Revisions to FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 7-14, Fire Protection for Chemical Plants

For nearly two centuries, businesses across the globe have relied on FM Global and its data sheets—property loss prevention engineering standards—to reduce risk at their existing facilities, and to ensure any new facilities are built to FM Global standards, reflecting world-class property protection.  FM Global Data Sheet 7-14, Fire Protection for Chemical Plants, addresses fire and explosion hazards at chemical-manufacturing plants and similar processing facilities, particularly those associated with ignitable liquid, flammable gas, and liquefied flammable gas where a release could result in a fire of long duration.

In 2015, Data Sheet 7-14 underwent a major revision.  The primary focus of the revision was to reduce reliance on prescriptive and sometime arbitrary guidelines in designing fire protection systems at chemical plants.  Rather, renewed emphasis was placed on identifying potential release and fire/explosion scenarios and designing fire protection systems appropriate for the anticipated event.  Additionally, safeguards to minimize the potential liquid or gas release volume are presented, such as accidental release control systems, as well as siting guidance and other methods to mitigate damage in the event of a release.

This talk will present a summary of the revised data sheet, in addition to insight into the intent of many of the data sheet's recommendations.