The 1995 edition of NFPA 115, Recommended Practice on Laser Fire Protection Code, was issued by the Standards Council on July 21, 1995 with an effective date of August 11, 1995. This edition of NFPA 115 was approved as an American National Standard on August 11, 1995. The Technical Committee must present this document to the NFPA Standards Council for final adoption as a Standard into the NFPA Codes. The committee's design intent is to adequately address laser fire hazards not specifically addressed by other NFPA documents. Public authorities and others are urged to reference this document in laws, ordinances, regulations, and administrative orders or similar instruments. Please note, that in the NFPA Procedures Statement it specifically states: "NFPA has no power or authority to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document, and any certification of products stating compliance with the requirements of this document is made at the peril of the certifier". This authority is reserved for the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The phrase "authority having jurisdiction" is used in a broad manner because jurisdictions and approving agencies vary with their responsibilities. In the interest of public safety, the statutory authority on the federal, state, or local level could be the fire chief, the fire marshal, the building official, the electrical inspector, the health department, the fire prevention bureau, the labor department or any others having statutory authority. In many instances, the property owner of his agent assumes the responsibilities of the AHJ. At government installations, the commanding officer or departmental official may be the authority having jurisdiction. Thus, we see that jurisdiction and responsibility are not only broad and concurrent, but we must be mindful that the code articles are also subject to interpretation by each responsible AHJ. The most effective method of eliminating conflicting, inconsistent or incorrect interpretations and applications of the Code is the development of a Handbook with illustrative drawings showing not only the correct installation design, but also the incorrect designs with explanatory material detailing exactly what is wrong and how this hazard should be eliminated.
