FREE NFPA online conference on 16 February will cover global challenges and solutions for keeping people and property safe

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will present a FREE ‘Global Solutions for Global Challenges’ online educational program on 16 February 2022, covering a number of safety topics, as the organization’s year-long 125th Anniversary Conference Series begins to wind down. 

The innovative, on-demand virtual conference series will begin at 7:00am (ET) and feature five Latin America (LatAm) sessions in Spanish with English subtitles and five Middle East North Africa (MENA) sessions in English with Spanish subtitles. Although the day’s agenda has been broken into topics of note in the NFPA priority LatAm and MENA regions – the issues and resources being discussed will resonate with safety-focused workers in jurisdictions around the world. 

The NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem will serve as a framework for the day with session leaders sharing global case studies, safety benchmarks and career insights. Code enforcement officials, emergency responders, fire-protection engineers, industrial-hazards personnel and those who work in the built environment will find tremendous value in learning more about infrastructure challenges, regulations, NFPA codes and standards, safety gaps, policy roadblocks, healthcare considerations and public education messaging. Full session descriptions can be found on the conference site and a snapshot of the day is listed below:

Track 1

• LatAm: Compartmentalization as a Fundamental Basis of Fire Protection, A Latin American Approach – Eduardo del Muro Cuéllar, UL de México S.A. de C.V.
• LatAm: Regulatory Framework and Compliance: Lessons Learned from the LPG Incident at Villa El Salvador, Lima Peru – Alfonso Panizo, ESSAC
• LatAm: Risk Analysis of Dust Explosives in the Food Industry Based on NFPA 652, Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust – Sofia Poehls, Leza, Escrina y Asocuadis S.A.
• LatAm: Analysis and Perspective of Fire Protection in Latin America – Domenico Braca, Invertec
• Lat Am: Importance of Standardizing Criteria for Fire Protection in Hospitals in Latin America – Mauricio Bozzano, SHYMA Fire Engineering Consulting

Track 2

• MENA: A Spotlight on the Ecosystem in Health Care Facilities – Dana Kamal, Cleveland Clinic, UAE
• MENA: Civil Defence Leads a Decade of Progress of Fire and Life Safety in MENA – Sawsan Dahham, Dar Al Handasah (Shaar and Partners)
• MENA: Role of Fire Codes and Standards in Hazard Management for Fire, Explosion, and Reactivity Hazards Practices – Guy Colonna, former head of NFPA Engineering Technical Services, current Safety Consultant
• MENA: Reliability Versus Availability – Tom Denooij, Riskonet BV
• MENA: Hot Works in Industrial Facilities – Laura Moreno, NFPA Standard Lead and Kevin Carr, NFPA Senior Fire Protection Specialist

‘As a global authority on fire, electrical, building, and life safety, NFPA has witnessed a lot in its 125 years. And we know that different nations experience similar threats and challenges but that they come at different moments in time, based on where countries are in their development. For example, safety in the United States has evolved over centuries whereas Latin American and MENA have experienced explosive growth in recent years, so their challenges have been compressed and compounded,’ Olga Caledonia, NFPA director of international development explains. ‘Regardless of a nation’s growth, capacity, and access to resources, it is critical for authorities, the workforce, and the public to keep pace with progress. We all play a role in safety and should be held accountable for taking proactive and prescriptive steps to reduce risks in our communities – no matter where we are in the world. This conference will emphasize that safety is a system and help to influence positive, professional changes on an international scale.’

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research, and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.

In celebration of its 125^th Anniversary, NFPA is hosting a Conference Series through March 2022 and undertook several initiatives in 2021 that reflect the association’s steadfast commitment to advancing fire and life safety. For more information or to view NFPA codes and standards for free, visit www.nfpa.org