Plastics in Construction
17 articles in this category

The Risks of Modern Building Materials: What You Need to Know About Plastics in Construction & Updates to FM Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-57
Walk through any modern building, from the sleek data center down the street to that impressive cold storage facility on the outskirts of town, and you're likely seeing more plastic-based materials...
Protection and Approvals for Process Exhaust Ductwork
The following is an update to our May 2019 technical web article “Protection and Approvals for Combustible Plastic Ductwork.” The removal of dust, smoke, and fumes is a critical part of many...
Protection and Approvals for Combustible Plastic Ductwork
The removal of dust, smoke, and fumes is a critical part of many industrial and commercial operations. Any damage occurring to critical process ductwork can halt operations and result in property...
Protection Risks in Food Factories & Refrigerated Warehouses
The large numbers of food factories and warehouses worldwide will continue to climb in the coming years. These food facilities have similarities in their construction that may put them at increased...

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...
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...
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...
Elastomeric Insulation
Elastomeric insulation, also known as closed cell foam insulation, is a flexible type of plastic insulation close to the consistency of rubber. It is normally used as insulation for piping and...
Preventing and Responding to Freeze-Ups
Freeze-ups can cause damage to your site's buildings, operations and fire protection equipment. Here are some basic items that can help prevent and control that damage. Have a winterization plan in...