Forensic Fire Engineering Investigation of the Accidental Discharge and Catastrophic Failure of a Gaseous Fire Suppression System

A large telecommunications company utilized high-pressure gaseous fire extinguishing systems to provide protection for a number of critical facilities. One of these systems discharged suddenly for no apparent reason. The pipe network immediately failed catastrophically causing severe damage to the facility.

The telecommunications company (Owner) asked Harrington Group to conduct a forensic fire engineering investigation of the failure, determine the likely cause, and review numerous similar systems installed to protect other facilities owned by them. The Owner’s primary objective was to learn from the failure and audit other systems quickly to assure similar incidents would not occur in other critical facilities.

Harrington Group determined the probable cause of the violent system failure and provided a preliminary written report to the Owner within four days of its occurrence. Within 10 days of the incident, Harrington Group completed a review of the other similar systems and provided the Owner with written recommendations to improve their reliability to an appropriately high level.

Value Delivered

Harrington Group’s forensic fire engineers provided the Owner with written recommendations to improve their fire extinguishing systems reliability within 10 days of the incident.

By Jeff Harrington, CEO and Founder of Harrington Group, Inc.

By Jeff Harrington, CEO and Founder of Harrington Group, Inc.