QUINCY, MA — The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) Standards Council recently issued NFPA 5000™, Building Construction, and Safety Code™. It is said to be the first building code developed through an open, consensus-based process accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), administrator and coordinator of the U.S. private sector voluntary standardization system.

According to the association, NFPA 5000 includes “provisions for every aspect of the design and construction of buildings and structures, as well as the design of integrated building systems for health, safety, comfort, and convenience.”

Upon publication, NFPA 5000 will be available for free review online through www.nfpa.org (website).

The association called NFPA 5000 “a cornerstone of the first full, integrated set of ANSI-accredited codes and standards.”

The Comprehensive Consensus Codes™ (C3) set is being developed through a partnership of NFPA, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

When completed in 2003, the C3 set will offer coordinated and integrated safety codes, including:

  • NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code;

  • NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®;

  • NFPA 101, Life Safety Code®;

  • NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code™;

  • NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code;

  • NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code;

  • NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code;

  • NFPA 30A, Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages;

  • Uniform Mechanical Code™ (UMC);

  • Uniform Plumbing Code™ (UPC); and

  • NFPA 900, Building Energy Code (ASHRAE 90.1 and 90.2).

    NFPA and ASHRAE are developing an energy code element of the C3 set. When completed, the code will incorporate ASHRAE’s energy standards, 90.1 and 90.2, for energy-efficient new commercial and residential buildings.

    Also as part of the C3 set effort, IAPMO is updating the UPC and the UMC through a consensus-based process that is accredited by ANSI. The UPC and UMC are the most widely adopted plumbing and mechanical codes in the U.S.

    For more information on the C3 set, visit www.C3codeset.org (website).

    Publication date: 07/29/2002