The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering has announced that they are accepting registrations for their inaugural symposium to discuss the principles of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem and its application to address today's fire safety issues. The symposium, slated for September 28th and 29thon the campus of the University, will bring together top researchers, academics, risk managers, code officials, engineers, architects, fire service personnel, public policy makers, and urban planners who will present, collaborate and apply learnings of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem to the modern-day built environment.

“We are excited to host this unique event that will not only discuss all aspects of today’s fire problem, but inspire collaborative action to reduce loss,” said Dr. Jim Milke, chair of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering. This will be a roll up your sleeves and help solve today’s challenges together type event.”

Unveiled in 2018, the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem is a framework that identifies the components that must work together to minimize risk and help prevent loss, injuries, and death from fire, electrical, and other hazards. There are eight key components in the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem. These components are interdependent. When they work together, the Ecosystem protects everyone. If any component is missing or broken, the Ecosystem can collapse, often resulting in tragedy.

“Fire and life safety is not one dimensional, it is a system,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “Almost always we can trace the cause of injurious life safety incidents and tragedies back to the breakdown of one or more components of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem. This event is a catalyst for better connecting the dots amongst those who play a role in safety.”

Featured speakers include the following:

• John Barylick, Author, KILLER SHOW: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert
• Chris Connealy, former Texas State Fire Marshal
• Benjamin Ditch, AVP, Sr. Lead Research Engineer, FM Global
• Professor Margaret Mcnamee, Division of Fire Safety Engineering, Lund University, Sweden
• Birgitte Messerschmidt, Director, Applied Research Group, NFPA
• Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO.

The event is limited to 180 participants. To register, please visit the Ecosystem pages at the University of Maryland.

For more information, including sponsorship opportunities and additional symposium details, contact enfp@umd.edu.