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.
Lithium Ion Batteries
With the advent of today's electronics devices comes a new power source: rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. The technology of Li-ion batteries packs a decided punch in that the power to...
Solids and Liquids
What is an oxidizer? It can be a solid or a liquid. It yields oxygen or other oxidizing gas and can react to promote or initiate combustion of combustible materials. Under some circumstances, it can...
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/December 2016 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...
Legislative Review for Canada
In their November/December 2016 issue, Sprinkler Age magazine featured its Annual Legislative Review for Canada. This summary of legislation and codes offers an overview of regulations affecting the...
Similarities in the Gap and GE Warehouse Fire Losses
In 2015 and 2016 two large warehouse property fires occurred to General Electric (GE) in Louisville, KY and Gap in Fishkill, NY. GE Louisville, KY Fire - Appliance Park Fire Occurred April 3,...
Update for Retrofitting Standing Seam Roofs with External Seam Clamps for Enhanced Wind Uplift Resistance
After our March 2016 article entitled “Retrofitting Standing Seam Roofs with External Enhancement Elements: Clamps," FM Global updated and revised their Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-31,...
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can cause severe property damage with squalls that can have internal wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can be extremely destructive due to the very high pressures. The land area affected...
Protection of Penetrations and Firestopping Materials
Fire stopping materials are used to retain the integrity of fire rated construction by maintaining an effective barrier against the spread of flame, smoke, and hot gases through penetrations in fire...
Health Care Facilities Compliance with NFPA 99 (Health Care Facilities Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code)
Effective May 3, 2016 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that health care facilities were required to meet the 2012 version of Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) and Life...
High Piled Storage Permits
Code Officials are fining companies that do not comply with High Piled Storage Regulations in cities across the United States. Officials in Houston, San Diego, Riverside, San Jose, Denver and Seattle...
The Top 13 Changes to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems
The first edition of NFPA 13 came out in the year 1896. NFPA 13 is on a three year revision cycle, with the last edition in 2013. Revisions for the 2016 edition occurred in August 2013 and June 2014....
Clamps
The wind-uplift capacities of standing seam roof systems vary considerably depending on the components used. Similar systems in appearance can have very different uplift resistances. Two roofs can be...