Fire Protection

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.

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.