NFPA seeks feedback on content strategy; working to provide easy access and solution-based products

The changes that have occurred in the publishing industry over the last several years are enough to make your head spin. E-book sales in 2011 have surged, surpassing most industry expert’s predictions. Technology has offered us Kindles, Nooks, IPADs, tablets, smart phones, the list goes on and on.  The way that we purchase, customize and consume content is remarkably different than it was even 12 months ago. 

NFPA, more so than many organizations is dramatically affected by these changes and has an enormous opportunity to use technology to further our reach and provide customers with more enhanced content. Our most constant questions are, “How can we ensure greater access to our codes and standards,and how can we meet our customer needs by providing timely, relevant content in various formats for consumption on different devices?”

Well, we start with an ambitious and innovative vision about how we will develop and distribute content. It is NFPA’s Vision for Content Strategy. Our goal  is to be a leader in wider and easier access to our basic codes and standards content while providing solution based products that help meet your needs and job requirements. We add some guiding principles about how and what we develop as products.

If we are successful in providing greater access to our codes and standards we not only fulfill our mission but expand it.  If we give customers better tools, we are also successful.

We would love to hear your thoughts. Take a look at the content strategy and share your thoughts with us. Tell us if you think this vision will help meet your needs and expectations in the future. Tell us if you think we are on the right track. Our aspiration is that we can harness new technology to do what we do best -- to protect and save lives.

It's easy to give feedback: Just click on the "COMMENTS" link below to get started.

Kim Fontes
Division Director, NFPA Product Development

Comments

[Sharon Gamache]

Thanks for sharing this description of the new content strategy.

[Lee Kolm]

I just bought a book by Black and Decker called "Codes for Homeowners" for my own use at home. It has a large electrical section and reminds me of Mike Robert's observation that consumers might be a new customer segment for information about the codes. I'm doing some remodeling and found this book tremendously helpful.

[Lynn Kenney]

Lee, that is a very interesting observation. Thanks for posting!

[Dwight Havens]

Electronic versions of the code with their search capabilities have greatly enhanced my ability to quickly find the information that I an looking for. Unfortunately, the more e-based we have become, the greater the security challenges for importing information have become. Currently unable to purchase your Adobe based documents because they cannot be opened once they pass through security filters. Other Adobe based documents work fine. What is unique about yours, that could be causing this problem? I have to purchase paper copies in the meantime.

[Sheila McShane]

The content strategy seems to be well thought out with a careful balance recognizing emerging technology and also NFPA's business needs. It does seem a relevant challenge given the speed of technology. The search technolgy seems especially significant in that there is a short window of time when people are searching for specific code information for their own purposes.

[Mark Reeder]

NFPA 110 is a life safety code I use every day. Part of my service is to make sure people are compliant and I primarily deal with hospitals. I take readings on equipment in hostile environments with multi megawatt generators running and cannot hold a laptop with one hand while I type with the other. When my windows tablet failed I was unable to replace it with anything but an android or iPad.

When I pay almost $1.00 per page for any publication I feel I own that copy. My name and a legal statement are printed on every single page! I can not use that purchase anywhere but a desk. Any other literature is easily accessible on my iPad.

Picture me asking a Hospital Engineering Director to “come outside so I can get a cellular signal to link up to my office computer. Then if we can get a cellular signal we can look at what the code says and decide the best way to meet this code.” Most engineers do not want to waste the time.

My resolution has been to say “I have to wait until I get to my computer and I will try to copy and paste the regulation we are talking about into an email so we can discuss it. If it is on the chart for recommended maintenance I can not copy and paste that so get your copy out and look it up so we can talk”.

Next I must drive numerous miles there and back for a scheduled meeting to discuss what could have been handled in 15 minutes while I was on site with material I purchased for $1.00 per page. [This is one code and I require 2 versions]

My fear as a NFPA member is that important codes are not accessible to people who use them every day. As a member of the NFPA I am concerned that soon different codes will be adopted that are accessible to everyone for a reasonable price with easy access rendering the NFPA inert.

My solution would be a standard pdf download with the companies name on each page. I would then allow companies that became members at a corporate rate based on the number of employees to have unlimited access with a cooperate name and the proprietary statement on each page . This would further imbed the NFPA into the reference for all government enforcement agencies.
In the state of Florida ACHA the authority having jurisdiction has not updated to the most recent code. Is this due to the cost for the state and all the people who must abide by it? Currently the people who must live by these codes are looking for an alternate solution that is more cost effective and usable.
Buying each code for each employee and each computer does not sound like a non profit corporation solution. The cost exceeds what most for profit corporations charge for literature and is not useable on more than 1 computer and is not available for a tablet.

As a member of NFPA I believe this is a large step towards pricing the NFPA out of business and should be adressed.