NFPA 101, Life Safety Code Handbook

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THE NFPA HANDBOOKS DIFFER FROM CODES AND STANDARDS

Ever wonder what the difference is between an NFPA^® handbook and a code or standard? We’re glad you asked.

NFPA codes and standards both provide requirements for achieving outcomes. Handbooks take a deeper dive, providing the full text of a code or standard as well as expert commentary and features such as graphics, decision trees, testing procedures, case studies, sample forms and checklists, and other helpful aids to give a better understanding of the reasoning behind the requirements and how to apply them.

JUST REMEMBER:

• A code or standard is a framework—a set of rules to follow with a goal to achieve a certain result
• A handbook is a connector—linking requirements to application by helping you understand the reasoning behind a code or standard

The simplest way to think about it is that codes and standards list the technical requirements while handbooks explain those requirements to clarify how to apply them.

Contents 

Preface  

About the Editors  

NFPA 101 Summary of Technical Changes: 2018 to 2021  

Chapter 1     Administration  

                            1.1     Scope  

                            1.2     Purpose  

                            1.3     Application  

                            1.4     Equivalency  

                            1.5     Units and Formulas  

                            1.6     Enforcement  

Chapter 2     Referenced Publications 

                            2.1     General  

                            2.2     NFPA Publications  

                            2.3     Other Publications  

                            2.4     References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections  

Chapter 3     Definitions  

                            3.1     General  

                            3.2     NFPA Official Definitions  

                            3.3     General Definitions  

Chapter 4     General  

                            4.1     Goals  

                            4.2     Objectives  

                            4.3     Assumptions  

                            4.4     Life Safety Compliance Options  

                            4.5     Fundamental Requirements  

                            4.6     General Requirements  

                            4.7     Fire Drills  

                            4.8     Emergency Action Plan  

Chapter 5     Performance-Based Option  

                            5.1     General Requirements  

                            5.2     Performance Criteria  

                            5.3     Retained Prescriptive Requirements  

                            5.4     Design Specifications and Other Conditions  

                            5.5     Design Fire Scenarios  

                            5.6     Evaluation of Proposed Designs  

                            5.7     Safety Factors  

                            5.8     Documentation Requirements  

Chapter 6     Classification of Occupancy and Hazard of Contents  

                            6.1     Classification of Occupancy  

                            6.2     Hazard of Contents  

Chapter 7     Means of Egress  

                            7.1     General  

                            7.2     Means of Egress Components  

                            7.3     Capacity of Means of Egress  

                            7.4     Number of Means of Egress  

                            7.5     Arrangement of Means of Egress  

                            7.6     Measurement of Travel Distance to Exits  

                            7.7     Discharge from Exits  

                            7.8     Illumination of Means of Egress  

                            7.9     Emergency Lighting  

                         7.10     Marking of Means of Egress 

                         7.11     Special Provisions for Occupancies with High-Hazard Contents  

                         7.12     Special Provisions for Hazardous Materials  

                         7.13     Mechanical Equipment Rooms, Boiler Rooms, and Furnace Rooms  

                         7.14     Normally Unoccupied Building Service Equipment Support Areas  

                         7.15     Occupant Evacuation Elevators  

                         7.16     Emergency Stair Travel Devices  

Chapter 8     Features of Fire Protection  

                            8.1     General  

                            8.2     Construction and Compartmentation  

                            8.3     Fire Barriers  

                            8.4     Smoke Partitions 

                            8.5     Smoke Barriers  

                            8.6     Vertical Openings  

                            8.7     Special Hazard Protection  

                            8.8     Inspection and Testing of Door Assemblies  

Chapter 9     Building Service, Fire Protection, and Life Safety Equipment  

                            9.1     Utilities  

                            9.2     Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning  

                            9.3     Smoke Control  

                            9.4     Elevators, Escalators, and Conveyors  

                            9.5     Waste Chutes, Incinerators, and Laundry Chutes  

                            9.6     Fire Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems  

                            9.7     Automatic Sprinklers  

                            9.8     Other Automatic Extinguishing Equipment  

                            9.9     Portable Fire Extinguishers  

                         9.10     Standpipe Systems  

                         9.11     Fire Protection System Operating Features  

                         9.12     Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and Warning Equipment  

