Flood Abatement Equipment

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Flood Abatement Equipment

October 21, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie | Dutch East India Company

FM Global is one of several organizations that produce technical and business documents that set the standard of care for risk management in education facilities.   These standards — Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets —  contribute to the reduction in the risk of property loss due to fire, weather conditions, and failure of electrical or mechanical equipment.  They incorporate nearly 200 years of property loss experience, research and engineering results, as well as input from consensus standards committees, equipment manufacturers and others.

In July FM Global updated its standard FM 2510 Flood Abatement Equipment which should interest flood barrier manufacturers, standard authorities, industrial and commercial facilities looking to protect their buildings from riverline flooding conditions.

The following updates were proposed and mostly adopted:

  • Modifications to the opening barrier protocol to include water performance testing at lower depths;
  • Additional tests that apply to open-cellular rubber compounds (i.e., foam-type rubber) which are commonly used as gaskets on flood barriers need to be added to the Standard to sufficiently assess their quality;
  • Addition of adhesive testing. Many barrier designs use adhesives to bond the gasket material to the barrier. Adhesives are not addressed under the current protocol;
    Modify the flood abatement pump section to clarify approval of pump packages vs. wet-end only;
  • Additional requirements for electric drive and submersible flood pumps;
  • Modifications to backwater valve section to be inclusive of all types of “backwater valves” besides the traditional check valve.
  • Additional requirements for waterproofing products for building penetrations. Products in this category include collars, plugs, elastomeric seals, and types of putty.

This standard also contains test requirements for the performance of flood barriers, flood mitigation pumps, backwater valves, and waterproofing products for building penetrations, as well as an evaluation of the components comprising these products to assure reliability in the barrier’s performance.

While there are a number of noteworthy colleges and universities that have grown near rivers and lakes — twenty-five of which are listed HERE — severe weather and system failures present flooding risks to them all.

Another Data Sheet — I-40 Floods — was updated in October.   Both Data Sheets are available for download at the link below:

FM GLOBAL PROPERTY LOSS PREVENTION DATA SHEETS

You will need to set up (free) access credentials.

You may contact FM Global directly: Josephine Mahnken, (781) 255-4813, josephine.mahnken@fmapprovals.com, 1151 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062

Our “door” is open every day at 11 AM Eastern time to discuss any consensus document that sets the standard of care for the emergent #SmartCampus.  Additionally, we dedicate one session per month to Management and Water standards.  See our CALENDAR for the next online teleconference.   Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Issue: [Various]

Category: Risk Management, Facility Asset Management

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jack Janveja, Richard Robben

Property Loss Prevention

 

LSU

Design Rainfall Values on Louisiana Infrastructure

October 21, 2025
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Standards Louisiana

bucolia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana State University Facility Services

Louisiana State University Planning, Design & Construction: Design Standards

Flood Abatement Equipment

Lightning Protection Systems

October 21, 2025
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2026 Public Input Report | 2026 Public Comment Report

FEMA National Risk Index: Lightning

“Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky” 1816 Benjamin West

 

Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous experiment with lightning on June 10, 1752.

He used a kite and a key to demonstrate that lightning was a form of electricity.

This experiment marked an important milestone in understanding the nature of electricity

and laid the foundation for the development of lightning rods and other lightning protection systems.

 

Seasonal extreme weather patterns in the United States, resulting in damages to education facilities and delays in outdoor athletic events — track meets; lacrosse games, swimming pool closures and the like — inspire a revisit of the relevant standards for the systems that contribute to safety from injury and physical damage to buildings: NFPA 780 Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems

FREE ACCESS

To paraphrase the NFPA 780 prospectus:

  • This document shall cover traditional lightning protection system installation requirements for the following:
       (1) Ordinary structures

       (2) Miscellaneous structures and special occupancies
       (3) Heavy-duty stacks
       (4) Structures containing flammable vapors, flammable gases, or liquids with flammable vapors
       (5) Structures housing explosive materials
       (6) Wind turbines
       (7) Watercraft
       (8) Airfield lighting circuits
       (9) Solar arrays
  • This document shall address lightning protection of the structure but not the equipment or installation requirements for electric generating, transmission, and distribution systems except as given in Chapter 9 and Chapter 12.

(Electric generating facilities whose primary purpose is to generate electric power are excluded from this standard with regard to generation, transmission, and distribution of power.  Most electrical utilities have standards covering the protection of their facilities and equipment. Installations not directly related to those areas and structures housing such installations can be protected against lightning by the provisions of this standard.)

  • This document shall not cover lightning protection system installation requirements for early streamer emission systems or charge dissipation systems.

“Down conductors” must be at least #2 AWG copper (0 AWG aluminum) for Class I materials in structures less than 75-ft in height

“Down conductors: must be at least 00 AWG copper (0000 AWG aluminum) for Class II Materials in structures greater than 75-ft in height.

