Cote honored by AFSA
By Staff -- Plant Engineering, 10/1/2006
Arthur E. Cote, executive vice president and chief engineer of the National Fire Protection Association and vice-chairman of the board of directors of the American National Standards Institute, has been honored with the Henry S. Parmelee Award – the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s most prestigious mark of distinction. The award recognizes an individual for outstanding achievement and commitment to the advancement of the automatic fire sprinkler industry and fire safety through automatic sprinklers.
Cote is widely recognized for his dedication and accomplishments in furthering fire protection through standards. A former secretary of the NFPA Standards Council, he is responsible for the overall administration of NFPA’s codes and standards development process, which spans more than 300 fire safety codes and standards in the National Fire Codes. His career spans four decades.
“Art’s tireless and long-standing support of safety standards and the standards development process have had truly far-reaching impact,” said Robert W. Noth, chairman of the ANSI board of directors.
“His efforts at the NFPA have without a doubt raised the level of fire safety in the nation,” added S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO.
During the 1980’s Cote played an instrumental role in NFPA tests examining the use of retrofitted sprinklers in homes and hotels. The tests are credited with having promoted public awareness on the importance of automatic sprinkler systems in reducing loss of life in fires.