                         9.13     Special Inspections and Tests  

                         9.14     Risk Analysis for Mass Notification Systems  

                         9.15     Two-Way Radio Communication Enhancement Systems  

Chapter 10  Interior Finish, Contents, and Furnishings 

                         10.1     General  

                         10.2     Interior Finish  

                         10.3     Contents and Furnishings  

                         10.4     Outdoor Furniture 

                         10.5     Combustible Artificial Decorative Vegetation on Roofs and Near Buildings  

Chapter 11  Special Structures and High-Rise Buildings  

                         11.1     General Requirements  

                         11.2     Open Structures  

                         11.3     Towers  

                         11.4     Water-Surrounded Structures  

                         11.5     Piers  

                         11.6     Vehicles and Vessels  

                         11.7     Underground Structures and Limited-Access Structures  

                         11.8     High-Rise Buildings  

                         11.9     Permanent Membrane Structures  

                       11.10     Temporary Membrane Structures  

                       11.11     Tents  

                       11.12     Animal Housing Facilities  

Chapter 12/13    New and Existing Assembly Occupancies  

                     12.1/13.1     General Requirements  

                     12.2/13.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     12.3/13.3     Protection  

                     12.4/13.4     Special Provisions  

                     12.5/13.5     Building Services  

                     12.6/13.6     Reserved  

                     12.7/13.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 14/15    New and Existing Educational Occupancies  

                     14.1/15.1     General Requirements  

                     14.2/15.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     14.3/15.3     Protection  

                     14.4/15.4     Special Provisions  

                     14.5/15.5     Building Services  

                     14.6/15.6     Reserved  

                     14.7/15.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 16/17    New and Existing Day-Care Occupancies  

                     16.1/17.1     General Requirements  

                     16.2/17.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     16.3/17.3     Protection  

                     16.4/17.4     Special Provisions  

                     16.5/17.5     Building Services  

                     16.6/17.6     Day-Care Homes  

                     16.7/17.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 18/19        New and Existing Health Care Occupancies  

                     18.1/19.1     General Requirements  

                     18.2/19.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     18.3/19.3     Protection  

                     18.4/19.4     Special Provisions  

                     18.5/19.5     Building Services  

                     18.6/19.6     Reserved  

                     18.7/19.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 20/21    New and Existing Ambulatory Health Care Occupancies  

                     20.1/21.1     General Requirements  

                     20.2/21.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     20.3/21.3     Protection  

                     20.4/21.4     Special Provisions  

                     20.5/21.5     Building Services  

                     20.6/21.6     Reserved  

                     20.7/21.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 22/23    New and Existing Detention and Correctional Occupancies  

                     22.1/23.1     General Requirements  

                     22.2/23.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     22.3/23.3     Protection  

                     22.4/23.4     Special Provisions  

                     22.5/23.5     Building Services  

                     22.6/23.6     Reserved  

                     22.7/23.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 24  One- and Two-Family Dwellings  

                         24.1     General Requirements  

                         24.2     Means of Escape Requirements  

                         24.3     Protection  

                         24.4     Reserved  

                         24.5     Building Services  

Chapter 25  Reserved  

Chapter 26  Lodging or Rooming Houses  

                         26.1     General Requirements  

                         26.2     Means of Escape Requirements  

                         26.3     Protection  

                         26.4     Special Structures  

                         26.5     Building Services  

                         26.6     Reserved  

                         26.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 27  Reserved  

Chapter 28/29    New and Existing Hotels and Dormitories  

                     28.1/29.1     General Requirements  

                     28.2/29.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     28.3/29.3     Protection  

                     28.4/29.4     Special Provisions  

                     28.5/29.5     Building Services  

                     28.6/29.6     Reserved  

                     28.7/29.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 30/31    New and Existing Apartment Buildings  

                     30.1/31.1     General Requirements  

                     30.2/31.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     30.3/31.3     Protection  

                     30.4/31.4     Special Provisions  

                     30.5/31.5     Building Services  

                     30.6/31.6     Reserved  

                     30.7/31.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 32/33      New and Existing Residential Board and Care Occupancies  