Related grounding and bonding  requirements appears in Chapters 2 and Chapter 3 of NFPA 70 National Electrical Code.  This standard does not establish evacuation criteria.  

University of Michigan | Washtenaw County (Photo by Kai Petainen)

The current edition is dated 2023 and, from the transcripts, you can observe concern about solar power and early emission streamer technologies tracking through the committee decision making.  Education communities have significant activity in wide-open spaces; hence our attention to technical specifics.

2023 Public Input Report

2023 Public Comment Report

Public input on the 2026 revision is receivable until 1 June 2023.

We always encourage our colleagues to key in their own ideas into the NFPA public input facility (CLICK HERE).   We maintain NFPA 780 on our Power colloquia which collaborates with IEEE four times monthly in European and American time zones.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

Lightning flash density – 12 hourly averages over the year (NASA OTD/LIS) This shows that lightning is much more frequent in summer than in winter, and from noon to midnight compared to midnight to noon.

Issue: [14-105]

Category: Electrical, Telecommunication, Public Safety, Risk Management

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Kane Howard


More

Installing lightning protection system for your facility in 3 Steps (Surge Protection)

IEEE Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology

Readings: The “30-30” Rule for Outdoor Athletic Events Lightning Hazard

Churches and chapels are more susceptible to lightning damage due to their height and design. Consider:

Height: Taller structures are more likely to be struck by lightning because they are closer to the cloud base where lightning originates.

Location: If a church or chapel is situated in an area with frequent thunderstorms, it will have a higher likelihood of being struck by lightning.

Construction Materials: The materials used in the construction of the building can affect its vulnerability. Metal structures, for instance, can conduct lightning strikes more readily than non-metallic materials.

Proximity to Other Structures: If the church or chapel is located near other taller structures like trees, utility poles, or buildings, it could increase the chances of lightning seeking a path through these objects before reaching the building.

Lightning Protection Systems: Installing lightning rods and other lightning protection systems can help to divert lightning strikes away from the structure, reducing the risk of damage.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance of lightning protection systems is essential to ensure their effectiveness. Neglecting maintenance could result in increased susceptibility to lightning damage.

Historical Significance: Older buildings might lack modern lightning protection systems, making them more vulnerable to lightning strikes.

The risk can be mitigated by proper design, installation of lightning protection systems, and regular maintenance. 

Virginia Tech

Storm Shelters

October 21, 2025
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2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES

Latest News and Documents

“Landscape between Storms” 1841 Auguste Renoir

 

When is it ever NOT storm season somewhere in the United States; with several hundred schools, colleges and universities in the path of them? Hurricanes also spawn tornadoes. This title sets the standard of care for safety, resilience and recovery when education community structures are used for shelter and recovery.  The most recently published edition of the joint work results of the International Code Council and the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute SEI-7 is linked below:

2020 ICC/NSSA 500 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.

Given the historic tornados in the American Midwest this weekend, its relevance is plain.  From the project prospectus:

The objective of this Standard is to provide technical design and performance criteria that will facilitate and promote the design, construction, and installation of safe, reliable, and economical storm shelters to protect the public. It is intended that this Standard be used by design professionals; storm shelter designers, manufacturers, and constructors; building officials; and emergency management personnel and government officials to ensure that storm shelters provide a consistently high level of protection to the sheltered public.

This project runs roughly in tandem with the ASCE Structural Engineering Institute SEI-17 which has recently updated its content management system and presented challenges to anyone who attempts to find the content where it used to be before the website overhaul.    In the intervening time, we direct stakeholders to the link to actual text (above) and remind education facility managers and their architectural/engineering consultants that the ICC Code Development process is open to everyone.

The ICC receives public response to proposed changes to titles in its catalog at the link below:

Standards Public Forms

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

You are encouraged to communicate with Kimberly Paarlberg (kpaarlberg@iccsafe.org) for detailed, up to the moment information.  When the content is curated by ICC staff it is made available at the link below:

ICC cdpACCESS

We maintain this title on the agenda of our periodic Disaster colloquia which approach this title from the point of view of education community facility managers who collaborate with structual engineers, architects and emergency management functionaries..   See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting, open to everyone.

Readings:

FEMA: Highlights of ICC 500-2020

ICC 500-2020 Standard and Commentary: ICC/NSSA Design and Construction of Storm Shelters

IEEE: City Geospatial Dashboard: IoT and Big Data Analytics for Geospatial Solutions Provider in Disaster Management

 

Americas Infrastructure Report Card

October 21, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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ASCE Standards Catalog | Standards Open for Public Comment

Electrical Trade Labor Standards

October 20, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Free Journeyman Electrician Practice Test 2025 Study Guide

United States national electrical trade standards prioritize safety, reliability, and economic efficiency in electrical systems. Governed primarily by the National Electrical Code upon which the University of Michigan has had a vote since 1996.

