Point of Origin: NFPA, Code Development & How to Make Your Voice Heard

Fire Engineering Podcast Network

Point of Origin: NFPA, Code Development & How to Make Your Voice Heard In this episode of the Point of Origin podcast, hosts Billy Hux and Bobby Drake sit down with Rob Dawson, regional director at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), to demystify how fire service standards are created, updated, and consolidated. Dawson shares his journey from volunteer firefighter to NFPA leadership, shedding light on the vital role technical committees play in balancing industry, enforcement, and end-user perspectives. Learn how to get involved in the standards development process—from submitting public inputs to engaging with committee members—and why NFPA’s deliberate, multiyear update cycles matter. The discussion also tackles common misconceptions about appendix language, code references in state fire prevention codes, and more. Brought to you by Fire Facilities