NFPA announces National Electrical Code Outstanding Volunteer Award

Mark W. Earley, former National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) chief electrical engineer and NFPA 70, National Electrical Code® (NEC®) staff liaison, has been presented the Richard G. Biermann National Electrical Code Outstanding Volunteer Award.  Earley has worked for NFPA since 1986 and served as staff liaison and secretary to the NECCorrelating Committee from 1989 until his retirement in August 2019. He has co-authored NFPA’s reference book, Electrical Installations in Hazardous Locations, and been a contributing editor to NFPA 70E®, Handbook for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. Earley’s achievements in the electrical industry include a distinguished service award from the U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission, the Meritorious Service Award from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the award for Outstanding Service to the Electrical Industry from NECA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).  “Mark has served as an outstanding expert, consistently demonstrating his commitment to the development, promotion, and advancement of the NEC,” said Christian Dubay, vice president of Engineering at NFPA. “NFPA is extremely pleased to honor Mark with this award for his exceptional accomplishments. His understanding and passion for the code-making process will continue to serve as a model for others.”  The award, created in 2016, honors the memory of Richard G. Biermann, former chair of the NECCorrelating Committee. Biermann’s service on the NEC included serving as chair of Code-Making Panel 16 and as a member of several other code-making panels. He was a member of the NFPA Standards Council and a member of NFPA’s Board of Directors. In 1995, Biermann received the Paul C. Lamb Award in recognition of his outstanding service to NFPA. Biermann, who represented the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), ran a successful electrical contracting business and during his tenure as chair of the correlating committee, devoted at least one day per week to the NEC. This award honors outstanding volunteerism on task groups, code-making panels, and the Correlating Committee, and in the promotion of the adoption and application of the NEC during the membership adoption year of the code.  Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded 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.