Fire Prevention Chapter 3

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2nd Edition

Private Fire Protection and Prevention Organizations

Chapter 3

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

2nd Edition

Objectives

Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:

•Discuss the role of private industry in local, state, and national fire prevention efforts

•List five industries and professions involved in fire prevention

•Describe the role of the insurance industry in fire prevention and risk management

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2nd Edition

Objectives (cont’d.)

• Describe the role of the design professional in fire prevention and protection

• Describe the role played by industry trade associations in fire prevention and protection

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2nd Edition

Private Fire Prevention Organizations - Purely for Profit?

• Public fire prevention programs exist due to private fire prevention organizations

• Three categories of programs– Part of risk management system in a business– Profit-making business service– Not-for-profit operating in the public interest

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Fire Prevention Risk Management

• Early efforts were undertaken by businesspeople who understood fire risk

• First practical automatic sprinkler head– Piano manufacturer: Henry S. Parmalee

• Tin-clad fire door– Cotton mill owner: Edward Atkinson

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Corporate Programs

• Fire safety/prevention programs: part of corporation’s risk management program– Security often under same umbrella

• Fire safety and security must be complementary

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Insurance Industry Fire Prevention Programs

• Insurance industry responsible for much of our regulatory system

• Early efforts of the stock insurance companies and mutual companies– Descendents of those organizations exist

today• Perform many of the same functions in the 1800s

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Insurance Services Office, Incorporated

• Provides– Statistical analysis and actuarial service– Automated information systems– Consulting services

• Maintains– Public Protection Classification System (PPC)

• Good PPC: lower insurance rates in community

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Insurance Services Office, Incorporated (cont’d.)

• If codes strictly enforced: – Hurricane Andrew’s damage could have been

reduced up to 55%

• In response:– Building Code Effectiveness Grading

Schedule (BCEGS), 1995• More effective construction regulation• Fire codes: fire prevention• Building codes: manage the impact of fire

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FIGURE 3-4New York Board of Fire UnderwritersFire Patrol Station #2.(Courtesy of the New YorkBoard of Fire Underwriters)

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FM Global, The Factory Mutual System

• Manufacturers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 1835– Zachariah Allen, board of directors– 63¼ % savings on insurance costs, 1st year

• Only very best risks qualified for membership– Unlike stock companies

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FM Global, The Factory Mutual System (cont’d.)

• By 1987, 42 mutual insurance companies had merged– Allendale Mutual, Arkwright Mutual, and the

Protection Mutual Insurance Company • In 1998, merged to form FM Global (24th largest

U.S. insurance organization)

• Attempts to reduce risk of fire and minimize financial impact if fire occurs– Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets

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Commercial Fire Prevention and Protection Programs

• Provide a variety of services, such as: – Design and engineering– Manufacturing, installation, testing and

maintenance– Sales of all of the foregoing

• Provide services for:– Businesses; local, state, and federal

governments; U.S. government installations abroad

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2nd Edition

Government Contractors

• Government contracts for fire prevention/protection at own installations– Within the United States

• Government employees– Active duty military personnel– Civilian civil service employees

– Abroad• Private corporations

– Chief officers: U.S. citizens– Other positions: citizens of the host nation

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Installation Contractors

• Fire protection systems: mostly installed by private firms– Professional registration/certification

• Ensures minimum standards for job performance

– Permits for systems ensure • Contractors are technically and financially qualified• Work meets code and is appropriate for the hazard• Inspection/acceptance testing after the work is

completed

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2nd Edition

Consulting, Maintenance, and Repair Firms

• Consultants and contractors commonly used in fire prevention/protection arena

• Maintenance and testing requirements:– NFPA 17, NFPA 17A, NFPA 25, NFPA 72

• Inspections by municipal officials– Not to be considered absolute protection

against contractor fraud or poor work

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Third-Party Inspection and Certification

• Reports from qualified individuals/firms– Acceptable as evidence of (model building

and fire) codes compliance

• In most jurisdictions, companies that install systems cannot inspect them– Collusion prevented

• Fire official can accept 3rd party reports– Does not relieve him of approval responsibility

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Private Associations andNot-for-Profit Organizations

• Key role in fire prevention programs of governments and private industry

• Produce most codes, standards, and recommended practices– Building regulation & fire protection/prevention

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Underwriters Laboratories

• Functions– Test and evaluate products at UL test facilities– Develop standards

• 24 of the more than 800 UL standards: referenced in the 2000 International Building Code

• Closely affiliated with:– NFPA, Factory Mutual Engineering, National

Board of Fire Underwriters, and Bureau of Standards

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Codes and Standards Organizations

• American Society for Testing and Materials

• American National Standards Institute

• American Institute of Architects

• Society of Fire Protection Engineers

• National Association of State Fire Marshals

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FIGURE 3-9ASTM standards for fire protection

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Trade Associations

• Develop standards

• Design and test fire resistance-rated assemblies

• Maintain materials testing laboratories

• Provide technical information and training about their products

• Represent their members in the codes and standards development process

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2nd Edition

Summary

• Public fire prevention programs exist due to private fire prevention organizations

• There are three categories of private fire programs categories

• Several key players take part in fire prevention

• Codes, standard, and practices maintained by non-profits/associations