scope:

Purpose and Methodology

The 1996 edition of the National Fire Codes includes a comprehensive index prepared for the Codes. Not only are individual standards indexed by subject, but major topics within those standards are also indexed. Thus the index serves as a comprehensive reference guide to the entire set of National Fire Codes and should make it an even more valuable tool for you, the user.

In addition, vitually all standards are indexed separately, with the index following the text for the standard. These individual indexes include more detail than the master index and can be used either as a follow-up to the master index or as a direct reference tool, if you know the specific standard you want to reference.

Those few standards that were not indexed individually did not lend themselves to that process. Examples are documents such as NFPA 902M and 903, which explain how to complete forms, and NFPA 49, which is an alphabetical listing of hazardous chemicals with relevant data on each.

The master index is not simply a merging of the individual indexes, but a complete reworking of them in an attempt to ensure that related reference to different standards are found together. Thus, references to "Sprinkler systems" from a variety of standards will be found under that main entry.