Which term refers to something that is already in existence on the date the edition goes into effect and is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction?

• A. Existing
• B. Approved Existing
• C. Equivalency
• D. Evacuation Capability

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that something can stay as it is if it already exists and the authority having jurisdiction has formally approved it. In NFPA 101 terms, an item that was in place on the edition’s effective date and has been reviewed and accepted by the AHJ is described as “approved existing.” That approval by the AHJ is what makes the existing condition permissible, even if it doesn’t fully meet the new edition’s requirements. If it isn’t approved, it wouldn’t be allowed to remain and would need to be brought into compliance or replaced.

The other terms don’t capture both elements together: “existing” describes the condition, but not the AHJ’s acceptance; “equivalency” refers to meeting the code’s safety intent through an alternate design or method; “evacuation capability” concerns whether safe egress is possible, not the status of the existing condition.