Occupancies involving the storage and use of hazardous chemicals present unique and complex fire protection and life safety challenges. While laboratories may involve very different fire and risk mitigation needs as compared to large scale industrial processing or manufacturing, informed and purposeful design is required for both alike to ensure effective execution and safe operation over the life cycle of the facility. With multiple Fire Protection Engineers having backgrounds in Chemical Engineering, our Team brings a unique perspective to solving challenges associated with code compliance and risk mitigation within these occupancies. In addition to extensive experience applying specialized hazardous material related codes and standards in jurisdictions across the country, our team of experts is also involved with the national code development process for several of these documents. This facilitates a very practical and informed approach to fire protection and life safety in situations where code compliance is not black and white, as can often be the case in these occupancies. Our capabilities include:
- Chemical Classification and Analysis
- High-Hazard Group H Compliance Strategies
- International Building Code Hazardous Materials Report (a.k.a “414 Report”)
- Laboratory Permitting Support
- Existing Facility Compliance Reviews – Laboratory, Factory/Industrial, Goods Manufacturing Practice (GMP), and Clean Rooms
- Specialty Code Consulting: NFPA 2, NFPA 30, NFPA 33, NFPA 34, NFPA 45, NFPA 55, NFPA 400
- Control Area Plan Development and Compliance Strategies
- Laboratory Suite Plan Development and Compliance Strategies
- Semiconductor Fabrication Facility Compliance Strategies – NFPA 318 Compliance
- Explosion Protection – NFPA 68 and NFPA 69 Compliance
- Electrical Area Classification Analysis – NFPA 497 and NFPA 499 Consulting
- Fire Risk Assessments
- Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA)
- Hazardous Material Fire Suppression Design