                     32.1/33.1     General Requirements  

                     32.2/33.2     Small Facilities  

                     32.3/33.3     Large Facilities  

                     32.4/33.4     Suitability of an Apartment Building to House a Board and Care Occupancy  

                     32.5/33.5     Reserved  

                     32.6/33.6     Reserved  

                     32.7/33.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 34  Reserved  

Chapter 35  Reserved  

Chapter 36/37    New and Existing Mercantile Occupancies  

                     36.1/37.1     General Requirements  

                     36.2/37.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     36.3/37.3     Protection  

                     36.4/37.4     Special Provisions  

                     36.5/37.5     Building Services  

                     36.6/37.6     Reserved  

                     36.7/37.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 38/39      New and Existing Business Occupancies  

                     38.1/39.1     General Requirements  

                     38.2/39.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                     38.3/39.3     Protection  

                     38.4/39.4     Special Provisions 

                     38.5/39.5     Building Services  

                     38.6/39.6     Reserved  

                     38.7/39.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 40  Industrial Occupancies  

                         40.1     General Requirements  

                         40.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                         40.3     Protection  

                         40.4     Special Provisions  

                         40.5     Building Services  

                         40.6     Special Provisions for Aircraft Servicing Hangars 

                         40.7     Operating Features  

Chapter 41  Reserved  

Chapter 42  Storage Occupancies  

                         42.1     General Requirements  

                         42.2     Means of Egress Requirements  

                         42.3     Protection  

                         42.4     Special Provisions  

                         42.5     Building Services  

                         42.6     Special Provisions for Aircraft Storage Hangars  

                         42.7     Special Provisions for Grain Handling, Processing, Milling, or Other Bulk Storage Facilities  

                         42.8     Special Provisions for Parking Structures 

                         42.9     Operating Features  

Chapter 43  Building Rehabilitation  

                         43.1     General  

                         43.2     Special Definitions  

                         43.3     Repairs  

                         43.4     Renovations  

                         43.5     Modifications  

                         43.6     Reconstruction  

                         43.7     Change of Use or Occupancy Classification  

                         43.8     Additions  

                         43.9     Reserved  

                       43.10     Historic Buildings  

Annexes

A     Explanatory Material  

B     Supplemental Evacuation Equipment  

C     NFPA Documents on Hazardous Materials  

D     Informational References  

Index  

Important Notices and Legal Disclaimers 

Important information about NFPA codes and standards available

NFPA® Handbooks are your 'Roadmap to the Codes' with insights and graphics that answer code questions. View these sample pages for a preview of the valuable information you'll access including complete code or standard text; explanatory commentary highlighted in a second color; hundreds of full-color photos, charts, tables and illustrations to clarify concepts; and much more.

Preview the 2021 NFPA 101^®, Life Safety Code^® Handbook.

2018 Edition

Authors: Gregory E. Harrington, P.E., and Kristin Bigda, P.E.

Implement NFPA 101® correctly in today's world. Your essential Code companion, NFPA®'s Life Safety Code® Handbook incorporates the complete Code text, commentary from seasoned professionals, and visuals into one go-to source.

Get to Know the Handbook

Discover how the 2018 Handbook can help you comply with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code requirements. It includes the full code text along with expert commentary and more than 750 visual references.

Trust the 2018 edition of the NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook to help you make the right safety decisions in the built environment, where every decision has the potential to impact lives. For applications advice, nothing compares! This unique reference combines Code text and expert commentary, so you're better prepared to comply the first time and avoid costly mistakes, violations, and job delays.

You need expert support along with the Code. The full-color 2018 edition Life Safety Code Handbook is the only reference in the industry that provides:

• Side-by-side presentation of occupancy requirements for new and existing occupancies for easy comparison -- this feature alone makes the Handbook a must!
• The complete 2018 Life Safety Code text, featuring an expanded scope that now includes hazardous materials emergencies, injuries from falls, and emergency communications
• Expert commentary explaining the reasoning and intent behind the rules, with hands-on examples of how to implement requirements
• Guidance for hospital administrators and contractors on how to apply the latest health care occupancy provisions
• All-new commentary for ensuring life safety in malls
• More than 750 images including photos and charts, tables, illustrations, and diagrams not found in the Code -- all in full color for better visual clarification of NFPA 101 provisions
• A matrix comparing the 2015 and 2018 editions of NFPA 101 that gives you an overview of technical/substantive changes at a glance

If public safety depends on you, look to the 2018 edition of the NFPA 101 Handbook for essential support.

