Fire is the leading cause of property losses worldwide, yet it's been proven that devastating fire loss is indeed preventable with the proper sprinkler protection in place. By establishing performance criteria and through rigorous testing, engineers and researchers at the Hydraulics Laboratory have played a major role in FM Approvals' certification of devices used for cost-effective fire protection.

Projects undertaken at the Hydraulics Laboratory are driven by the needs of industry and by our clients' desire for fire protection that is effective, affordable and flexible. At the laboratory, sprinkler performance capabilities are scientifically understood and empirically tested so that, in the final analysis, there is no question about a system's effectiveness.

The laboratory houses both wet and dry lab test areas where engineers and technicians perform various hydraulic, mechanical and environmental tests on fire protection system components and related devices, such as sprinklers, couplings and valves. Tests such as these ensure the devices will work as intended when properly installed and maintained; and the cost of testing and development is kept to a minimum in an effort to make reliable and effective products available at an affordable price.

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