NFPA Journal - Winter 2024 - 30

impact that's going to have on the occupants and
the fire service. "
Critical need for guidance
Beyond these, countless other issues related to batteries
are rapidly emerging. New battery chemistries
involving sodium mixtures appear close to being
market-ready, and other novel battery types are in
development. There are proposals in the Middle East
to turn some of the world's tallest skyscrapers into
giant batteries, utilizing gravity to generate power.
There are increasingly battery-powered ships and
ferries cruising the high seas, raising new questions
and creating additional safety concerns.
As the first wave of mass-consumer battery technology
ages, there is a growing market for reused
and recycled batteries from EVs and other systems.
Many of these cheaper batteries, which will likely have
higher failure rates than new batteries, will be sent to
markets in low- and- middle-income countries that
don't have robust fire protection or well-resourced
fire departments to deal with the hazards. How these
recycled batteries will be safely stored and transported
is another question. Decommissioning and disposal of
batteries at the end of their lives is yet another area of
research deserving more focus.
All of these considerations inform the discussion
around creating a new NFPA battery code. While the
scope of the proposed code is not yet finalized, the
document is expected to address protection across
the array of settings where batteries of all types are
made, used, and stored. This includes guidance for
lithium-ion battery manufacturing and assembly
facilities, warehouses and retail stores, and transportation
by road, rail, sea, and air. The code may also
include chapters on protection guidance for battery
storage systems, EVs, micromobility devices, marine
vessels, and waste management and recycling
need to protect lives
and property. "
The launch of the AEN
is part of NFPA's response
to the growing need for
consistent, high-quality, inperson
safety training for an
array of industries worldwide.
With its reputation as the
leading authority in fire,
electrical, and life safety,
NFPA and its Authorized
Education Network will
enable organizations to
enhance their training
programs by delivering
NFPA-developed courses
led by NFPA-approved
instructors.
" As I've traveled to
Batteries and Beyond
NFPA launches its Authorized Education Network to
meet growing global demand for safety training
The global fire and life
safety challenges related to
lithium-ion batteries were
a key factor in the creation
of an important new NFPA
education effort.
In September, NFPA
announced the launch of
its Authorized Education
Network (AEN), a global
initiative designed to meet
the increasing demand for
high-quality safety training.
Through the AEN, NFPAapproved
instructors will
deliver NFPA training courses
via a network of authorized
training providers, offering
unparalleled access to the
expertise that professionals
worldwide rely on to address
evolving safety challenges.
" With the NFPA
Authorized Education
Network, we're taking
a major step forward in
expanding access to the
world-class training that
NFPA is known for, " said
NFPA President and CEO
Jim Pauley. " This initiative
will help meet the huge
global demand for official
NFPA instructor-led training,
ensuring that safety
professionals everywhere
have the knowledge,
information, and skills they
conferences around the
world, I've heard many likeminded,
safety-focused
organizations express
interest in delivering NFPA
training, " said Bartholomew
Jae, director of education
and development at NFPA.
" Authorized network
training providers will bring
authentic NFPA training to
their audiences with the
help of NFPA-approved
instructors, professionals
who have both technical and
teaching experience with
NFPA codes and standards.
Professional students
will receive official NFPA
training certificates and
verifiable digital badges and
can be confident they are
completing authentic
NFPA training. "
The program will be
enabled by proprietary
learning management
technology that will
facilitate the creation and
management of AEN training
classes, Jae said.
Potential providers
include training companies,
higher-education
institutions, consulting
companies that provide
training as a service, safety
system manufacturers
providing training to their
customers, and internal
training organizations
seeking to improve their
safety competence
and culture.
The AEN will offer some
of NFPA's most soughtafter
instructor-led training
courses, covering topics
such as building and life
safety, fire protection
systems, electrical safety,
industrial and chemical
hazards, emergency
response, and NFPA
certification preparation.
Most courses will be
available on the latest
editions of NFPA codes and
standards, with a selection
also offered in Spanish. As
the program evolves, NFPA
will continue to update and
expand its course offerings.
NFPA is now accepting
applications for both
authorized training
providers and NFPAapproved
instructors.
To learn more about the
NFPA Authorized Education
Network, visit us online at
nfpa.org/AEN.
30 | NFPA JOURNAL * WINTER 2024
http://www.nfpa.org/AEN
NFPA Journal - Winter 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Winter 2024
