What the NFPA 2025 Conference revealed about fire safety failures worldwide
Iain Hoey
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NFPA 2025 Conference & Expo addresses global fire and life safety challenges
The NFPA’s 2025 Conference & Expo featured international discussions on fire and life safety challenges, framed around the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem model.
First introduced in 2018, the Ecosystem concept remains central to NFPA’s international outreach, and was the subject of multiple presentations during the Las Vegas event.
According to the NFPA, the model supports collaborative strategies for emerging risks, including those involving lithium-ion batteries, wildfires and high-rise buildings under construction or renovation.
Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA, said the Ecosystem framework is intended to support risk reduction by focusing on six interconnected factors: government responsibility, code compliance, reference standards, workforce competency, safety investment and emergency readiness.
The NFPA stated that its Conference & Expo aims to provide a space for debate and exchange of practical knowledge, especially in countries with increasing demand for systematic safety strategies.
ADCDA wins 2025 Ecosystem Global Influencer Award
The NFPA presented its 2025 Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem Global Influencer Award to the Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority (ADCDA) during the Stars at Night awards ceremony.
The award was launched in 2024 to recognise international organisations demonstrating long-term commitment to fire and life safety through the Ecosystem model.
The NFPA reported that ADCDA was recognised for a three-year certification programme delivered in partnership with the NFPA, which supports advanced training for engineers, inspectors and hazardous materials specialists.
ADCDA’s use of updated codes and enforcement practices, alongside proactive public outreach, was described by NFPA as an example of system-wide implementation of safety measures.
Jim Pauley, President and CEO of NFPA, said: “Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority’s commitment to innovation, training, and outreach has contributed to measurable gains in public safety … A reported 64 percent reduction in fire deaths per 100,000 people since 2021.”
Grenfell session revisits breakdown of safety components
The NFPA hosted a dedicated session on the legacy of the Grenfell Tower Fire as part of the 2025 Conference & Expo programme.
According to the NFPA, the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire was one of the events that informed the creation of the Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, following identified failures in codes and systems.
Jim Pauley introduced the session, titled “Grenfell Tower: Legacy, Lessons, and the Path Forward”, which focused on systemic failings and the conclusions of the two-phase inquiry report published in 2024.
Professor Jose Torero Cullen of University College London, who served as an expert witness during the inquiry, presented on the preventable nature of the fire and the knowledge gaps that contributed to the outcome.
Torero said: “The Grenfell Tower fire reflected a systematic erosion of safety. Everything that happened was foreseeable and the knowledge to prevent it existed.”
NFPA Research Director Birgitte Messerschmidt chaired a panel Q&A that examined how failures in all six elements of the Ecosystem contributed to the disaster.
Mega project fire safety discussed in Middle East session
The NFPA reported that a session titled “Building the Future: Mega Projects Fire and Life Safety Challenges” addressed safety risks in large-scale construction efforts.
The discussion took place Monday morning during the Conference & Expo and explored the complexity of safety planning in mega projects such as hospitals, transport systems and large commercial builds.
According to NFPA, these projects present heightened safety concerns due to overlapping stakeholder responsibilities, extended timelines and the scale of operations.
Speakers identified the Middle East as a region with rapid growth in mega infrastructure developments, where fire and life safety strategies must be embedded from the outset.
The session featured a café-style format allowing fire safety professionals and engineers to share regional experiences and operational recommendations.
NFPA said these interactive sessions are designed to support mutual learning across jurisdictions, especially where large projects are underway or in planning.
Latin America mini conference focuses on NFPA codes
NFPA stated that its 2025 Conference & Expo included a dedicated Spanish-language mini conference titled “Focus on Latin America: Sessions in Spanish”.
The programme runs across multiple days and includes eight sessions tailored to fire safety challenges across South and Central America.
Dawnia Greene, Senior Programme Manager for International Business Development at NFPA, reported that over 100 attendees from across the region registered for the sessions.
According to the NFPA, use of its codes and standards has expanded significantly across Latin America in recent years, prompting the need for more region-specific content and peer exchange.
The sessions provide a platform for fire safety officials and engineers from Latin America to engage directly with code specialists and fellow professionals.
The mini conference is part of NFPA’s stated goal to support international knowledge-sharing and reduce fire risks through consistent safety practices.
NFPA 2025 Conference & Expo addresses global fire and life safety challenges: Summary
The NFPA held its 2025 Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.
The event featured sessions focused on the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem.
The Ecosystem includes six areas: government responsibility, code compliance, standards, workforce skills, safety investment and emergency preparedness.
Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO, said these components must all be in place for safety systems to be effective.
The NFPA awarded Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Authority the 2025 Ecosystem Global Influencer Award.
The award recognised ADCDA’s three-year training programme and commitment to updated codes.
The Grenfell Tower fire in London was discussed in a dedicated session.
Professor Jose Torero said the fire was preventable and reflected systemic failures.
NFPA also hosted a session on safety in mega infrastructure projects.
The session highlighted fire safety issues in large-scale construction, especially in the Middle East.
A mini conference focused on Latin America was held in Spanish.
NFPA reported rising use of its codes and standards across South and Central America.
The organisation said over 100 people registered for the Latin America sessions.