Despite a very challenging economic environment, the National Fire Protection Association had a “surprisingly good year in 2009,” with revenues of more than $70 million, chairman of the board Paul Fitzgerald told attendees at the organization’s annual conference and exposition held in Las Vegas last month.

Through significant cost cutting and conservative revenue goals, the association achieved a better than anticipated operating surplus of $6.9 million, before investment gains and a pension adjustment. The association, whose mission is to reduce the loss of life from fire and other controllable perils, posted a total surplus of $25 million, an 18 percent increase over the previous year.

In his last address as chairman of the board of directors, Fitzgerald, who has been a member of NFPA for 45 years, told members at the conference’s opening session that the 75,000-member association has assets of $166 million, and is well positioned to continue delivering its all-important mission of fire safety. He said the organization’s main source of revenue is from its publications, which account for 66 percent of the total, and are expected to increase to 70 percent this year. The rest of its revenues come from membership fees, professional development and contracts. Fitzgerald said, “NFPA never dwells on the past, and responds to changes in technology and demand.”

Lamb Award to O’Sullivan

Also at the conference, NFPA honored John J. O’Sullivan with its esteemed 2010 Paul C. Lamb Award for volunteer service. The award is given only to those who have provided service to NFPA that characterizes the height of volunteer spirit and deed. It recognizes leadership skills, tact and diplomacy, straightforwardness, professional integrity, and active dedication to the goals of the NFPA. To date, only 19 individuals have received the award since its inception in 1980.

A native of County Cork in Ireland, O’Sullivan retired from his job as fire protection manager at British Airways in 2006, a position that he held for 18 years. He now works as a principle technical fire consultant for Bureau Veritas UK & Ireland. He has a 24-year history of service and dedication to the NFPA, having served as a volunteer on several committees, including the Standards Council from 1997 to 2002, the Aircraft Fuel Servicing Technical Committee from 1986 to 2006, and the Board of Directors from 2004 to the present.

Educator of the Year

Recognizing that educators are key to its success, NFPA also honored Beverly Thompson, public education specialist with DeKalb County Fire Rescue, Tucker, Ga., as the 2010 Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year.

The award recognizes a fire and life safety educator, who works for a local fire department, uses NFPA’s materials in consistent and creative ways, demonstrates excellence and innovation in reaching out to the community, and views NFPA as the source for safety information.

SafePath Meets New UL Standard for MNS

On the trade show floor, Cooper Notification, maker of fire detection and notification Systems, announced that its SAFEPATH In-Building Mass Notification System meets the new Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard for MNS. As a new standard, UL 2572 evaluates how a mass notification system performs against the 2010 edition of the NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Compliant with UL 2572 and NFPA 72 2010 codes, the SAFEPATH MNS integrates with a facility’s addressable fire alarm system (FAS) for a complete In-Building MNS solution that performs both fire alarm and emergency communications functions.

The SPMNS provides personnel and building occupants with intelligible live and pre-recorded voice messages that communicate what to do in response to an emergency.

“Facility managers are not only concerned about protecting their personnel and facilities from today’s complex threats, but also with understanding and complying with local and national codes and standards,” said Scott Hearn, president, Cooper Notification. “Some building owners may be overwhelmed by the new NFPA emergency communications systems codes, however, it’s important for them to understand that they can leverage their existing life safety systems with minimal upgrades and modifications. To help building owners and managers meet the latest requirements and simplify their retrofit, Cooper Notification designed the SAFEPATH MNS to interface with a facility’s existing fire alarm system.”

Such technology is consistent with and indicative of the mission of NFPA, whose influence is greater today than at any other time in history, said James Shannon, the association’s president and CEO.

“From its earliest days, this association has translated technical knowledge into practical, measurements that improve safety and health,” he said, adding that the organization will mark the 100-year anniversary of the Triangle Shirt Factory fire next March 25, which resulted in the death of more than 146 people and inspired NFPA to put more emphasis on life safety. He cited the updated National Electric Code and NFPA 70 as the cornerstones of electrical safety today.

“Every American benefits from it every day,” said Shannon. FSM