TRAINING
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Professional Development
Thursday, 22 October 2026 | 9:00 CDT / 14:00 UTC
Presenter: Melisa Rodriguez, PE, SET, Sr. Manager, Industry Relations, Johnson Controls
In refrigerated warehousing, owners want to maximize the loading of a building, and most prefer ceiling-only protection to in-rack sprinklers, which forklifts and falling materials can damage. These facilities are principally protected by dry systems, which limits the use of early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers, and NFPA 13, the Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, addresses only a limited range of refrigerated warehouse storage arrangements. The result is a gap between what the owner wants and what the standard permits.
This webinar examines two ways of closing that gap. The first is FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 8-9, which offers a recognized alternative basis for the design. The second is proprietary full-scale fire testing, which supplies the evidence for a design the published standards do not cover. The session equips design professionals to guide the owner and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) toward a decision on which route fits the facility and the community it serves.
Thursday, 29 October 2026 | 9:00 CDT / 14:00 UTC
Presenter: Weston C. Baker Jr., Staff Vice President & Sr. Engineering Technical Specialist, FM Chief Engineers Group
Online retailers now promise delivery within a day, and the robotic storage systems behind that speed have changed warehouse design faster than the codes that govern it. NFPA 13 does not provide prescriptive protection options for automatic storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), which leaves design professionals and fire authorities searching for documented protection guidance.
Wes Baker of FM explains why ASRS present unusual fire challenges, including open-top plastic containers that can release up to three times the heat of corrugated board containers and aisles too narrow for fire service access. Drawing on FM Global research, he shows how Data Sheet 8-34 addresses each major ASRS configuration and presents protection methods that design professionals can use to manage this demanding risk.
Time clarification: This webinar starts at 9:00 CST / 15:00 UTC. The flyer incorrectly shows CDT / 14:00 UTC.
Thursday, 5 November 2026 | 9:00 CST / 15:00 UTC
Presenter: Mark E. Fessenden, Managing Director & CEO, International Fire Suppression Alliance (IFSA)
Retail storage occupancies present a unique set of fire protection challenges due to the diverse commodity classifications, storage configurations, and fluctuating occupancy hazards. This technical session will explore the applicable fire protection strategies for both low-piled and high-piled storage environments commonly found in retail settings. Participants will gain an understanding of how occupancy classification affects sprinkler system design, including required densities, sprinkler spacing, and the selection of sprinkler types. The session also compares the performance of various sprinkler technologies using fire test data, particularly for Group A plastic commodities stored in double-row racks. The program reviews hydraulic design parameters per NFPA 13, highlights key system design considerations for control and suppression mode systems, and examines the implications of dry pipe and preaction systems. Emphasis is placed on code compliance, performance-based testing, and practical application of fire protection measures for modern retail storage environments. Attendees will also be introduced to strategies for assessing and managing fire risk in retail settings, ensuring life safety and property protection through optimized system design.
