The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and ASIS International (ASIS) recently hosted a joint stakeholder meeting to address active shooting incidents. More than 100 experts from the security, fire, law enforcement, EMS, life safety, professional associations and government fields discussed existing resources, the crossover between security and fire disciplines, operational solutions, management procedures, building design and construction issues, and cost considerations with an emphasis on preparation and planning. The intent of the collaborative effort was, and will continue to be, to examine gaps and exchange knowledge as they relate to active shooter events.
A summary of the day’s discussions is available online. Areas of focus include:
- Defining “active shooter” and reviewing FBI statistics
- Assessing technology, management needs and budgets
- Considering public and private sector concerns
- Identifying competing goals between security safety and fire safety practices
- Examining the status of legal and regulatory issues
The group concluded that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and identified a need for guidance that can be tailored to the conditions and resource constraints of a wide range of organizations.
“There is no simple solution to the problem of active shooters, but by convening some of the leading minds on this subject we hope to create scalable guidance to minimize the likelihood and consequences of these events,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, commissioner, Global Standards Initiative, ASIS International.
“By bringing together members of the security and fire safety communities, ASIS and NFPA are taking important steps to define strategies that will protect people as well as physical assets,” said Robert Solomon, division manager, Building Fire Protection and Life Safety, NFPA. “Gathering the best practices from stakeholders and influencers will allow us to formulate necessary guidance so that individuals and organizations can mitigate, survive and recover from these incidents.”
Security practitioners and organizations interested in receiving additional information on this initiative should contact standards@asisonline.org.
About ASIS International
ASIS International (ASIS) is the largest membership organization for security management professionals that crosses industry sectors, embracing every discipline along the security spectrum from operational to cybersecurity. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of security professionals at all levels.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
