The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has dedicated the 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook (FPH) to Kathleen H. Almand, former NFPA vice president of Research, Data & Analytics and retired executive director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA.

“It is fitting that a book considered the stalwart of fire and life safety prevention and protection be dedicated to Kathleen, whose career was marked with extraordinary service, dedication, and commitment to fire protection engineering,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “Kathleen is a leader and a mentor to many and her unwavering support to those in the fire and life safety fields is an inspiration to us all and continues today.”  

As NFPA vice president and FPRF executive director from 2004 – 2019, Almand oversaw a transformation of the FPRF, NFPA’s research strategy, research on fire problems and other safety issues, data collection efforts to maintain NFPA’s fire incident and fire service databases, and NFPA’s Research Library. During her tenure at NFPA, she became a leading advocate for women engineers and those in pursuit of a STEM education. She earned a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Ottawa and before joining NFPA served as executive director of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. 

One of the organization’s most significant publications, the Fire Protection Handbook is a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind reference guide of fire and life safety prevention and protection information for students and professionals across a wide range of industries worldwide. 

Through 21 editions and its 126 years of impact on safety, NFPA has regularly updated the Handbook’s contents according to industry trends, the latest training methods, case studies, and code requirements at the time of publication. The new edition reflects the very latest fire protection and fire safety information, research and data, emerging technologies, and safety practices, and forms the required body of knowledge for candidates pursing the NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) exam, internally recognized as the gold standard in certification for fire protection professionals to demonstrate their proficiency in fire safety, protection, prevention, and suppression technologies. 

The 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook is now available for pre-order with an expected delivery date in early March. Visit the NFPA catalog for more information. To receive timely updates on related training and the updated CFPS exam, visit the NFPA website. 

For this release and other announcements about NFPA initiatives, research and resources, please visit the NFPA press room.