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.
Legislative Review An Overview of Codes, Standards and Regulations in CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MS, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA and TX
In their November 2014 issue, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its Annual Legislative Review for the United States and Canada. This summary of legislation and codes offers an overview of regulations...
FM Data Sheet 1-15, "Roof Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Panels"
The following is a synopsis of the new FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-15 "Roof Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Panels." This is a new data sheet, issued in July 2014 with October 2014...
Interim Changes in July 2014 to FM Global Data Sheets 7-32 and 7-29
The only notable change in July 2014 to FM Global Data Sheet 7-32, Ignitable Liquid Operations, is additional information for arranging ignitable liquid processes, handling, and use operations to...
Detection vs. Sprinkler Protection
You might think that since you have smoke detection and/or heat detection in your building that it is almost as good as having sprinkler protection to protect your property. Is there really that much...
Pressure Relief Valves for Wet Pipe Sprinkler Systems
The old requirement/standard for the installation of pressure relief valves was only for gridded systems. Since 2010, NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems requires relief...
Fire Safety Systems for Industrial Occupancies
Recent studies by Liberty Mutual and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) have shown that sprinklers are the most effective way to reduce loss of life and property damage in industrial occupancies...
Changes to FM Global's Commodity Classification
FM Global updated their Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet (DS) 8-1, Commodity Classification, in April. Their major changes are: Eliminated the sub-classification of plastic commodities (Group...
Exercising Fire Pumps
In the 2011 Edition of NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, the frequency of exercising electric motor driven fire pumps was changed from weekly to...
Legislative Review for Canada
In their November 2013 issue, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its Annual Legislative Review for the United States and Canada. This summary of legislation and codes offers an overview of regulations...
Break Tanks
Break tanks are utilized in fire protection systems for three main reasons: As a backflow prevention device between the jurisdictional water supply and the fire pump suction. In this case the...
Flue Spaces in Racks - NFPA 13 vs. FM Global Data Sheet 8-9
Flue spaces are necessary for rack storage arrangements to allow heat from a fire to quickly vent vertically. This is critical in order to help ensure the ceiling-level sprinklers will operate as...
Freeze-up Prevention for Fire Protection Equipment
Damage to fire protection equipment during winter weather happens in areas where freezing temperatures are common and where temperatures...