Factory Mutual

[MacGruber22]

Curious as to how people approach FM standards? Do you ask every client if they want/need to be designed to FM standards. Or do you rely on the client to tell you to do so? A number of clients I know require it based on their insurance, but most are really unknowns.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

 

[Once20036]

The only time I've used FM standards are when FM requires it. FM requires it when FM is the insurer for the building.
For us, an early part of the design stage is asking who provides their insurance.

Most companies with FM express some dismay that they need to pay for a building that exceeds code requirements and do not receive a discount on insurance costs for their additional expenditures.
I've never met a company without FM that agreed to meet FM standards, and can't imagine that I ever will...

 

[mike20793]

Most of our clients are repeated so we mostly know whether we need to meet FM requirements or not. If it is a new client, we usually bring it up during the SD phase.

 

[jike]

We ALWAYS ask the client before we agree to the engineering fee, since it may affect our total costs. We include it in the description of our work as part of our contractual agreement. It is usually not just designing to their standards but also being available for their review process, responding to their comments and modifications as required by the FM review.

 

[BUGGAR]

Ditto with jike. FM usually controls a lot of our sprinkler design.

 

[jimstructures]

Many times I will see a specification stating design must meet FM xxx. In my case that usually has something to do with Windload or Snowload designs. The specifier may have little or no idea what they have just chosen and whether or not the building will be insured or not insured by Factory Mutual they think they have merely added another requirement and will get a stronger building. A conversation with the design specifier sometimes results in a simplified revision and sometimes doesn't.

Jim

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I've had to design a building to FM standards and we relied on the client to tell us this. Overall it wasn't that painful but definitely required a small amount of additional work to ensure it met both FM and the building codes.

Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries

http://www.americanconcrete.com

 

[JLNJ]

Most of the time we don't ask before we bid, but maybe we should.

The main areas it seems to affect us are fire protection, explosion hazards (often explosive dusts and venting), and roof designs (especially uplift and roof component fastening).

FM may limit you in ways the building codes do not, but you definitely want to get a handle on which FM requirements you are subject to before you invest a lot of time in a particular design.

Sometimes, our larger clients have risk mitigation people who will act as a go-between to negotiate with their insurance carrier when considering which FM requirements are a must and which may be treated liberally.

 

[MacGruber22]

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."