New FPPM Requirements in Boston – Updated February 2, 2023
Given the increasing number and severity of construction fire incidents in Boston, the Boston Fire Department (BFD) has established a new training requirement for Fire Prevention Program Managers (FPPMs) on construction sites in the city. Effective January 1, 2023, all FPPMs and Alternate FPPMs serving Boston construction sites are minimally required to have taken the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) online FPPM Training prior to assuming the FPPM or AFPPM role.
This new expectation is driven by recent frustrations experienced by BFD, where many project FPPMs have voiced or demonstrated that they were not aware of the responsibilities of the position. An FPPM is not just a “check in the box,” but is a crucially important part of fire and worker safety on a jobsite. Among the responsibilities are such elements as:
- Overall responsibility for safeguarding life and property during construction, alteration, and demolition projects;
- Authority to enforce the NFPA 241 Plan – including speaking with the authority of the GC or the Owner;
- Knowledge of fire protection codes and standards, available fire protection systems, and fire inspection procedures;
- Providing training to workers;
- Supervising hot work permitting;
- Coordinating impairments
Given these responsibilities, and that FPPMs on many projects in the city do not have the necessary backgrounds to be serving in the role, BFD has set this new training expectation for all FPPMs in the city.
The NFPA FPPM Training is available at the NFPA’s website, a link is provided at the end of this post. The online training program takes approximately five to six hours to complete. This training is currently the only program that is acceptable to BFD.
Separate from the FPPM training, there are new expectations associated with the Construction Fire Safety Plan contents. Specifically, the following must be included with each submission to BFD:
- The NFPA FPPM Certificate for the FPPM and any AFPPMs.
- For any project that includes a standpipe (new construction of a building with a standpipe, or a renovation, demolition, or tenant fitout in a building that has standpipes), BFD is additionally requiring an affidavit that an FPPM is assigned the project. The affidavit includes contact information for the FPPMs (primary and alternate) and the building owner, and must be signed by the licensed builder responsible for the project. This affidavit is available on BFD’s Fire Prevention Division’s website, a link to the affidavit is provided below.
These new expectations are intended to bolster the already robust construction fire safety requirements in the city. As the pace of construction and the complexity of the projects continues, well-trained FPPMs on projects will help to ensure that the NFPA 241 Plans are followed. This should result in a reduction in hazards that contribute to construction fires and accidents.
If you have questions about this new training requirement, please contact our office at 617-500-7633 or info@crcfire.com to speak with our construction fire safety team.
The link to the NFPA Fire Prevention Program Manager Training:
https://catalog.nfpa.org/Fire-Prevention-Program-Manager-Online-Training-Series-P21761.aspx
The link to the BFD NFPA 241 Affidavit:
https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2023/01/NFPA%20241%20Affidavit_1.pdf