Fireproofing Brazil:

For 36 years, Colonel Cássio Roberto Armani saw firsthand how the tragic fires he combatted in São Paulo, Brazil, could have been avoided. That experience inspired him to work with fire protection organizations and legislators to better Brazilian official standards and technical standards of ABNT (Brazilian Technical Standardization Association).

The Colonel has fought ardently for wider use of automatic sprinklers in building and fire codes in Brazil. Today, the country is moving along at a faster clip toward a national model code, thanks to the groundwork done by Col. Armani, in conjunction with others, including Marcelo Lima, assistant vice president and senior codes and standards consultant at FM Global.

"Cássio has always been a strong proponent of the need for better fire data in Brazil," says Lima. "He's also a long-time champion for the use of better quality products in the São Paulo Fire Code. I believe Brazil is on the cusp of major changes, and I wouldn't be able to say that if it weren't for Colonel Armani's participation."

The newly-retired leader of the São Paulo State Fire Service, a corps of 10,000 people, Col. Armani has earned FM Global's first annual International Codes and Standards Advocacy Award for his tireless work as both firefighter and legislative trailblazer.

Find out how Col. Armani led the charge to revolutionize the codes and standards of fire prevention in São Paulo and earn this FM Global award that recognizes those throughout the world who are strong proponents that majority of loss is preventable.

Learn more about FM Global's International Codes and Standards