Purchasing NFPA Standards....

[PineyFF185]

My department has decided it would be a wise idea to re-familiarize ourselves with the NFPA guidelines. However, a trip to the NFPA website left me overwhelmed with the sheer amount of documents and publications available.

I purchased NFPA 1720, but same doesn't appear to be enough.
My company doesn't have the $$$ to purchase the $2k full edition, so I was wondering if there is a general consensus as to which standards are 'essential' or where we should start.

My department is 100% volunteer and we do not run EMT calls.
Approximately 300 runs per year.
Population of about 10k with about 40% of our residents in densely populated multi-family dwellings mixed in with a good amount of commercial structures.
(1 full size Mall, 3 strip malls, Multiplex Cinema)
The remainder of our response area is quite rural.
We run 2 Engines and 1 Truck and have MA agreements with all of our neighboring companies.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Bones42]

Have you checked your local library? or a college library near by?

We went to my local library, in a much smaller town than what yours sounds, and talked with them a little bit. They asked what they could get for us and this was one of our requests.

[jpsmith2]

For $695.00 you can order the entire collection on cd-rom or get online access for $645.00.

If you're just going for a one-time purchase, then I would recommend the cd-rom. It would probably be cheaper in the long run.

But if you really want to piece together a collection:

NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code
NFPA 291 - Fire Flow Testing and Marking of Hydrants
NFPA 471 - Recommended Practice for
Responding to Hazardous Materials Incidents
NFPA 472 - Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents
NFPA 1001 - Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1002 - Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1006 - Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer Professional Qualifications
NFPA 1250 - Recommended Practice in Emergency Service Organization Risk Management
NFPA 1401 - Recommended Practice for Fire Service Training Reports and Records
NFPA 1403 - Live Fire Training Evolutions
NFPA 1404 - Fire Service Respiratory Protection Training
NFPA 1410 - Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations
NFPA 1451 - Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program
NFPA 1452 - Training Fire Service Personnel to Conduct Dwelling Fire Safety Surveys
NFPA 1500 - Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program
NFPA 1521 - Fire Department Safety Officer
NFPA 1561 - Emergency Services Incident Management System
NFPA 1584 - Rehabilitation of Members Operating at Incident Scene Operations and Training Exercises
NFPA 1620 - Pre-Incident Planning
NFPA 1670 - Operations and Training for Technical Rescue Incidents
NFPA 1720 - Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Volunteer Fire Departments
NFPA 1851 - Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Structural Fire Fighting Protective Ensembles
NFPA 1852 - Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
NFPA 1901 - Automotive Fire Apparatus
NFPA 1911 - Service Tests of Fire Pump Systems on Fire Apparatus
NFPA 1915 - Fire Apparatus Preventive Maintenance Program
NFPA 1932 - Use, Maintenance, and Service Testing of Fire Department Ground Ladders
NFPA 1962 - Inspection, Care, and Use of Fire Hose, Couplings, and Nozzles and the Service Testing of Fire Hose
NFPA 1971 - Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting
NFPA 1981 - Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus for Fire and Emergency Services
NFPA 1982 - Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS)

[80FIRE]

NFPA 471
NFPA 472
NFPA 1403
Are available for free viewing at the NFPA website. Don't buy them when you can look at them for free.