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On September 11 and 12, the committee developing the new version of the “Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Detection and Warning Equipment,” National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 715, met for the second draft meeting. APGA staff attended the meeting to review and discuss public comments submitted in response to the NFPA 715 second draft. 
 
On May 30, APGA submitted comments pertaining to the second draft. APGA’s language proposals included changes to two sections of NFPA 715 – Section 5.8.5.3.1, Requirements for Fuel Gas Detectors, and 9.4.1.1, Fuel Gas Alarms and Detectors.  
 
During the second draft meeting, committee members reviewed and addressed all public comments submitted, including APGA’s concerns submitted in May. Specifically, a key issue was addressed by allowing for only one detector to be installed per grouping of appliances, when multiple appliances are near each other, if the detector is centrally installed within the group. This change will create flexibility for the installation of fuel gas detectors and resolve the previously proposed burdensome constraint that each gas appliance requires its own gas detector. 
 
APGA is encouraged by the work of the committee to address the concerns voiced in the public comments and looks forward to future engagement on the committee. APGA would like to especially thank Bob Torbin from Omegaflex for his work to form appropriate language that successfully addressed APGA’s concerns.  
 
For questions on this article, please contact Sydney Novoa of APGA by phone at 202-464-0834 or email at snovoa@apga.org.