QUINCY, MA — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has revised its standards for means of egress, concluding that the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA’s) 2000 edition of the Life Safety Code® provides comparable safety to OSHA’s Exit Routes Standard. The OSHA final rule, which becomes effective Dec. 7, 2002, permits employers to comply with NFPA 101-2000 in order to meet means of egress standards.

“OSHA’s revision to the federal egress is a noteworthy benefit to employers and the general public,” said NFPA president James M. Shannon. “Today, more than ever, people are aware of the enormous benefits of a fast and thorough emergency building evacuation. The state-of-the-art egress provisions found in the Life Safety Code make an important contribution to public safety.”

According to NFPA, the Life Safety Code, which is used in every U.S. state and adopted statewide in 34 states, sets minimum building design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements necessary to protect building occupants from dangers caused by fire, smoke, and toxic fumes. The Life Safety Code also provides prompt escape requirements for new and existing buildings, including healthcare occupancies.