NFPA (Fire) 418 Historical

Provide fire protection and life safety in heliports with essential provisions in NFPA 418, Standard for Heliports.

NFPA 418, Standard for Heliports, is essential for code officials and facility managers in settings such hospitals where additions or modifications could dramatically impact the safety of patients and health care or aircraft personnel. The fire service relies on NFPA 418 for pre-incident planning, with provisions concerning firefighting access points, egress routes, and fixed fire protection systems, as well as aircraft refueling equipment.

This standard establishes minimum fire safety requirements for operation at heliports for the protection of people and property. Engineers, designers, contractors, and installers need these vital requirements to ensure a minimum level of safety in all types of heliports or helipads, including those in hospitals, airports, offshore platforms, and tourist attractions.

Facilities and equipment covered include:

• Fire alarm systems
• Foam protection systems, standpipe systems, and water supply
• General requirements for land-based facilities, including egress systems
• Helicopter refueling equipment and fuel storage tanks
• Offshore heliports
• Portable fire extinguishers
• Rooftop hangars
• Rooftop landing facilities

New in the 2021 edition:

• Several foam requirements are changed, including the duration of foam discharge for hose line systems from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.
• A new requirement in Chapter 5 allows for manual firefighting equipment, as approved by the AHJ.
• There's a new reserved chapter for vertiports and vertistops. The technical committee will request public input during the next revision cycle so that stakeholders can help create the specific requirements.

A unique tool for fire protection and life safety

NFPA 418, Standard for Heliports, includes annexes on heliport emergency planning and training for safety personnel and for establishing extinguishing agent quantities and discharge rates. Order your copy today. (Print, 18 pp., 2021)