NFPA 557, Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design

NFPA^® 557 Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design, 2023 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Application.
1.4 Equivalency.
1.5 Units and Formulas.
1.6 Approved Qualifications.

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 Design Fundamentals

4.1 Methodology.
4.2 Fire Load.
4.3 Statistical Distribution of Fire Load.
4.4 Frequency of Fire Initiations.
4.5 Effectiveness of Fire Protection Features.
4.6 Combustibility of Materials.

Chapter 5 Development of Fire Loads

5.1 Types of Fire Loads.
5.2 Defining the Compartment.
5.3 Distributed Fire Loads.
5.4 Localized Fire Loads.
5.5 Frequency of Structurally Significant Fires.
5.6 Approvals and Limitations.
5.7 Application of the Frequencies of Structurally Significant Fires to Occupancies.

Chapter 6 Occupancy-Based Fire Load Density

6.1 Fire Load Density.
6.2 Design Fire Load Density.

Chapter 7 Survey Method-Based Fire Load Density

7.1 Fire Load Density
7.2 Fire Load.
7.3 Heats of Combustion.
7.4 Methodology and Limitations.

Chapter 8 Documentation, Inspection, and Maintenance

8.1 Documented Fire Load.
8.2 Change in Occupancy.
8.3 Repairs.
8.4 Formal Review.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Summary of Occupancy Based Fuel and Fire Load Survey Data
Annex C Guidance for Fuel or Fire Load Surveys (Special Facility and Occupancy Based)
Annex D Analyses of Structurally Significant Fires in Buildings with Selected Characteristics
Annex E Informational References

2020 Edition

Help make sure you are current and compliant with the latest criteria for building structural fire engineering with NFPA 557, 2020 edition.

Having a clear understanding of how to calculate the fire load in a building is a needed element when considering structural performance under thermal exposure. NFPA 557, Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design provides a methodology for deciding the fire load and fire load density to be used as the basis for the evaluation and design of the structural fire performance of a building.

Developed to address the need for guidance and standardization in the area of structural fire engineering, NFPA 557 covers:

• Design fundamentals
• Development of fire loads
• Occupancy-based fire load density
• Survey method-based fire load density
• Documentation, inspection, and maintenance

The 2020 edition provides the most recent and relevant provisions that are essential for evaluating the structural fire performance of buildings.

The revised NFPA 557 offers state-of-the-art information essential to building designers and engineers.

Changes to this edition include:

• Updated language for defining limited-combustible materials
• Added guidance on fire losses in warehouses
• Reorganized heat of combustion values
• Amended reference documents

Safeguard buildings and occupants using the risk frameworks outlined in NFPA 557, Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design. Place an order for your copy of the 2020 edition.

2016 Edition

Apply the 2016 NFPA 557 to determine fire load and fire load density for use in calculations of the performance of structures in a fire.

Used primarily by designers and engineers, the 2016 NFPA 557, Standard for Determination of Fire Loads for Use in Structural Fire Protection Design provides a methodology for the determination of the fire load and fire load density to be used as the basis for the evaluation and design of the structural fire performance of a building.

Developed in response to a request on performance-based design initiatives in the area of fire loads, NFPA 557 covers:

• Design fundamentals
• Development of fire loads
• Occupancy-based fire load density
• Survey method-based fire load density
• Documentation, inspection, and maintenance

Five Annexes provide additional clarification of requirements. Chapter 4 adds criteria for a material to be considered noncombustible, which is consistent with language in NFPA 101®: Life Safety Code® and NFPA 5000®: Building Construction and Safety Code®. The 2016 edition also includes the latest definitions and up-to-date references essential for designers, engineers, and facility managers. (Softbound, 27 pp., 2016)

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