Episode Summary:
NFPA President Jim Pauley joins host Drew Slocum to trace how 130 years of codes and standards—from NFPA 13 to the Life Safety Code—were forged by tragedy and continually updated to keep pace with new risks. He explains NFPA’s self-funded nonprofit model (not government-funded) and why broad awareness campaigns like “Code for Every Moment” and the social-first “Reverse Renovations” matter as politics and delayed adoptions chip away at safety. Pauley also unpacks the Pro Codes Act—how it protects the copyright that funds standards while still guaranteeing public read access—and warns about AI “hallucinations” creeping into life-safety answers, making the case for vetted, domain-specific models that support (not replace) the trades. If you care about safe buildings, consistent adoption, and trustworthy guidance in the AI era, this conversation is a must-listen.
