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.
00:00 Introduction & Conference Recap
03:50 Jim's Background, NFPA's History and Mission
10:49 Public Awareness & "Code for Every Moment" Campaign
14:15 NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem
16:18 Reverse Renovations with Jonathan Scott
18:23 Real-World Code Application & Lessons from Tragedies
21:54 How Codes and Standards Are Written
24:43 Code Update Cycles and Politics
28:58 Making Codes Approachable and Industry Sustainability
39:08 Al's Role and Risks in Fire Protection
43:12 The Nuances of Codes, Standards, and Al
46:52 Closing Thoughts and Passion for the Job