Whether you're a building owner, architect, designer, contractor, engineer, AHJ, or inspector, NFPA's unique 2018 edition Life Safety Code Handbook helps you apply requirements properly to protect building occupants throughout the life of the building. (Print, 1,272 pp., 2018)

2015 Edition

Authors: Ron Coté, P.E. and Gregory E. Harrington, P.E.

Based on the 2015 NFPA 101®, NFPA®'s acclaimed Life Safety Code® Handbook incorporates full Code text, commentary, and visuals in a must-have resource.

Any decisions you make in the built environment have the potential to affect lives. That's why you need the best source of applications advice: the 2015 NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook. This resource combines Code text and expert commentary to help you comply correctly the first time and avoid costly mistakes, violations, and job delays.

In full-color, the 2015 Life Safety Code Handbook is the only reference in the industry that provides:

• Side-by-side presentation of occupancy requirements for new and existing buildings for easy comparison -- this feature alone makes the Handbook a must!
• The full 2015 Life Safety Code text including changes, such as an occupant load factor for concentrated business use areas, and utilizing an atrium as part of an occupancy separation
• Expert commentary explaining the reasoning and intent behind the rules, with hands-on examples of how to apply the added mandates for CO detection and alarm in new educational and day care facilities, training requirements for crowd managers in assembly occupancies, and other changes
• Added guidance for hospital administrators and contractors on how to apply the latest health care occupancy provisions
• More than 750 images including photos and charts, tables, illustrations, and diagrams not found in the Code -- all in full color for better visual clarification of NFPA 101 provisions
• Matrix comparing the 2012 and 2015 NFPA 101 that gives you an overview of technical/substantive changes at a glance

If public safety depends on you, look to the 2015 NFPA 101 Handbook for essential support.

Whether you're a building owner, architect, designer, contractor, engineer, AHJ, or inspector, NFPA's unique 2015 Life Safety Code Handbook helps you apply requirements properly to protect building occupants throughout the life cycle of the building. (Hardbound, 1,327 pp., 2015)

2012 Edition

Authors: Ron Coté, P.E. and Gregory E. Harrington, P.E.

Take the fast track to compliance! The 2012 NFPA 101® Handbook puts practical answers to Code questions at your fingertips so you're ready to apply requirements correctly.

The decisions you make on the job affect lives. That's why when a new Life Safety Code® edition comes out, there's no room for error and no time to lose. You need to get up-to-speed fast so you can hit the ground running, comply right the first time, and avoid costly mistakes, violations, and job delays. Your best source for the knowledge you need to master new requirements is the 2012 NFPA 101: Life Safety Code Handbook.

Written by leading life safety authorities, this essential full-color NFPA 101 companion provides total compliance support with:

• Code text for new and existing buildings presented side-by-side for easy comparison -- this feature alone makes the Handbook a must!
• The full 2012 Life Safety Code text for easy access
• Expert commentary explains the reasoning and intent behind provisions and provide hands-on examples of how to apply rules, including new and revised provisions affecting health care occupancies, high-rise buildings, CO detection and alarms, and elevator use for occupant evacuation.
• More visuals than ever before! 300 photos and 400 charts, tables, illustrations, and diagrams -- not found in the Code -- all in full color for better visual clarification of NFPA 101 provisions
• Vertical rules alert you to Code additions and bullets signal deletions, so it's easy to see what's different in this edition.
• Matrix comparing the 2009 and 2012 NFPA 101 provides an overview of technical/substantive changes at-a-glance.

Life safety depends on you. Shorten the learning curve on the new Code and save lives.

Whether you're an architect, designer, contractor, engineer, AHJ, or inspector, you can depend on the 2012 Life Safety Code Handbook to make sure requirements are applied properly to protect building occupants. (Hardbound, 1, 369 pp., 2012)

Previous editions of NFPA^® documents are available for sale. Please see applicable NFPA codes and standards product pages to confirm which editions are available for purchase. If you have any questions, contact NFPA Customer Support at 1-800-344-3555 or nfpa.org/customerservice.