New books of note

Fire-safe buildings Fire Protection Engineering in Building Design by Jane I. Lataille, P.E., is an excellent reference on incorporating fire protection standards compliance into the design of buildings. This handbook should prove useful for engineers involved with commercial buildings as well as those dealing with industrial structures.

By Staff February 10, 2004

Fire-safe buildings

Fire Protection Engineering in Building Design by Jane I. Lataille, P.E., is an excellent reference on incorporating fire protection standards compliance into the design of buildings. This handbook should prove useful for engineers involved with commercial buildings as well as those dealing with industrial structures.

Chapters include: What is Fire Protection Engineering? Functions of Fire Protection Systems, Performance-Based Fire Protection Design, Prescriptive Fire Protection Design, Interfacing with the Other Disciplines, and Fire Protection for New and Existing Buildings.

Fire Protection Engineering in Building Design by Jane I. Lataille, P.E., Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier Science, 200 Wheeler Rd, 6thFloor, Burlington, MA 01803; 781-313-4700; bh.com. Hardbound, 133 pp.

Maintenance benchmarking how-to

There are a number of books on benchmarking available. Benchmarking Best Practices in Maintenance Management by Terry Wireman is distinctive in that it focuses exclusively on maintenance. This book provides users all the necessary tools and information need to properly benchmark their maintenance functions.

Among the valuable features offered:

Provides a concise guide to benchmarking methodology

Explains and interprets current benchmark metrics

Provides a database from more than 100 companies

Includes a thorough outline for self-analysis of maintenance organization and practices.

In addition, there is a wealth of information and guidance on management, organization, training, planning and scheduling, materials management, and many other related topics.

This book will prove valuable to anyone working to improve plant maintenance operations.

Benchmarking Best Practices in Maintenance Management by Terry Wireman. Industrial Press Inc., 200 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016; 212-889-6330; industrialpress.com . Hardbound, 228 pp, $41.95.