According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), between 2011 and 2015, there were an estimated 37,910 fires at industrial properties each year. These industrial fires resulted in 16 civilian deaths, 273 civilian injuries, and $1.2 billion in property damage. Industrial fires are serious, but there are several things you…

All fire safety equipment is subject to rigorous standards for safety and reliability, and fire hoses -- the subject of NFPA 1962 -- are no exception. Despite looking like a relatively simple device, a fire hose is one of the most important lines of defense in firefighting. NFPA 1962 is…

What is a fire and life safety ecosystem? Like any ecosystem, it is comprised of elements that work together to achieve a functioning system -- in this case, eight separate elements that have to do with fire and safety. Several of them are the responsibility of the government, while many…

Food trucks are one of the hottest new trends in food service today. Statista reports that in 2015, the value of the U.S. food truck industry increased to more than $850 million and is expected to grow by another $140 million by 2020. Estimates vary widely on how many food…

Fire departments around the United States perform regular inspections to assess and mitigate potential fire and life-safety hazards in buildings in their jurisdiction. Inspections vary in type and frequency from one city to the next, but there is one constant in the inspection process: the business or property owner wanting…

It's easy to take fire sprinklers and fire protection systems for granted, but these devices are complex and amazing pieces of engineering which are far too often misunderstood and potentially misused, to the detriment of those operating near them. One of the most common and potentially problematic misconceptions people have…

Our office building is a steel structure, and because steel doesn't burn I shouldn't have to worry about fire protection, right? That's a common misconception. Damage can definitely be done to steel structures and the extent of damage depends on the size and temperature of the fire. It is always…

While not exactly a trick question, most people do not know the answer to the question of "how long should my fire alarm system last?" The answer to this question depends on a few factors. Full inspection by a qualified professional is needed regularly to keep it operating at peak…

The purpose of emergency lighting is to ensure adequate illumination is provided when the power supply to the normal lighting fails. Emergency lighting is key in making sure people can exit a building safely in the event of an emergency. Emergency lighting illuminates the means of egress which includes stairs,…

Technologies evolve regarding data centers and server rooms and, therefore, engineering systems that enhance them change as well. As an example, the HACA containment system, which stands for "hot aisle cold aisle," was initiated to address the problems associated with small server rooms whose equipment may run too hot. Many…