The standards council of the National Fire Protection Association in August issued two key safety codes that will require fire sprinklers in all nursing homes, in new construction of one- and two-family dwellings, and in all new construction of nightclubs and like facilities, as well as for existing nightclubs and like facilities with capacities over 100.

The code provision for family dwellings is a “milestone” in fire protection, said NFPA President James M. Shannon. “It is a significant step in reducing the rate of fire death and injury in the place where people are at most risk for fire — their own homes.”

The provisions apply to the 2006 editions of NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, and NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code, and went into effect on Aug. 18.

The nightclub provision mandates sprinklers for new facilities, generally applicable to more than 50-occupant capacities. The provision was added to NFPA 101 and NFPA 5000 after a tentative interim amendment had been approved by the standards council in 2003. A similar amendment was issued for NFPA 101 for existing nightclubs with 100-plus capacities in the aftermath of the February 2003 Station Nightclub fire Rhode Island, where 100 people died.

Also in 2003, nursing home fires in Hartford, Conn., and Nashville propelled the health care industry and NFPA to respond with a push for better fire protection, enhancing the current requirement in NFPA 101 for sprinklers in all new nursing homes by also requiring sprinklers in all existing facilities.

NFPA recently issued its report on the Hartford fire in which 16 died at www.nfpa.org/assets/files.PDF/FIHartfordSummary.pdf.