1. Private Fire Protection and
Prevention Organizations
Chapter 3
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

2. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

3. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

4. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

5. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

6. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

7. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

8. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

9. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

10. FIGURE 3-4
New York Board of Fire Underwriters
Fire Patrol Station #2.
(Courtesy of the New York
Board of Fire Underwriters)
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

11. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

12. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

13. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

14. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

15. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

16. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

17. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

18. Private Associations and
Not-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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

19. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

20. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

21. FIGURE 3-9
ASTM standards for fire protection
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

22. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

23. 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
2nd Edition
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning