2009 National Fire Protection Association 101: Life Safety Code

To protect the lives of building occupants in the event of a fire, the industry has established several construction codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks. These codes are created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), identified as the world’s largest and most influential fire safety organization.

The NFPA’s Life Safety Code, also known as the NFPA 101, is another benchmark for occupant fire safety in both new and pre-existing structures. It provides advanced regulations for sprinklers, alarms, egress, emergency lighting, smoke barriers, special hazard protection, and other features required to reduce the loss of life from fire, including smoke, fumes, or panic.

Similar to the IBC and IFC, the NFPA 101 is updated every three years to include the latest research, technological advances and industry developments in relation to fire safety. The latest version of the NFPA 101, which was released in 2009, contains a number of significant provisions regarding the means of egress.

2009 NFPA 101 Egress Regulations

The 2009 NFPA 101: Life Safety Code includes new criteria for the complete marking of steps, handrails and door hardware. Revised standards also apply for the remoteness of exit accesses and exit discharges, intended to reduce the possibility of both paths becoming blocked by a single fire.

The NFPA 101 is enforced by inspectors, zoning boards, fire marshals and other industry officials. The code applies to existing structures as well as new structures. When a code revision is adopted into local law, existing structures have a grace period before they must comply.

Download Handbook: Learn more about the codes and Egress Marking products by downloading a free copy of the Emergency Egress Marking Handbook.