Building Safety &

Loss Prevention

Robert Azimi Group Manager – Asia

S. America

Understanding the Risk

Human Element Natural Hazards Process Hazards

Construction Hazards Equipment Hazards Fire

The Reality of Fire

2008 – Incheon, South Korea Fire at a Refrigeration Warehouse of a logistics company. 40 people

died.

2009 – Beijing, China Fire at TVCC building adjacent to the CCTV headquarter

The Reality of Fire

2010 – Shanghai, China Fire at 28-story high-rise. At least 58 people died

The Reality of Fire

2011 – Kolkata, India Fire at AMRI hospital, a private hospital in Kolkata. At least 89 people

died.

The Reality of Fire

179+ Years of Experience

“It’s better to

prevent a loss

than recover

from it

afterwards.”

Research-Based Engineering

Majority of Losses are Preventable

Mutual Company Focus

The FM Global philosophy

We have a stake in approving products to the

highest standards

Why invest in

loss prevention

Research?

The Journey of Research & Development…

Roman Abacus

Over 2000

years…

Antikythera mechanism

Materials Lab

Electrical Lab Hydraulics Lab

Large Burn Lab

Multimedia

Center

Fire Technology Lab

Natural Hazards Lab

The FM Global Research Campus

Scientists, Engineers

Focus their Research on Loss

prevention sciences!

Fully funded internally!!!

Depth in Knowledge (Research)

A long history of product testing

FM Approval’s Strategy

• Expand the availability of FM Approved products locally available and serviced, and accepted by local jurisdictions.

• Offer the industry choices in these products (wide availability).

• Protect the integrity of FM Approved products, and our customer’s investment.

• Enhance the awareness and acceptance of FM Approved products.

• Encourage the sharing of technical knowledge to develop global product testing standards.

• Continue to enhance the delivery of efficient and comprehensive services to our customers.

Building Materials (Passive)

Fire Protection (Active)

FM Approvals

Objectively testing property loss prevention

products and services and certifying those that

meet rigorous loss prevention standards;

FM Approvals

• Objectively testing property loss prevention products and services and certifying those that meet rigorous loss prevention standards;

Encouraging the development and use of Approved products and services that improve and advance property loss prevention practices.

Building Materials (Passive)

Before…

During…

After…

Combustible cladding tiles/panels a

contributing factor in high-rise losses

It is so well understood here in the USA that when

anyone uses the results from ASTM E 84 tests they

are required to include the following statement:

“THESE NUMERICAL VALUES ARE NOT

INTENDED TO REFLECT HAZARDS

PRESENTED BY THIS MATERIAL UNDER

ACTUAL FIRE CONDITIONS”

“This Research Program was predicated on the . . . principal that large scale fire tests replicating end user applications and appropriate fire scenarios were preferable as a means . . . of evaluating fire performance of foam plastics . . . . Results using procedures which do not necessarily reflect real life conditions must include a disclaimer to that effect.” Hugh Patrick Toner VP Technical Affairs The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. May 19, 1997

FM Fire Propagation Apparatus

Wall Panel Certification

FM 4880 - Class 1 walls and ceilings Do not need automatic sprinkler system to protect the building

envelope.

Non-combustible facer Combustible core

Wall Panel Certification

1973–1987: Walls certified only up to 30 ft (9.1 m)

Had to pass the 25 ft (7.6 m) full scale fire test

Success criteria:

Fire does not spread to any extremities of structure in 15 minutes

Cost of $140,000

Wall Panel Certification

Cost of $280,000 Cost of $280,000

1987 – 1994 Wall certification extended for unlimited height

Had to pass the 25 ft (7.6 m) full scale fire test, then had to run 50 ft (15.2 m) full

scale test

Success criteria:

• If fire spreads to the ceiling, approval for 50ft only

• If fire does not spread to ceiling, unlimited height approval was granted

Wall Panel Certification

1994: Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA) (ASTM E2058)

Screening test using 10cm x 40cm sample

Easy, fast, accurate and inexpensive to run tests

Introduced ISO Room Test / UBC Room Test

2009: Parallel Panel Test – ANSI FM 4910

Wall Panel Certification

Ignition Few Minutes into Test

Wall Panel Certification

Failure Success

Wall Panel Certification

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Num

ber

of A

ppro

ved

Pro

ducts

Year

Wall Panel Certification

Unapproved Pre-Insulated Ducts / Pipe Insulation - A major fire

hazard

Pre-Insulated Ducts

Pre-Insulated Ducts

Testing of Pre-Insulated Ducts

Possible Performance…

Pre-Insulated Ducts

Fire Protection (Active)

Product Testing

Steel Valve failed Hydro

Testing.

HDPE Pipe failed Hydro

Testing.

Leakage

Hang-Up

Strength of Deflector

High Temperature

Exposure

Moist Air

Salt Fog

Corrosion

Freezing

FM Approvals testing of a Sprinkler

• Vibration • Rough Use • K-Factor • Distribution • Operating Temperature • Response Time • Crib Fire • Actual Delivered Density (ADD) • Full Scale Fire Test

The Approval Standard contains over 40 different examinations and performance tests including:

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Loss

Cos

t

Sprinklered

Unsprinklere

d

Unsprinklered

Sprinklered

FM Approved

Products

Risk Losses – Sprinklered vs. Unsprinklered

Average Gross Risk Loss Per $100 TIV

Fire Loss Experience

The effectiveness of fire sprinklers in high-rise buildings: property and business interruption

loss data (1997 – 2007) for reported fires with adequate sprinkler protection versus those

where none provided or was inadequate.

7.7 times higher, without sprinklers

Counterfeit Sprinkler

• FM Approvals notified of counterfeit sprinkler

• Procured samples and worked with FM Approvals customer in

development of a comprehensive alert

• Product Alert posted to website illustrating the issues

Authentic Counterfeit

Authentic Counterfeit

Products are either “FM Approved” or not,

NO such thing as “FM equivalent”

Counterfeit Sprinkler

FM Approvals Resources

• Sprinklers

• Fire Pump Assemblies

• Roofing

• Valves

• Walls and Ceilings

• Couplings

• Fire Doors and Frames

• Water Mist Systems

• Hazardous Locations Equipment

• Pallets and Totes

• Detection and Alarms

• Cleanroom Materials

• Gaseous Extinguishment Systems

• Fire Stop Contractors/Applicators

www.approvalguide.com

www.fmapprovals.com

www.roofnav.com

2012 – Doha, Qatar Fire at a upscale mall. 19 people died.

The Reality of Fire

2012 – Himeji, Japan Fire at a chemical plant. 1 fire fighter died. Global diapers production

affected.

The Reality of Fire

2012 – Tainan, Taiwan Fire at a hospital in Southern Taiwan. At least 12 people died.

The Reality of Fire

The Full Impact of Loss

Life and Community

Reputation

Environment

Customer Perception

Long Term Market Share

Disruption of supply chain

Property Damage and Business Interruption

It is important to know what went into the

construction of your building and what kind of Fire

protection systems protect it!!!

谢谢 Dank u

Merci

Danke

Σας ευχαριστούμε

Grazie

ありがとう

너를 감사하십시요

Obrigado

Вы

Gracias

Thank you

شكرا