Subpart L
The Appendix exists to provide advisory references that can help employers understand and implement the fire protection requirements in Subpart L. Appendix C lists consensus standards, handbooks, and trade-group publications (for example, NFPA and ANSI documents) that provide technical guidance related to the Subpart L rules. See 1910 Subpart L Appendix C.
Appendix C points employers to the National Fire Protection Association's Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, commonly referenced as NFPA 10, for guidance on selection, installation, inspection and maintenance of portable extinguishers. This recommendation is listed in the Appendix under 1910.157.
Appendix C recommends several NFPA documents for fire brigades and firefighter qualifications, including NFPA 27 (Private Fire Brigades), NFPA 197 (Initial Fire Attack, Training Standard On), NFPA 1001 (Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications), and NFPA 1201/1202 (organization standards). These references are listed to help employers implement the requirements in 1910.156.
Appendix C references NFPA installation and hose standards for standpipe and hose systems, including NFPA 13 (sprinkler installation), NFPA 14 (standpipe and hose systems), NFPA 20 (centrifugal fire pumps), NFPA 22 (water tanks for private fire protection), NFPA 194 (hose connections), NFPA 196 (fire hose), and NFPA 198 (care of fire hose). These appear under the Appendix entry for 1910.158.
Appendix C lists NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems) and NFPA 13A (care and maintenance of sprinkler systems) as primary technical references for implementing the requirements of 1910.159.
Appendix C recommends agent-specific NFPA standards for fixed extinguishing systems, such as NFPA 11 (foam extinguishing systems), NFPA 11A (high-expansion foam), NFPA 11B (synthetic foam/combined agents), NFPA 12 (carbon dioxide systems), NFPA 12A/12B (Halon standards historically), NFPA 15 (water spray systems), NFPA 16 (foam-water spray/sprinkler), and NFPA 17 (dry chemical). These references are listed to support 1910.160.
Appendix C points to NFPA 17 (Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing Systems) for technical requirements on dry chemical systems and also references the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, for electrical aspects. These references are listed with the Appendix guidance for 1910.161.
Appendix C recommends NFPA standards for gaseous-agent systems including NFPA 12 (CO2), NFPA 12B (Halon 1301/1211 historically), NFPA 69 (explosion prevention systems), and NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) for electrical safety. These are cited in the Appendix entry tied to 1910.162.
Appendix C lists NFPA 11 (foam extinguishing systems), NFPA 11A (high expansion foam), NFPA 15 (water spray fixed systems), and NFPA 16 (foam-water sprinkler and spray systems) as the principal references for water spray and foam fixed extinguishing systems associated with 1910.163.
Appendix C recommends the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), NFPA 71 (Standard for Central Station Signaling Systems) and NFPA 72E (Automatic Fire Detectors) for guidance on detection and signaling systems relevant to 1910.164.
Appendix C lists NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), NFPA 71 (Central Station Signaling Systems), and the NFPA 72 series parts A–D (Local, Auxiliary, Remote, and Proprietary Protective Signaling Systems) as useful guidance for designing and maintaining employee alarm systems under 1910.165.
No — following NFPA 10 does not automatically guarantee OSHA compliance, but NFPA 10 is a key technical resource for meeting the requirements in 1910.157. Employers remain responsible for meeting the regulatory obligations of the OSHA standard; Appendix C lists NFPA 10 to help employers implement those obligations, not to replace the OSHA rule.
No — the Appendix's listings are advisory references for additional technical guidance and are not themselves OSHA requirements. Employers must comply with the text of the OSHA standards in Subpart L (for example, 1910.156 through 1910.165), and Appendix C simply points to consensus standards that can be used to help meet those obligations (see 1910 Subpart L Appendix C).
Appendix C references ANSI/NFPA 1971 (Protective Clothing for Structural Fire Fighting) for turnout gear and also lists consensus standards for protective footwear and eye protection such as ANSI Z41.1 (safety-toe footwear) and ANSI Z87.1 (eye and face protection) as useful for implementing 1910.156.
Appendix C points employers to Compressed Gas Association publications, including C-1 (Methods for Hydrostatic Testing of Compressed Gas Cylinders) and C-6 (Standard for Visual Inspection of Compressed Gas Cylinders), as references associated with the portable extinguisher requirements in 1910.157.
Yes — Appendix C specifically lists NFPA 72 (the series for fire alarm and signaling systems) and NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code) as useful, consensus documents to guide selection and installation of detectors and alarm components for compliance with 1910.164. Employers still must meet the OSHA performance-based requirements in the standard itself.
Appendix C points to the ANSI/NFPA 10 standard for portable extinguisher selection and also mentions industry selection guides such as the National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors' Portable Fire Extinguisher Selection Guide as practical resources tied to 1910.157.
Appendix C lists NFPA 12 for carbon dioxide extinguishing systems and NFPA 12A/12B (historical Halon standards) for Halon agents, along with other agent-specific NFPA standards such as NFPA 11 for foam, relevant to 1910.160. Employers should consult those NFPA standards for technical design and safety details.
Yes — Appendix C explicitly lists the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, as a reference for electrical installations related to gaseous-agent fixed extinguishing systems covered by 1910.162. Using NFPA 70 helps address electrical safety aspects associated with these systems.
Appendix C references NFPA 96 (Standard for the Installation of Equipment for the Removal of Smoke and Grease-Laden Vapor from Commercial Cooking Equipment) as the principal resource for kitchen exhaust and hood extinguishing systems related to the fixed-extinguishing sections in Subpart L (see 1910 Subpart L Appendix C).
Appendix C lists studies and guidance on firefighter physical fitness and job-related performance such as 'Testing Physical Fitness' (Davis and Santa Maria) and 'Development of a Job-Related Physical Performance Examination for Fire Fighters' (Dotson et al.), as supplemental resources to the training and qualification standards referenced under 1910.156. Employers designing firefighter training or fitness programs can consult those cited works for technical detail.