After more than 40 years in business, Harrington Group, Inc. has witnessed enormous changes in fire protection engineering. Buildings are more complex. Technology moves faster. Client needs continue to evolve.
According to Grant Gebhardt, Associate and Project Manager, one thing has remained constant: the core values that have guided HGI since the beginning. “Before we can talk about innovation, we have to establish what actually matters,” he says. And for HGI, that answer isn’t found in the latest technology. It’s found in curiosity. The best fire protection engineers aren’t just designers. They’re detectives.
Every project begins by gathering clues. How will this building actually operate? What risks are unique to the client? How will people use the space? Instead of jumping straight to solutions, Grant believes the best engineers investigate first. They ask questions, visit the site, study the codes, and keep digging until the full picture comes into focus.
“A lot of our problem solving starts with collecting clues,” Grant explains. “When clients see that we’re curious about their building and what they’re trying to accomplish, they know we’re invested in helping them. The fire protection falls into place after that.”
That detective mindset is what allows HGI to innovate without losing what matters.
Today’s clients are pushing boundaries with automated storage and retrieval systems, lithium-ion battery applications, cold storage facilities, and countless other emerging technologies. Those innovations require new approaches to fire protection, but they don’t change HGI’s responsibility. The job is still to understand the hazard before recommending the solution, and that’s why Grant says curiosity remains one of our greatest strengths.
“We’re not going to stop asking questions until we understand it.”
Innovation also means investing in people. As the industry evolves, we continue expanding our expertise through new technical services, dedicated training resources, and ongoing professional development. The tools may change, but the commitment to quality never does.
And once the mystery has been solved, there’s one final responsibility: explain it simply.
Grant laughs that engineers have a tendency to overcomplicate things. One lesson that’s stuck with him throughout his career is to “Keep it simple.” The goal isn’t to overwhelm clients with technical language. It’s to communicate clearly enough that everyone, from owners to contractors, understands what matters most.
Looking ahead, Grant expects the industry to continue changing. Buildings will become smarter. Hazards will evolve. New technologies will create new questions.
As long as HGI continues approaching every project like a detective, following the clues, asking the right questions, and never settling for the easy answer, we will continue doing what we have for the past 40 years: innovating without losing what matters. Our core values guide every decision we make. They always have and they always will.