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NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning

2020 NFPA 1620 Standard - Current Edition
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  • Description

    Get the knowledge you need to maximize resources and achieve better outcomes through pre-incident emergency planning.

    It has never been more critical for individuals and agencies that respond to emergencies to be prepared for a wider variety of potential hazards, such as natural disasters and health epidemics. Having a well-conceived plan can help increase the speed and effectiveness of the response and the ability to determine how to safely and efficiently evacuate locations.

    NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, is integral in preparing personnel to help manage incidents and destructive events to minimize damage and loss. The standard assists incident commanders in developing effective strategies and procedures and assists firefighters in making the right choices when responding to a structural fire or related incident.

    The 2020 edition of the standard features substantial revisions to reflect the latest knowledge and best practices.

    NFPA 1620 details the end-to-end pre-planning process, covering topics ranging from physical and site considerations and occupancy considerations to water supplies and fire protection systems, incident operations, and plan maintenance. This vital safety document also includes pre-incident planning case histories, information addressing special or unique characteristics of specific occupancy classifications, and sample forms for pre-incident planning.

    The updated NFPA 1620 underwent a significant rewrite for clarity and incorporates several technical changes. In particular, the relationship between pre-fire plans for buildings under construction and pre-incident plans are addressed.

    Additional changes from the previous version include:

    • Relocation of specialized requirements for hazardous materials, buildings under construction, and mass gathering events to the revised Chapter 8, Special Considerations, to improve the flow of the standard by starting with requirements that apply to all pre-incident plans and moving the specialized requirements into a single chapter
    • Added guidance relating to transportation and references to applicable NFPA standards for supplemental specialized preplanning information
    • Revised Chapter 9, Incident Operations, and Chapter 10, Pre-Incident Plan Maintenance.
    • Removal of conflicting and duplicative requirements
    • Clarification of the role of an on-site emergency representative to eliminate contrasts with a site liaison

    Get the knowledge to assist in safeguarding occupants, response personnel, property, and the environment in the event of a destructive incident.

    An emergency involving fire, hazardous materials, and many other dangers to life and property can happen at a moment's notice. This document is a powerful resource for assisting fire service, facilities managers, city planners and administrators, and anyone with concerns for public safety in preparing a response. Help ensure your department is prepared by ordering your copy of NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, 2020 edition today.

  • Table of Contents (2020 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 1620 Standard for Pre-Incident Planning, 2020 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Application.
    1.4 Units and Formulas.
    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 Pre-Incident Planning Process
    4.1 General.
    4.2 Pre-Incident Plan Development.
    4.3 Data Collection.
    4.4 Pre-Incident Plan Preparation.
    4.5 Pre-Incident Plan Sketches.
    4.6 Pre-Incident Plan Distribution.
    4.7 Training.
    4.8 During the Incident.
    4.9 Post-Incident.
    Chapter 5 Physical and Site Considerations
    5.1 General.
    5.2 Construction.
    5.3 Building Management Systems and Utilities.
    5.4 External Site Conditions.
    5.5 Internal and External Security.
    5.6 Fences or Other Barriers.
    5.7 General Overall Condition.
    5.8 Communications.
    5.9 Geospatial Position.
    Chapter 6 Occupancy Considerations
    6.1 Occupancy.
    6.2 Life Safety Considerations.
    6.3 On-Site Emergency Organization.
    Chapter 7 Water Supplies and Fire Protection Systems
    7.1 General.
    7.2 Water Supplies.
    7.3 Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.
    7.4 Non-Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.
    7.5 Fire Alarm Systems.
    7.6 Portable Fire Extinguishers.
    7.7 Smoke Control Systems.
    Chapter 8 Special Considerations
    8.1 General.
    8.2 Hazardous Materials.
    8.3 Vacant and Abandoned Structures.
    8.4 Buildings Under Construction.
    8.5 Mass Gatherings.
    8.6 Transportation.
    Chapter 9 Incident Operations
    9.1 General.
    9.2 Incident Notification.
    9.3 Operation Resources.
    Chapter 10 Pre-Incident Plan Maintenance
    10.1 General.
    10.2 Pre-Incident Plan Update.
    10.3 Site Liaison.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Case Histories
    Annex C Special or Unique Characteristics of Occupancy Classifications
    Annex D Sample Pre-Incident Plan Field Collection Card and Facility Data Record
    Annex E Informational References
  • Prior Edition

    2015 Edition

    The 2015 NFPA 1620 spells out the preplanning process to help protect occupants, response personnel, property, and the environment.

    NFPA 1620, Standard for Pre-Incident Planning is used by the fire service, facilities managers, and city planners and administrators to develop pre-incident plans to assist responding personnel in effectively managing emergencies and destructive events.

    A detailed and effective preplan not only assists incident commanders in developing the right strategies, it can help apparatus officers make correct initial decisions during a structural fire or other event. There's a greater need for emergency responders to be ready for a wider range of scenarios, including epidemics and destructive weather events. Proper preplanning can also help identify ways to efficiently and safely evacuate areas.

    With expanded concerns, planners need a broader vision in which to gather information and improve the plan. For the 2015 NFPA 1620:

    • The Standard's Technical Committee provided greater emphasis on an All Hazards approach to pre-incident planning, to help maximize community resources.
    • New information on mass gatherings is also included, in light of recent incidents such as the Boston Marathon bombings involving terrorism and other mass casualty incidents involving hazardous materials.

    Maximize resources to minimize loss! Use NFPA 1620 to develop an effective and comprehensive preplan.

    NFPA 1620 also contains pre-incident planning case histories and information addressing special or unique characteristics of specific occupancy classifications, as well as sample forms for pre-incident planning. (Print, 44 pp., 2015)

     

    Interested in other editions of NFPA 1620? Use the drop down menu above to select the edition year you need.

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