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.
Protecting Electrical Rooms Containing Grouped Power Cables.
During inspections of electrical rooms, property loss prevention engineers should determine how much of a presence there is of "grouped power cables." There are no clear definitions or criteria as to...
Lightning Protection
For the period 1959-1994, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Publication "Storm Data" indicated over 3,000 deaths, 9,000 injuries and nearly 20,000 property damage reports...
Natural Gas and Gas Piping
The use of natural gas is very common in most industrial and commercial buildings. The gas can be used for process and/or heating. Natural gas is highly combustible, and various precautions are...
Earthquake Bracing Requirements for FM Global Data Sheet 2-8
This Data Sheet provides a detailed description of the components necessary to guard against earthquakes for a water-based fire protection system. The fire protection system can include sprinkler...
Roof Perimeter Flashing
It's that time of year again for the Northern Hemisphere - Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. As a supplement to our earlier articles dealing with preparing for severe windstorms (see...
Changes to FM Global Data Sheet 8-9 "Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities" (2008)
The January 2008 revision to this data sheet resulted in significant changes. This data sheet was completely rewritten. Some changes were minor while others resulted in significant modifications to...
Flood Mitigation
We occasionally see on TV news where buildings are inundated or submerged in flood water after heavy rain, typhoons or hurricanes. Many people believe it never happens to their own buildings. But is...
Choosing Structural Systems for Earthquakes
Several factors come into play when it comes to designing earthquake protection for a building. These include site selection, building type and the particular building code used. This month, we will...
Handling Flammable Liquids
Using flammable liquids presents some unique and difficult fire protection challenges. Depending on the specific material, there is the possibility of generating vapors which can easily ignite - or...
Protection Against Exterior Fire Exposure
When it comes to determining the adequacy of fire protection for your building, it is also necessary to consider the potential fire exposure that may exist from an adjacent building and/or adjacent...
Property Loss Prevention in Glass Manufacturing Plants
There are various types of glass manufacturing plants, and the processes and associated hazards differ significantly. One thing they have in common is that business interruption potential is higher...
FM Approvals RoofNav Tool
Choosing the correct roofing system for your facility may not be easy. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration based on the geographic location and other conditions of your...