Monthly Technical Articles
Explore our collection of articles written by engineers, for engineers. Categorized based on the COPE approach to assessing risk within a facility, the archives below contain essential information for the development of engineers in our field.
Fire Risk During Construction and Renovation Projects
Effective risk management during construction requires treating fire prevention as a core project function, not a secondary consideration. This article will help you identify fire risk during construction and renovation projects early in the planning process so appropriate controls can be implemented to prevent costly and dangerous losses.
Navigating Flue Space Requirements: NFPA 13 vs. FM Updates
Stay ahead of the Flue Space Requirements Updates from NFPA 13 and FM to ensure your fire protection systems remain effective. This guide explores the latest standard changes and provides practical, engineered solutions for maintaining critical vertical venting in your rack storage.
Artificial Intelligence in Insurance and Property Risk Engineering: Implications for Property Loss Prevention
Artificial Intelligence is transforming property risk engineering by improving how risks are identified, analyzed, and prioritized to reduce loss.
Property Risk Engineering Priorities for 2026
The Lessons of 2025, Why Preventable Losses Persist, and What We Can Do About It If building codes were the comprehensive solution to property loss, the insurance industry would be anticipating a...
Property Loss Prevention in AI-Driven Data Centers and Cloud Computing Facilities
Protecting High-Density Compute, Lithium-Ion UPS, and Mission-Critical Infrastructure Global data use continues to compound at an exponential rate. Modern data centers form the backbone of this...
Preventing Freeze Damage in Fire Protection Systems
Winter 2025 Update Every winter, facility owners and risk engineers face the ongoing challenge of preventing freeze damage in their fire protection systems. Despite years of awareness and...
The Importance of Real-Time Notifications and Risk Management Tools - Risk Management Information System (RMIS)
October 2025 – Update from the August 2023 article Executive Summary Risk Management Information System (RMIS) platforms do a lot more than store data these days. They notify you immediately when...
The Risks of Modern Building Materials: What You Need to Know About Plastics in Construction & Updates to FM Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-57
Walk through any modern building, from the sleek data center down the street to that impressive cold storage facility on the outskirts of town, and you're likely seeing more plastic-based materials...
Modern Fire Protection Systems: Challenges, Innovations & Field-Tested Best Practices
A Risk Engineer’s Perspective on System Reliability and Evolving Hazards Even in 2025, fire protection system failures are among the leading contributors to catastrophic industrial losses. From...
The Hidden Risk of Rooftop Combustibles: Controlling Fire Spread Above the Ceiling
Rooftop PV Fire When most people think about fire protection in commercial buildings, they picture alarms, sprinklers, and firewalls—everything happening inside the building. But there's a growing...
Backup Generators - Best Practices for Commercial and Industrial Properties
Power outages can have severe consequences for commercial and industrial properties, such as manufacturing facilities, processing plants, warehouses, data centers, hospitals, and hotels. They can...
Preventing Liquid Damage in High-Rise Buildings: Updated Technical Guidance Based on FM Data Sheets
St Regis Chicago, Third Tallest Tower in Chicago In a high-rise building, it’s not the dramatic disasters you should fear most — it’s the tiny, sneaky ones. A loose fitting, a cracked pipe, or an...
Technical Article: Power, Preparedness, and Prevention – Lessons from the North Hayes Substation Fire
1. Introduction - Lessons from the North Hayes Substation Fire Late on the evening of March 20, 2025, engineers worldwide were reminded just how vulnerable our most critical infrastructure can be....