The NEC outlines requirements for wiring, equipment installation, grounding, and overcurrent protection to prevent hazards like electrical shocks, fires, and equipment failures. Compliance ensures safe operation in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Standards also promote energy efficiency, encouraging practices like proper insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable energy integration to reduce costs and environmental impact.

Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) further enforce safety through regulations and product certifications. Adherence to these standards minimizes risks, ensures system longevity, and supports economic benefits through reduced energy waste and maintenance costs, fostering a safe and sustainable electrical infrastructure.

European Union electrical trade standards prioritize safety, interoperability, and economic efficiency across member states. Governed by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU and harmonized standards from the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), these regulations ensure electrical equipment operates safely between 50-1000V AC or 75-1500V DC. Standards like EN 60335 address appliance safety, while EN 50110 outlines safe maintenance and operation practices. Compliance with CE marking requirements certifies adherence to safety, health, and environmental standards, facilitating market access.

For economy, the EU promotes energy efficiency through directives like the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, mandating efficient lighting, motors, and renewable energy integration to reduce consumption and costs. National regulations align with EU standards, ensuring consistency. These measures minimize electrical hazards, enhance system reliability, and support sustainability by reducing energy waste, fostering cost-effective, safe electrical infrastructure across the EU’s diverse markets.

Non-profit organizations and unions play a critical role in training electricians, ensuring skilled, safe, and competent professionals. Organizations like the National Electrical Contractors Association And unions such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Offer structured apprenticeship programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on training.

These programs cover electrical theory, National Electrical Code compliance, safety practices, and emerging technologies like renewable energy systems. Non-profits often provide certifications, scholarships, and continuing education to promote workforce development. Unions advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions, while their training centers emphasize practical skills, ensuring electricians meet industry standards and contribute to reliable, efficient electrical systems.

Join us today with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

 

Morning Shower

October 20, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Complete Monograph: 2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES

Annual Conference Home Page

“The Bathing Pool” | Hubert Robert (1733–1808)

CLICK IMAGE to access complete text

Design Considerations for Hot Water Plumbing

Baseline Standards for Student Housing

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

Indoor plumbing has a long history, but it became widely available in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the United States, for example, the first indoor plumbing system was installed in the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Virginia in the early 18th century. However, it was not until the mid-19th century that indoor plumbing became more common in middle-class homes.

One important milestone was the development of cast iron pipes in the 19th century, which made it easier to transport water and waste throughout a building. The introduction of the flush toilet in the mid-19th century also played a significant role in making indoor plumbing more practical and sanitary.

By the early 20th century, indoor plumbing had become a standard feature in most middle-class homes in the United States and other developed countries. However, it was still not widely available in rural areas and poorer urban neighborhoods until much later.

International Plumbing Code

Form v. Function | Function v. Form

Carnegie Classifications

October 20, 2025
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The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, or simply the Carnegie Classification, is the framework for classifying colleges and universities in the United States. Created in 1970, it is named after and was originally created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, but responsibility for the Carnegie Classification was transferred to Indiana University‘s Center for Postsecondary Research, in 2014.

The framework primarily serves educational and research purposes, where it is often important to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions. The classification includes all accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States that are represented in the National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education ®

Sport News

October 20, 2025
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Michigan Girl, Our Michigan Girl….

Sport Standards

 

 

Mixed Gender Sport by Design

Engineering in Sport



“Rowing is more poetry than sport.” — George Pocock (‘Boys in the Boat’ 2024), a British-born boat builder, rowing coach, and influential figure in American rowing, best known for his craftsmanship of racing shells and his philosophical approach to the sport.

Winter Sport

Retrodiction

October 20, 2025
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“In a world of infinite information,

the scarce resource is attention.”

Eric Weinstein

 

By design, we do not provide a SEARCH function. We are a niche practice in a subtle, time-sensitive domain with over 30 years of case history.  We were the first movers in the largest building construction market in the world.  We are happy to answer all questions but place priority on collaborations.  We provide links to the most accessed topics in recent days. All queries presented during our “Open Office Hours” every work day, or via email, are gratefully received and prompt a near-immediate response.

