what is FM Global?

FM Global (now branded simply as FM) is a large U.S.-based mutual insurance company that specializes in commercial and industrial property insurance and engineering‑driven loss prevention for big businesses worldwide.[1][2]

What FM / FM Global is

  • FM (legal name Factory Mutual Insurance Company) is a mutual insurer headquartered in Johnston, Rhode Island, with offices around the world.[3][1]
  • It focuses on the “highly protected risk” (HPR) segment: large, well‑engineered properties where clients invest heavily in risk reduction (manufacturing plants, data centers, logistics hubs, etc.).[1][3]
  • The company is consistently ranked among the largest commercial property insurers globally and appears on the Fortune 500 list.[4][2]

What they do

  • Provide commercial and industrial property insurance (buildings, equipment, business interruption) to large corporations around the world.[5][2]
  • Deliver extensive risk engineering and loss‑prevention services, using a large staff of in‑house engineers who inspect properties and recommend improvements (fire protection, natural hazard resilience, equipment protection, etc.).[2][4]
  • Operate FM Approvals, which tests and certifies products and systems (e.g., roofing assemblies, fire protection equipment) for performance and loss‑prevention effectiveness according to FM standards.[6][3]

Why you hear “FM Global” in construction/roofing

  • FM publishes detailed property loss prevention standards and approval guides that many designers, roof manufacturers, and owners use, especially for wind uplift, fire, and hail resistance of roof assemblies.[6]
  • Many commercial specifications require roofing and other building products to be “FM Approved” or to meet specific FM ratings (e.g., 1-90 uplift), because those assemblies have been tested under FM’s protocols to perform under defined loads and hazards.[6]

Given your inspection background, are you mainly interested in FM from the standpoint of their building/roofing approval standards, or more in their role as an insurer and risk‑engineering firm?