Michael J. Morganti Keeping a business fire-safe takes more than just fire extinguishers and automatic sprinkler protection. It also takes education and training for building occupants. According to a 10-year study of fires at facilities insured by FM Global, people either directly or indirectly caused about 73 percent of them. Those fires could have been prevented if management had been better informed or had more closely controlled the actions of employees and outside contractors. For example, some building designers might be using the same building materials and design features for all geographic locations, without regard to natural hazards.
Wood is a good choice for a seismic area because it flexes.
But in an area subject to windstorms, wood as a building material is a disaster. The Effects of Change Many businesses are continuously undergoing some kind of change. Change can sidetrack facility executives from normal property protection practices. And change is a huge factor in fires caused by humans. Consider a corporation that decides to restructure without considering protection issues.