Harrington Group, Inc. (Harrington Group) was asked by a client to perform a quality assurance review of a fire safety solution design prepared by another fire protection engineering consultant. The scope of the design included a fire hazard analysis and development of a fire safety solution for a new paint supply company distribution center. The building occupancy for this tenant area involved the storage and distribution of significant quantities of combustible and flammable liquids.

The tenant would occupy 90,000 sq. ft. of the one-story 260,000 sq. ft. warehouse located in Texas. The city enforced the 2003 International Building Code, the 2003 International Fire Code, and applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards.
Combustible and flammable liquids were to be stored on double row open pallet racks to a height of 25 ft. In addition, the tenant was to maintain a minimum 6 in. flue space and aisle width was designated at 8 ft.

Harrington Group reviewed the fire safety solution design and found twelve (12) major errors. For example, several aspects of the solution were represented as code compliant, but in fact, were not. Other aspects were found to be infeasible due to the paint supply company’s operational constraints. Harrington Group also found that the fire safety solution resulted in several storage areas being under-protected. Finally, some aspects of the solution were found to be acceptable, but unnecessarily expensive.
Harrington Group developed a new fire safety solution for this project that satisfied all applicable codes and standards, provided adequate fire protection in all areas, and was $80,000 less expensive. This solution was accepted in full by the local building and fire code authorities.

Value Delivered

Harrington Group developed a new fire safety solution for this project that satisfied all applicable codes and standards, provided adequate fire protection in all areas, and was $80,000 less expensive.

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