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    Commodities classification

    You may want to check Factory Mutual, FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets 8-1 on commodity classification they list many products and the commodity classification including noncombustible. They are free download. Tom
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    Giving Away Old NFPA Codes Any Interest?

    I retired 8 years ago and have many old NFPA individual standards ie 231,231c,72 most from the 1980-2000 time. Handbooks on flammable liquids, fire pump, sprinkler, etc. I am in the Philadelphia, Pa area. Any interest they are FREE you just need to pick them up. If you know of any organization...
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    Protection during construction

    I should add the impairment includes the following as per 25. 15.4 Impaired Equipment. 15.4.1 The impaired equipment shall be considered to be the water-based fire protection system, or part thereof, that is removed from service. 15.4.2 The impaired equipment shall include, but shall not be...
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    Protection during construction

    NFPA 25 provides guidance regarding sprinkler impairment.The following is from the 2014 edition. 15.5* Preplanned Impairment Programs. 15.5.1 All preplanned impairments shall be authorized by the impairment coordinator. 15.5.2 Before authorization is given, the impairment coordinator shall be...
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    Prefire Plan Software Review/Process

    An update we went with Blazemark Pre-fire planning software. Tom
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    Prefire Plan Software Review/Process

    For free volunteering my time.
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    Prefire Plan Software Review/Process

    I should say this is from a Fire Department point of view not insurance ie my name. Retired now using my fire protection knowledge and firefighting experience to develop the Pre-fire Plans. Tom
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    Prefire Plan Software Review/Process

    Old post wondering if any FD are pre-fire planning, and if so what program are you using? We have been doing Pre-fire plans for about a year now using PowerPoint to develop the plans. We are looking at First Due and Blazemark Software. Thanks Tom
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    Open or closed system 95% alcohol

    FM also let’s you know if they have any conflict with NFPA, see below from the 7-74 data sheet noted above. APPENDIX D NFPA STANDARDS There is no NFPA standard dealing specifically with distilleries. There are no known conflicts with related NFPA standards except for the tank venting change...
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    Open or closed system 95% alcohol

    More info here from an insurance side FM Data Sheet 7-74 DISTILLERIES. FM Data Sheets are free just need to register with FM. Great resource and detailed information on many things. Can not you for enforcement but a good read to educate yourself on many hazards.
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    fire sprinkler main flush

    Us retired folks still stop by.......this one is a trip down memory lane.....from what I remember....you know old folks and memory....lol
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    Aw S??t, ..wonder what went wrong here?

    FYI....PIV = Post Indicator Valve .....usually located on the outside of the building away from the building.
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    Aw S??t, ..wonder what went wrong here?

    Smart arsonist....close valve start fire not a good combination. Will be interesting if they tell us but I wonder if the had PIV to the pump house or risers with only a lock to prevent the valve from being closed.
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    In Pa we did not have a statewide Building Code until 1999. Pa does NOT have a state wide fire prevention code in 2020!! About 50 % of the existing warehouses we reviewed the sprinkler protection was not adequate because of occupancy change or changes in operation or commodity classification...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    From NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler, 2013 Edition 3.2.2* Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the require- ments of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    Knowledge is a powerful thing we learn from our mistakes and experience hopefully the folks reading this thread will pick up some stuff from “the old guys” here...lol. The wealth of knowledge on this forum is amazing. From 30 plus years I presented 1and 2 days seminars to code officials in our...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    No. My company has insurance for that. I worked for the insurance company BUT still had to go through the deposition process. I had my company lawyer next to me during the questions BUT was not fun. Even more fun was the day before the deposition was going overall the many questions they may...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    Rick18071 Have you ever been deposed for a lawsuit? I have several times, not fun at all. All times have been as a result of a significant loss and the lawyers suited everyone to get into as many pockets with money as they can. I hope you keep copies of everything you do to “refresh your...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    A few questions Distance from the floor to the underside of the roof. Roof construction wood, metal, concrete. Design of the sprinkler systems ie area density, ESFR, number of sprinklers at head pressure at K factor. Fire pump on site if so gpm at ??psi Any fire walls if so the rating of the...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    Jar546 Agree 100% I was one of those insurance guys for many years, not with FM but with another insurance carrier. We were usually involved from the planning stages of a project by providing our insurance requirements for the site, review of fire protection plans, on site inspection as the...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    Does Factory Mutual ring any bells for you.....ie a loss prevention engineer! The insurance company for the building owner AND occupant maybe the same carrier or 2 different insurance companies will have a SIGNIFICANT input on the building fire protection. If it does not meet NFPA or FM...
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    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    By all means get the insurance loss prevention engineer involved in the review. As an insurance person I have been down this road many times. I have gotten everyone in the room and attempt to work out the problems. Education goes a long way and explaining how things work particularly for the FD...
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    Information Technology rooms

    IF they only have a clean agent system you have to ask several more questions and look very closely, where the gas can escape. 1. Did they test the room enclosure for tightness if so when and did it pass? 2. The smaller the room the tougher it is to pass ie small hole gas escapes fire not...
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    Idle Pallets

    From an insurance AHJ point of view....nothing!! The risk is not receiving any credit ie lower insurance premium since they have no sprinkler system so they are paying more $$. I would be more concerned about exterior exposures particularly occupied such as a hotel, nursing home, etc. if we...
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    Idle Pallets

    Also just because you have ESFR does not mean you are OK. Depending on ceiling height you may need a higher pressure at the sprinkler. See Table 12.12.1.2(c) ESFR Sprinkler Protection for Indoor Storage of Idle Wood Pallets.
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