Warehouse owners, their agents and brokers, will be interestedin a new, more effective fire protection approach recently unveiledby FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial andindustrial property insurers. The company believes that its newapproach could reduce businesses’ loss prevention-costs by millionsof dollars. Using current fire protection technology, the solutionenables facility owners to use fewer sprinklers and lower-capacitywater systems.
|“Fire is the leading cause of commercial property damage,” notedRonnie Gibson, vice president and chief engineer with FM Global.“This new in-rack sprinkler design option for warehouses canminimize our clients’ costs as well as their risk.”
|Related: Managing manufacturing risk: Cyber enters thepicture
|For example, in a 500,000-square foot warehouse with an 80-footceiling height, the cost of installing sprinklers, pumps and watertanks could be cut from approximately $4.3 million to as little as$2.6 million, according to contractor estimates. Savings are likelyto vary based on location, but they are still estimated to besignificant.
|In addition to cost savings, the new designalso is more environmentally friendly, FM Global said in astatement. It would allow companies to protect their highest-hazardcommodities, such as expanded plastic, using less than half thewater volume previously needed. Furthermore, in the event of afire, warehouse owners would likely sustain less water and smokedamage, because the fire would be controlled or suppressed morequickly. Businesses also may see a smaller environmental impact insmoke and water runoff.
|Related: How brittle is your supply chain? FM GlobalResilience Index has the answer
|The following infographic, courtesy of FM Global illustrates thenew in-rack sprinkler design. For more information, see Data Sheet8-9, available online (registration required).
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Rosalie Donlon
Rosalie Donlon is the editor in chief of ALM's insurance and tax publications, including NU Property & Casualty magazine and NU PropertyCasualty360.com. You can contact her at [email protected].
