Engineering Services
Fire Protection & Life Safety
Comprehensive fire protection engineering including automatic sprinkler systems, special suppression systems, standpipe and fire pump design, and complete life safety code compliance.
Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Automatic sprinkler systems are the most effective and reliable means of controlling and extinguishing fires in buildings, and EBS Engineering PC designs these systems to the highest standards of safety and performance. Our fire protection engineers have extensive experience designing sprinkler systems for every building type and occupancy classification, from light hazard office buildings to extra hazard industrial and storage facilities.
Wet Pipe Systems: The most common and reliable type of sprinkler system, wet pipe systems maintain water under pressure in the piping at all times, providing immediate discharge when a sprinkler head activates. We design wet pipe systems for all heated spaces where there is no risk of pipe freezing, sizing mains, cross-mains, and branch lines using hydraulic calculations to ensure adequate water flow and pressure at the most remote and most demanding sprinkler heads.
Dry Pipe Systems: For unheated spaces such as parking garages, loading docks, attics, and freezer warehouses where wet pipe systems would be subject to freezing, we design dry pipe systems that maintain pressurized air or nitrogen in the piping. When a sprinkler head activates, the air pressure drops, opening the dry pipe valve and allowing water to flow into the piping and discharge from the activated sprinkler. Our dry pipe designs account for the additional water delivery time and include properly sized accelerators or exhausters to minimize the delay.
Pre-Action Systems: Pre-action systems provide an additional level of protection against accidental discharge, making them ideal for environments with high-value or water-sensitive contents such as data centers, museums, archives, and telecommunications facilities. We design both single-interlock and double-interlock pre-action systems that require activation of a separate detection system before water is admitted to the sprinkler piping, significantly reducing the risk of water damage from mechanical damage to sprinkler heads or piping.
Deluge Systems: For high-hazard applications where rapid fire spread is a concern, such as aircraft hangars, chemical storage areas, and transformer vaults, we design deluge systems with open sprinkler heads that simultaneously discharge water over the entire protected area when activated by a detection system. Our deluge designs include careful hydraulic analysis to ensure adequate water supply for the high simultaneous flow demands of these systems.
Special Suppression Systems
Not all fire hazards can be effectively addressed with water-based sprinkler systems. EBS Engineering PC designs a range of special suppression systems for applications where water would be ineffective, damaging, or inappropriate.
Clean Agent Systems: For the protection of sensitive electronic equipment, data centers, server rooms, telecommunications facilities, and other spaces where water damage would be catastrophic, we design clean agent fire suppression systems using agents such as FM-200 (HFC-227ea), Novec 1230, and inert gas blends (IG-541, IG-55). These agents extinguish fires without leaving residue and are safe for use in occupied spaces at design concentrations. Our clean agent designs include proper room integrity testing, agent quantity calculations, discharge nozzle placement, detection and control panel design, and abort switch provisions.
Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems: Commercial kitchen cooking equipment presents unique fire hazards from cooking oils and grease. We design wet chemical suppression systems (such as Ansul R-102 and Kidde systems) that protect cooking appliances, hood plenums, and exhaust ductwork. Our designs include proper nozzle placement for each piece of cooking equipment, mechanical and electrical interlocks for gas and electrical shutoff, and manual pull station locations in accordance with NFPA 96 and UL 300.
Foam Suppression Systems: For flammable liquid hazards such as fuel storage areas, loading docks, and industrial processes involving combustible liquids, we design foam suppression systems that blanket the liquid surface to prevent vapor release and extinguish the fire. We select the appropriate foam concentrate type (AFFF, AR-AFFF, or fluorine-free foam) based on the specific hazard and environmental considerations.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Systems: For specific industrial applications such as paint spray booths, printing presses, and engine test cells, we design total flooding or local application CO2 suppression systems. Due to the life safety concerns associated with CO2 discharge in occupied spaces, our designs include comprehensive safety features including pre-discharge alarms, time delays, lockout provisions, and post-discharge ventilation.
Standpipe Systems & Fire Pumps
Standpipe systems provide a means for firefighters to connect hoses and deliver water to upper floors and remote areas of buildings where the reach of exterior hose streams is limited. EBS Engineering PC designs standpipe systems in accordance with NFPA 14 (Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems) for all buildings where they are required by the building code or where they are voluntarily provided for enhanced fire protection.
We design Class I standpipe systems with 2-1/2 inch hose connections for firefighter use, Class II systems with 1-1/2 inch hose connections for building occupant use, and Class III combined systems. Our designs include properly located hose connections in stairwells, at building entrances, and in other locations required by code, as well as fire department connections (FDCs) that allow firefighters to supplement the building's water supply from their apparatus.
Fire Pump Design: When the available municipal water pressure is insufficient to meet the flow and pressure demands of the sprinkler and standpipe systems, we design fire pump systems to boost the water supply. Our fire pump designs include the selection of the appropriate pump type (horizontal split-case, vertical in-line, or vertical turbine), driver type (electric motor or diesel engine), and capacity based on the system demand calculations. We design complete fire pump rooms with the pump, driver, controller, jockey pump, test header, and all associated piping and valves in accordance with NFPA 20 (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection).
Our fire pump designs include detailed hydraulic calculations that account for the pump's performance curve, suction conditions, and the system demand curve to ensure reliable operation under all anticipated conditions. We coordinate with the electrical engineer to ensure adequate and reliable power supply to electric fire pumps, including provisions for emergency power where required by code.
Life Safety Code Compliance
Life safety encompasses all building features and systems designed to protect occupants during fire and other emergencies, and EBS Engineering PC integrates life safety considerations into every aspect of our fire protection design. We design in compliance with NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), the International Building Code (IBC), and all applicable state and local fire codes.
Our life safety designs address means of egress requirements including exit access, exit, and exit discharge components. We coordinate with architects to ensure that travel distances, common path of travel, dead-end corridor lengths, exit widths, and exit signage meet code requirements. We design emergency lighting systems that provide adequate illumination along all egress paths for the required duration during power failures.
We design fire-rated construction assemblies including fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions, and we specify fire-rated penetration seals and firestop systems for all penetrations through rated assemblies. Our designs include smoke control and smoke management systems where required by code, including stairwell pressurization systems, atrium smoke exhaust systems, and elevator hoistway pressurization.
For high-rise buildings, we design comprehensive fire and life safety systems including fire command centers, two-way fire department communication systems, elevator recall and firefighter service provisions, and emergency voice/alarm communication systems. We coordinate all fire protection and life safety systems to function as an integrated whole, ensuring that detection, notification, suppression, smoke control, and egress systems work together to protect building occupants during emergencies.
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