NFPA has launched a free online training based on the fire dynamics in NFPA 1700, Guide for Structural Fire Fighting.
An interactive online training course on NFPA 1700, Guide for Structural Fire Fighting has been developed and is now available for free through NFPA’s website. Ideal for both new and seasoned structural firefighters, this online program offers an introduction to NFPA 1700, followed by a series of interactive learning modules on Fire Dynamics, Strategy, Tactics, and Contamination Reduction. Each offers a 360-degree, full-3D virtual experience where students are placed within simulated scenarios and asked to make observations and decisions on how to respond and fight the fire.
This training comes as a result of the release of NFPA 1700 in October 2020, which was the first NFPA document to officially connect research and its application to strategy, tactics and best practices for firefighters in controlling fires within a structure. Out of the 41 reports referenced in NFPA 1700, 24 of them include UL FSRI research studies or reports developed by engineers on our staff.
Upon completion of this course, firefighters should be able to:
- Explain why firefighting tactics are changing based on modern construction, newer on-scene technology, and evolving fuel loads.
- Gain an understanding of how to assess and approach the scene of a fire based on the latest science-based fire dynamics research and testing.
- Be more prepared to assess a fire’s growth and spread, and consequently utilize up-to-date control methods.
This project was led by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) with collaborative support from others, including UL FSRI and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and funding from the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Assistance to Firefighters Grant. As we share this learning opportunity with our stakeholders, we look forward to seeing the impact that this online training will have on firefighter safety and the integration of research into department standard operating guidelines and procedures.
Learn more about this training and the evolving science of firefighting through Episode 20 of the NFPA Podcast featuring Underwriters Laboratories Vice President of Research, UL FSRI Director Steve Kerber and Director of Research Dan Madrzykowski.