The U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated the National Fire Protection Association codes and standards development process as a “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002, or SAFETY Act. NFPA is the first standards development organization to receive this designation. Under provisions of the SAFETY Act, NFPA’s codes and standards development process also was certified as an “Approved Product for Homeland Security."

The SAFETY Act encourages the development and deployment of new and innovative anti-terrorism products and services by providing liability protections. Designation as a QATT and certification as an approved product for homeland security under the SAFETY Act provides legal protections for the NFPA codes and standards development process as applied to anti-terrorism. Federal protections under the DHS Designation and Certification are retroactive and recognize NFPA’s technology’s “first date of sale” as Sept. 11, 2001.

“The commitment and involvement of NFPA in anti-terrorism standards predates the events of 9/11," said NFPA President James M. Shannon. "NFPA has long been committed to making its codes and standards development process available for the creation and continual improvement of standards used to protect first responders and the public in terrorist events. We believe we attract numerous experts from diverse fields to develop codes and standards that mitigate the effects of terrorism on people and property.”

All NFPA safety codes and standards are developed through a process accredited by the American National Standards Institute. The more than 250 technical committees responsible for developing and updating all 300 codes and standards include approximately 4,000 volunteers, representing enforcing authorities, installers and maintainers, labor, research and testing laboratories, insurers, special experts, consumers and other users.