The International Association of Fire Chiefs has announced the signing of separate memoranda of understanding with the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council. The purpose of the MOUs is to formalize the existing cooperative relationships between the IAFC and the code organizations and to allow for more direct input and participation in the code process by representatives of fire service leadership.

The agreements state that IAFC members will play a more prominent role in serving on code and standard development committees with both the NFPA and the ICC, and will take a more active position as participants in the ongoing code development process with both organizations.

The staff and executives of the IAFC and both code organizations proactively will seek new ways to enhance and strengthen their collaboration as a means of better using the expertise of the fire service across the nation.

“These agreements signify the fact that the IAFC has taken a more aggressive role in promoting fire prevention and life safety by ensuring that fire chief officers have a greater degree of involvement with the code development process,” said IAFC President Chief Randy R. Bruegman. “The new agreements pave the way for the members of the IAFC to have a greater voice on those issues that we know will save lives in the future. We look forward to helping to lead and influence that process.”

The IAFC will make up the majority of the code organizations' membership on oversight committees for fire service issues and will make recommendations to the organizations on code development issues, certification and training. The IAFC also will participate in regional code action committees that will develop and review code change proposals related to fire and life safety.