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.
Lightning
A typical summer thunderstorm is predicted for later in the day. You dread the incoming weather change because you were hoping for a nice dry weekend. This rain will ruin your weekend. This...
GE Plastic Pallet Receives Approval
GE Plastics fire-resistant EXTREME pallet is the first and only pallet to exceed the fire performance requirements of both Factory Mutual and Underwriters Laboratories. It is the only pallet to offer...
State Requirements for NFPA, Building Codes and Authorities Having Jurisdiction
The chart below offers a quick overview of regulations affecting the fire sprinkler industry in individual states. It provides a summary of legislation and codes. This information was gathered by the...
1 in 16,000,000 Sprinklers Do What?
Automatic sprinkler protection is considered the single most effective tool in preventing loss and damage from fire. However some people still worry about the possibility of unexpected water...
Flooding
We've all heard the word, and we all think it won't happen to us. Not to our buildings, our buildings are too well protected. Are they really? For some of you, your plant may be well elevated above...
Viking Introduces Industry's First Upright ESFR
The Viking Corporation, global manufacturer of fire protection systems, has introduced the industry's first 14K Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) Upright Sprinkler, company officials...
Earthquake Protection for Sprinkler Systems
It is important to remember that the building causes the strains on sprinkler piping during earthquakes. If sprinkler piping could be isolated from the building, earthquake strains could only enter...
Why Should You Test Your Fire Alarms?
The simple answer is "to make sure the alarms will work." How does anyone know whether the fire alarms will work when the emergency comes? They don’t, but with frequent testing of the alarms, there...
NFPA to Develop a Building Code
This past march, the NFPA's Board of Directors approved a plan to develop a consensus building code as part of a full set of consensus codes and standards. This decision resulted due to a directive...
Performance Based Design vs. Prescriptive Design
Performance Based Design (PBD) and performance based codes are buzz words in fire protection engineering today…but what exactly is PBD and how does it differ from Prescriptive Design? The idea...
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC)
In 1996 the NFPA began receiving inquiries about MIC. What is MIC? It is a corrosion problem characterized by pinhole leaks in metallic piping systems often after only a few years of service. MIC is...
Possible Sprinkler "O-Ring" Problems
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is currently investigating field reports that certain Central Sprinkler Co. Model GB automatic sprinklers may leak or even worse, not operate during a fire because...