The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has asked a Superior Court in Boston to dismiss with prejudice all remaining claims from its 2023 lawsuit against NFPA regarding standards development and firefighter protective gear. Dismissing a case “with prejudice” means that the IAFF cannot file the same suit against NFPA again.
This afternoon, NFPA released a statement from President and CEO Jim Pauley that read in part:
“As NFPA stated from the very beginning, the IAFF’s legal strategy was misguided and not supported by the facts. A portion of the lawsuit was dismissed in March 2024, and it was clear from the discovery process that remaining claims had no basis. We are pleased that they have asked the court to dismiss all claims.
This outcome underscores that NFPA’s consensus-based process is the right forum for discussions about standards—one where all voices can be heard and all material is carefully considered by technical committee members in a transparent, inclusive manner.”
To read the full statement and background on the case, please visit the NFPA Newsroom.
To learn more about the history of firefighter gear standard development, visit this historical timeline.