Community Hub Schools

Podcast Production

Secretariat: China

Performance Monitoring for Power Plants

Flying Tigers

Apple Picking Robot

Babcock Neighborhood School

Towards Crafting Beer with Artificial Intelligence

Sisu

Promovendus maakt recyclebaar rubber

Sport Lighting

Architectural Billings

Storm Shelters

Masonry

Fireplace Brickwork

Trowel Trades

Soils and Foundations

Installer Tile Specialist Installation Standards

General Conditions of the Construction Contract

Occupancy Classification and Use

Naming & Signs

Life Safety Code

Abiit sed non oblita | Rebecca Luker

International Property Maintenance Code

THE GLOBAL LANGUAGE FOR COLOUR

Fireplace Safety

Inglenook

Radio 400

Maslenitsa “Pancake Week”

Home Economics

Birds in Winter

Cultural Resource Properties

The “Groundhog Day” Effect

Athletic Equipment Safety Standards

Punxsutawney High School Groundhog Day Assembly

Animal Safety

Throwing Stones

International Zoning Code

City Chickens 101

Abiit sed non oblitus | Houghton County Michigan

Shoe Fly Pie

Pink Squirrel

7th Edition (2018): Geometric Design of Highways & Streets

Wayfinding

Throwing Stones

Concrete Matters

Life Safety Code

International Zoning Code

Sabbath

Bowling and Billiards

How to Care for Horses in the Winter

Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code

LIVE: KWVS 101.5 FM

California Code Adoption for Local Jurisdictions

Climate Psychosis

Sacred Spaces

Chanson de Nuit, Op. 15, No. 1

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Gallery: Planetariums

Peach Mountain Radio Observatory

Observatories & Planetariums

Catcher in the Rye

Mince Pie & Tea

“Season of Light Illumination”

Animal Care during the Holidays

Evensong “Simple Gifts”

Special Events

Dahlgren Hall & “Seasoned” Coffee Mug Stories

Egg Nog Riot of 1826

Pain aux Raisins & Café au lait avec presse française

Textiles

Dresdner Stadtfest

“Season of Light Illumination”

Gallery: Graduation Commencement Speeches

Acoustics

La Loi Ne Fait Plus Le Bonheur

Theater Safety

Pain aux Raisins & Café au lait avec presse française

Alexis de Tocqueville on the Foundations of American Democracy

Abiit sed non oblita | Rebecca Luker

Christmas Bread & Tennessee Raw Milk

International Property Maintenance Code

What is Happening to the Family, and Why?

Charcuterie

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU

Clery Act

Sports Equipment & Surfaces

Guide to Premises Security

World Census of Agriculture

Healthcare Organization Management

Cinq ans après

International Fire Code

Traditional Latin Mass

Inglenook

Fireplace Lounges

Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers

Oxford College Student Center

Preparing Your Garden for Winter

Create a Winter Bird Haven

Duncan Stroik Architect

Code ignis MMXXVII

International Fire Code

Gallery: School Bond Referenda

Refrigeration Systems: Cadaver Preservation

Mortuary Arts

Standard for Interactions Between Medical Examiner, Coroner and Death Investigation Agencies

The Halloween Problem

Waterfowl Research

Monster Culture

Gross Anatomy Lab Renovation

Falsus in uno, Falsus in omnibus

Construction Technology Careers: Carpentry, HVAC, Plumbing

Data Centers

Data Center Wiring

Refrigeration Systems: Cadaver Preservation

Energy Standard for Data Centers

August 14, 2003

Social networks and culture in birds

Color Metrology

Interior Finishes

Color Calculation Standard E3415

GET TO KNOW YOUR CREWS: PAINT SHOP

What Is A Standard Drink?

Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code

Paint Hazard Management

Electrical Commissioning Specifications

Construction Technology Careers: Carpentry, HVAC, Plumbing

Sport Lighting

City Chickens 101

LIVE: 91.3 FM Cal Poly Student Radio

Data Center Wiring

High-voltage switchgear and controlgear

Lingua Franca

Water and Sanitation

Bleachers, Folding Seating & Grandstands

Classroom Furniture

First Day of School

Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code

“The Boys in the Boat”

Group A Model Building Codes

Acceptable Performance Standard for District Cooling Systems

Farm Electrical Power

Keeping Animals Cool

Farm Electrical Power

Evensong “Knoxville: Summer of 1915”

Peach Mountain Radio Observatory

Uniform Plumbing Code

Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code

International Zoning Code

Energy Standard for *Sites* and Buildings

Protecting Animals When Disaster Strikes

S. 5: Laken Riley Act

Entertainment Occupancies

Steeplechase Water Jump

C++

The Best Student-Friendly Brownies

print(“Python”)

Michigan State University

Oxford College Student Center

Sacred Spaces

Laboratory Fume Hood Safety

University of Iowa | Johnson County

2028 National Electrical Safety Code

Национа́льный иссле́довательский То́мский госуда́рственный университе́т

Robie House

Making Greenwich the centre of the world

Roger Scruton Memorial Lectures

Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in the future


Winter Vegetable Soup

Electrical heat tracing: international harmonization-now and in the future

Brankscom Hall Toronto

Fire Alarm & Signaling Code

Ice Swimming

Uniform Plumbing Code


Banished Words 2024

Ædificare & Utilization


“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession

of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

 

 

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