NFPA codes open for public comment

NFPA codes open for public comment

Two major National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes affecting health care facilities are open for public comment. The second drafts of the 2027 editions of NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, and NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, have been posted for review and commenting. The commenting window for both documents closes June 3, 2025, and the second draft reports will be posted online March 3, 2026. After the second drafts are released, NFPA will open its amending motion process. Allowable motions will be discussed at the 2026 NFPA Technical Meeting and voted upon before the 2027 editions are finalized.

FGI publishes new errata for 2022 Guidelines

The Facility Guidelines Institute published new errata on its 2022 Hospital and Outpatient Guidelines. The errata apply to guidelines on medication safety zones and hand-washing stations. One update includes clarification on medication preparation rooms or areas that contain self-contained medication dispensing units, automated medication-dispensing stations or other approved systems. The update on hand-washing stations includes deleted text and additional text to clarify the required provisions for hand drying at hand-washing stations.

FDA adopts new standard for hyperbaric chambers

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has officially recognized the 2024 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 99, Health Care Facilities Code, as the consensus standard for hyperbaric chamber devices. In its update, the FDA cites NFPA 99-2024, as offering the latest performance criteria for health care facilities and appliances, including provisions for installation, inspection, maintenance and testing. This update supersedes FDA’s recognition of NFPA 99-2021, and new hyperbaric chamber devices in the market will be expected to comply with the 2024 code starting Dec. 26, 2026.

Administration extends national emergency

The Trump administration announced that it is extending a national emergency declaration that was initially made in 2015 regarding significant malicious cyber-enabled threats and activities. The executive order states that the increasing prevalence and severity of cyber activity and threats originating from or directed by persons outside of the United States continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the U.S.’s national security, foreign policy and economy. The order goes on to authorize sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for or complicit in certain malicious cyber-enabled threats and activities. The administration extended the national emergency for another year. It is set to expire March 27, 2026.