Legrand Celebrates as Life-Saving GFCI Technology Honored by the National Fire Protection Association

Prize recognizes GFCI technology and its pioneering innovations for significant impact on building, fire and electrical safety.

WEST HARTFORD, CT (June 22, 2022) - Legrand, a global specialist in electrical wiring and network solutions, joined in celebration of GFCI technology as the concept received special recognition from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for providing Electrical Shock Hazard Protection by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) Protection. The invention of GFCI receptacles, originally developed and driven to widespread use by Legrand’s Pass & Seymour line, was honored in conjunction with all GFCI technology as winner of the 2022 Philip J. DiNenno Prize at the NFPA Conference & Expo in Boston on June 6 - 9, 2022.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) awards the Phillip J. DiNenno Prize each year to recognize pioneering innovations that have significantly impacted building, fire, and electrical safety. The 2022 DiNenno Prize selection reflects a departure from the traditional recognition of one or more individuals who have played a pivotal role in the creation of a fire and life safety technology. Instead, it honors the ground-breaking technology itself, as many of its innovators are no longer living.

“Legrand is elated that the NFPA chose to honor GFCI innovations, which have played an incredibly important role in improving the safety of homes for half a century,” says Scott Bausch, Legrand’s Vice President and General Manager for the Pass & Seymour product line. “Since our Pass & Seymour line launched the first-ever GFCI receptacle 50 years ago, the safety and protection this device has provided has helped shape modern electrical code and, most importantly, saved a lot of lives. Innovating for electrical safety is not only our legacy; it continues to be one of our top priorities. So having the invaluable impact of our GFCI products recognized for this is truly an honor.”

Since its initial inception in the 1940s, GFCI technology has evolved into a series of sophisticated protection devices that have drastically reduced the number of tragedies caused by electric shock, saving thousands of individuals from severe injury or worse within their homes and other environments over the last five decades. 

“GFCI technology in itself is very important in electrical safety, saving hundreds of lives per year,” said Craig Beyler,DiNenno Selection and Prize Committee Chair. The DiNenno Prize typically features a $50,000 award to its recipients. In absence of living recipients, the Phoenix Burn Society for Burn Survivors and the Electrical Fire Safety International (ESFI) have been selected as the beneficiaries of the prize and will each receive a cash donation to support their work in reducing loss from electrical hazards.

The award was officially presented at the NFPA “Stars at Night” award ceremony in coordination with the NFPA Conference & Expo (C&E) in Boston on June 6 - 9, 2022. Jack Wells, who managed the launch and market adoption of the earliest Pass & Seymour GFCI receptacles, served as a legacy presenter of the DiNenno prize alongside Henry Zylstra, who also played a critical role in the advancement of GFCI technology.

For more information, please visit www.legrand.us.


About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America 
Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings—including Eliot* connected products with enhanced value in use. Legrand reported sales of over €6.6 billion ($7.4 billion) in 2019. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and product lines. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40 and Euronext ESG 80 indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819).
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