The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the Designer’s Illustrated Guide to NFPA 101 in early January 2008. DAI's Senior Vice President of Quality Assurance, Donald P. Leonard, NCARB, is the author and illustrator of this valuable companion to NFPA 101. Donald was approached by a representative from NFPA who attended his Codes as Design Criteria educational lecture at the Build Boston Conference in 2000. They explored the potential of preparing and publishing an Illustrated Guide to NFPA 101,  ultimately signing an agreement. The purpose of the book is to provide the designer with a written and visual Guide to NFPA 101 from a designer’s perspective by approaching specific code provisions as design criteria and at the same time, offer design options to achieve a successful, code compliant design.

Donald was acknowledged by the Boston Architectural College for outstanding scholarly achievement at a special event in May. The NFPA promoted the book with other new releases at the AIA Convention held in Boston, also in May. Those interested in purchasing the book can go to nfpacatalog.org to place an order.