The National Fire Protection Association, NFPA, is an independent, voluntary membership, nonprofit organization. It’s mission is the safeguarding of people, their property, and the environment from destructive fire. Membership in NFPA totals over 60,000, the majority are from the United States but there are members from 70 other nations as well. The primary technical activity of NFPA involves development, publication and dissemination of consensus standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire.
In 1988 the NFPA polled its members on the need for a document on fire protection involving lasers. There was sufficient response in favor of the document that a committee was authorized in July of 1989. The committee’s scope of work was approved by the NFPA Standards’ Council November 1991. The committee met for the first time in June 1992.
Tentatively, the document will cover fire protection for the design, manufacture, installation and use of lasers. There are several different approaches to the document.
Examples are:
provide requirements by type of laser; dye laser, helium-neon
provide requirements based upon the type of fire hazard; flammable liquids, flammable gases
provide requirements based upon the Class of laser; Class I, Class II
Provide requirements based upon a matrix involving the type of laser, the type of fire hazard, the class of laser
A schedule for the publication of the document has not been established.