NFPA President Jim Pauley joins host Drew Slocum to trace how 130 years of codes and standards—from NFPA 13 to the Life Safety Code—were forged by tragedy and continually updated to keep pace with new risks. He explains NFPA’s self-funded nonprofit model (not government-funded) and why broad awareness campaigns like “Code for Every Moment” and the social-first “Reverse Renovations” matter as politics and delayed adoptions chip away at safety. Pauley also unpacks the Pro Codes Act—how it protects the copyright that funds standards while still guaranteeing public read access—and warns about AI “hallucinations” creeping into life-safety answers, making the case for vetted, domain-specific models that support (not replace) the trades. If you care about safe buildings, consistent adoption, and trustworthy guidance in the AI era, this conversation is a must-listen.

Fire Protection Podcast

[email protected] (Jim Pauley, Drew Slocum)

Codes That Save Lives: A Conversation with NFPA’s Jim Pauley

SEP 17, 202549 MIN
Fire Protection Podcast

Codes That Save Lives: A Conversation with NFPA’s Jim Pauley

SEP 17, 202549 MIN

Description

00:00 Introduction & Conference Recap03:50 Jim's Background, NFPA's History and Mission10:49 Public Awareness & "Code for Every Moment" Campaign14:15 NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem16:18 Reverse Renovations with Jonathan Scott18:23 Real-World Code Application & Lessons from Tragedies21:54 How Codes and Standards Are Written24:43 Code Update Cycles and Politics28:58 Making Codes Approachable and Industry Sustainability39:08 Al's Role and Risks in Fire Protection43:12 The Nuances of Codes, Standards, and Al46:52 Closing Thoughts and Passion for the Job