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.
NFPA 25 - Highlights
Many jurisdictions have adopted NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, to help ensure that sprinkler systems are properly inspected and maintained. Many...
An Updated Look at Protection in Glass Manufacturing Plants
Occasionally loss prevention procedures need revision as we learn more about how to protect the hazard. In January 2008 we wrote a comprehensive article on Property Loss Prevention in Glass...
Antifreeze and Dry Pendent Sprinkler Protection
If the temperature can or will be below 40┬░F, the sprinkler piping or heads need to be protected against freezing. There are several methods of automatic sprinkler protection that should be...
Construction Classifications and Use of Plastic Panels in Europe
Why do we see so much new construction in Europe that includes plastic panels? The sales pitch from the architects to the customers is that higher insulation levels provided by these plastic panels...
An Updated Look at Cooling Towers
On a regular basis we look at our previous articles and, when sufficient changes occur, we update them for our readers. Sometimes it's due to new technology, sometimes to loss history and sometimes...
Lessons Not Learned
It disheartens us that even after the nightclub fires in Rhode Island, USA in February 2003 and in Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2004, the lessons of those tragic events appear to have not been...
Fiber Reinforced Plastic Panels Used in Construction
Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) panels, sometimes referred to as glassfiber reinforced plastic (GRP) panels, is a composite material made up a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. The fibers are...
Storm Surge
The major hazards associated with hurricanes are: storm surge and storm tide heavy rainfall and inland flooding high winds rip currents tornadoes For coastal areas, storm surge and large...
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 2012 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...
Hurricane Sandy and Emergency Preparedness
On Monday October 29, 2012 a Cat 1 (80 mph 1-minute) hurricane made landfall in Atlantic City, NJ. The storm had a very broad windfield with a 1,000 mile diameter of tropical storm force...
Explosion Protection Systems for Combustible Dusts
Processing, handling and storing of combustible dusts within enclosed equipment (i.e., mixers, blenders, mills, separators, cutting tools, holding bins, dust collectors, cyclones, etc.) can easily...
Codes and Standards
What is a Standard? What is a Code? Why do they change so much? If they change, are we protected properly with the old standard we designed to? Codes Codes are consensus documents that are revised...