NFPA 232-2017 PDF Download

The NFPA 232-2017 standard aims to reduce the risk of fire damage and loss of business records, including electronic media. It highlights the importance of adequately protecting valuable and often irreplaceable business records, even in fire-resistive buildings. The standard provides requirements for records protection equipment, facilities, and handling techniques to safeguard records in various media forms from the hazards of fire.

The 2017 edition of NFPA 232 introduces several updates. It includes guidance on the storage of electronic media, specifically referencing the NFPA 75 standard for the fire protection of information technology equipment. Additionally, new subcategories have been created to address record definitions such as record medium, record type, and record status. The standard also emphasizes the use of fire resistance ratings instead of the term "fire resistance."

This standard is crucial for engineers, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), facility managers, insurance companies, and manufacturers as they need to stay informed about the latest requirements and practices for protecting business records.