Kent County Times

Normally used just for clients, FM Global will bring its SimZone on Tour trailer to the University of Rhode Island on Sept. 12.

Modeled after FM Global’s warehouse-sized SimZone, the 53-foot expandable tractor trailer takes interactive exhibits related to fire protection, flood protection and more on the road across North America.

FM Global’s SimZone on Tour trailer. Photo courtesy of FM Global.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the trailer will be parked in the Tucker House Parking Lot and available for tours. It will be the first time FM Global has brought the trailer to a college campus.

“The SimZone on Tour is used to educate clients and partners on research-based solutions to protect their business from fire, climate risk and other perils,” said Connor Gormley, FM Global staff vice president and brand experience program manager. “By engaging in the demonstrations, students will see how they can leverage engineering to help companies be resilient.”

Inside the trailer, students will:

• Get their hands wet at the interactive flood table as they race to beat rising waters and protect a mock facility
• Use a global flood map touchscreen to view flood exposures anywhere in the world
• Witness how a seismic gas shutoff valve prevents large releases of flammable gas room pipes
• Test sample flood mitigation products that can be assembled quickly to hold back rising water
• Watch fire sprinklers discharge
• Discover the importance of inspection and testing of fire protection equipment

Students will also get to interact with URI engineering alumni Patrick Leonard ‘87 and Joel Roache ‘22. Leonard is an operations vice president and field engineering group manager at FM Global and Roache is a consultant engineer.

“There is a strong sense of family and collaboration at FM Global,” said Roache. “I’ve been accepted with open arms. My peers take time to help me acclimate to my new environment so that I have the highest chance of success in my career.”

FM Global hires engineers from a wide range of disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, computer, civil, industrial and systems, and chemical engineering.

“As an insurance company founded on the belief that the majority of loss is preventable, engineers are our largest workforce,” said Gormley. “Engineering is at the heart of our business model. Our engineers visit clients around the world to consult with them on property risk and help them identify how to implement solutions to be resilient.”

Anyone touring the SimZone on Tour trailer must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Original source can be found here.