who 
can make them are set forth in NFPA's Regulation Governing Committee 
Projects which should always be consulted by those wishing to bring an 
issue before the membership at an Association Technical Meeting.
    Interested persons may submit proposals, supported by written data, 
views, or arguments to Amy Beasley Cronin, Secretary, Standards 
Council, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471. 
Proposals should be submitted on forms available from the NFPA Codes 
and Standards Administration Office or on NFPA's Web site at 
www.nfpa.org.
    Each person must include his or her name and address, identify the 
document and give reasons for the proposal. Proposals received on or 
before 5 p.m. EDT/EST on the closing date indicated would be acted on 
by the Committee. The NFPA will consider any proposal that it receives 
on or before the date listed with the codes or standard.

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                                                                                               Proposal closing
         Document--Edition                               Document title                              date
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NFPA 1--2009......................  Fire Code...............................................  11/24/2009
NFPA 15--2007.....................  Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire           11/24/2009
                                     Protection.
NFPA 17--2009.....................  Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems.........  5/23/2011
NFPA 17A--2009....................  Standard for Wet Chemical Extinguishing Systems.........  5/23/2011
NFPA 30--2008.....................  Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code..................  11/24/2009
NFPA 30A--2008....................  Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair      11/24/2009
                                     Garages.
NFPA 54--2009.....................  National Fuel Gas Code..................................  11/24/2009
NFPA 59--2008.....................  Utility LP-Gas Plant Code...............................  11/24/2009
NFPA 59A--2009....................  Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of     11/24/2009
                                     Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
NFPA 70E--2009....................  Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace[reg]....  1/5/2010
NFPA 75--2009.....................  Standard for the Protection of Information Technology     5/28/2010
                                     Equipment.
NFPA 76--2009.....................  Standard for the Fire Protection of Telecommunications    5/28/2010
                                     Facilities.
NFPA 77--2007.....................  Recommended Practice on Static Electricity..............  11/24/2009
NFPA 80A--2007....................  Recommended Practice for Protection of Buildings from     11/24/2009
                                     Exterior Fire Exposures.
NFPA 90A--2009....................  Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and     11/24/2009
                                     Ventilating Systems.
NFPA 90B--2009....................  Standard for the Installation of Warm Air Heating and     11/24/2009
                                     Air-Conditioning Systems.
NFPA 92A--2009....................  Standard for Smoke-Control Systems Utilizing Barriers     11/24/2009
                                     and Pressure Differences.
NFPA 92B--2009....................  Standard for Smoke Management Systems in Malls, Atria,    11/24/2009
                                     and Large Spaces.
NFPA 92 P*........................  Standard for Smoke Management Systems...................  11/24/2009
NFPA 232--2007....................  Standard for the Protection of Records..................  11/24/2009
NFPA 252--2008....................  Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies.......  5/28/2010
NFPA 257--2007....................  Standard on Fire Test for Window and Glass Block          5/28/2010
                                     Assemblies.
NFPA 268--2007....................  Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitibility of      5/28/2010
                                     Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant Heat Energy
                                     Source.
NFPA 269--2007....................  Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic Potency Data    5/28/2010
                                     for Use in Fire Hazard Modeling.
NFPA 275--2009....................  Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of       5/28/2010
                                     Thermal Barriers Used Over Foam Plastic Insulation.
NFPA 287--2007....................  Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of  5/28/2010
                                     Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire Propagation
                                     Apparatus (FPA).

[[Page 62752]]

 
NFPA 288--2007....................  Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door         5/28/2010
                                     Assemblies Installed Horizontally in Fire Resistance-
                                     Rated Floor Systems.
NFPA 318--2009....................  Standard for the Protection of Semiconductor Fabrication  11/24/2009
                                     Facilities.
NFPA 385--2007....................  Standard for Tank Vehicles for Flammable and Combustible  5/28/2010
                                     Liquids.
NFPA 407--2007....................  Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing....................  11/24/2009
NFPA 414--2007....................  Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Vehicles.  11/24/2009
NFPA 484--2009....................  Standard for Combustible Metals.........................  11/24/2009
NFPA 496--2008....................  Standard for Purged and Pressurized Enclosures for        5/23/2011
                                     Electrical Equipment.
NFPA 497--2008....................  Recommended Practice for the Classification of Flammable  5/28/2010
                                     Liquids, Gases, or Vapors and of Hazardous (Classified)
                                     Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical
                                     Process Areas.
NFPA 499--2008....................  Recommended Practice for the Classification of            5/28/2010
                                     Combustible Dusts and of Hazardous (Classified)
                                     Locations for Electrical Installations in Chemical
                                     Process Areas.
NFPA 655--2007....................  Standard for Prevention of Sulfur Fires and Explosions..  11/24/2009
NFPA 664--2007....................  Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in    11/24/2009
                                     Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities.
NFPA 704--2007....................  Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of  11/24/2009
                                     Materials for Emergency Response.
NFPA 720--2009....................  Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO)     11/24/2009
                                     Detection and Warning Equipment.
NFPA 790 P*.......................  Standard for Competency of Third Party Field Evaluation   11/24/2009
                                     Bodies.
NFPA 791 P*.......................  Recommended Practice and Procedures for Unlabeled         11/24/2009
                                     Electrical Equipment Evaluation.
NFPA 820--2008....................  Standard for Fire Protection in Wastewater Treatment and  11/24/2009
                                     Collection Facilities.
NFPA 1081--2007...................  Standard for Industrial Fire Brigade Member Professional  11/24/2009
                                     Qualifications.
NFPA 1125--2007...................  Code for the Manufacture of Model Rocket and High Power   11/24/2009
                                     Rocket Motors.
NFPA 1141--2008...................  Standard for Fire Protection Infrastructure for Land      11/24/2009
                                     Development in Suburban and Rural Areas.
NFPA 1142--2007...................  Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire    11/24/2009
                                     Fighting.
NFPA 1404--2006...................  Standard for Fire Service Respiratory Protection          5/23/2011
                                     Training.
NFPA 1500--2007...................  Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and       11/24/2009
                                     Health Program.
NFPA 1582--2007...................  Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program    11/24/2009
                                     for Fire Departments.
NFPA 1971--2007...................  Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire      12/4/2009
                                     Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
NFPA 1981--2007...................  Standard on Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing         12/4/2009
                                     Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services.
NFPA 1991--2005...................  Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous      1/15/2010
                                     Materials Emergencies.
NFPA 1992--2005...................  Standard on Liquid Splash-Protective Ensembles and        1/15/2010
                                     Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies.
NFPA 1994--2007...................  Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to  1/15/2010
                                     CBRN Terrorism Incidents.
NFPA 2112--2007...................  Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of    11/24/2009
                                     Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire.
NFPA 2113--2007...................  Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of      11/24/2009
                                     Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial
                                     Personnel Against Flash Fire.
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* Proposed NEW document drafts are available from NFPA's Web site--www.nfpa.org or may be obtained from NFPA's
  Codes and Standards Administration, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169-7471.


    Dated: November 24, 2009.
Patrick Gallagher,
Director.
[FR Doc. E9-28708 Filed 11-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P