Retail facilities face many concerns regarding fire, life safety, and security. Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC) established its roots in the retail sector, where we solved complex code compliance and design issues for some of the world’s most successful, well-known retailers. Whether your facility is a brick-and-mortar store, an online retailer with physical warehouses, or a shopping center, TEC can provide comprehensive fire protection and security solutions for your project.
Specific Concerns
Customer and Staff Safety
Retail clients need robust fire, life safety, and security systems to ensure their customers’ and employees’ safety. Stores and other retail facilities require the rapid detection and containment of fires and a clear path of egress so occupants have ample time to escape in an emergency. Additionally, staff and customers want to feel safe from security threats and criminal activity in the building, which requires access control, surveillance, and other security systems.
Property Protection
Clients in the retail sector are particularly concerned about property protection, focusing on preventing break-ins, burglaries, and vandalism that could result in significant financial losses. They also prioritize safeguarding their physical assets, such as merchandise and inventory, from theft or damage due to fire or other emergencies, necessitating robust security measures and fire protection systems that can swiftly detect and respond to threats, preserving the integrity of their property.
Code Compliance
In order to avoid legal and regulatory compliance issues, retail businesses must adhere to fire codes, safety regulations, and security industry-best standards. This includes fire safety and security inspections, accessibility requirements, and health and safety regulations compliance.
Relevant Services
Access Control
TEC designs access control systems, which are the main managers of security technology systems, including doors, intrusion detection devices, identity management systems, and more. Our access control services include designing systems that provide management of doors and intrusion detection devices and provide identity management based on authorization privileges established at implementation and modified when needed. They can be unified or integrated with video systems.
Fire Alarm Design
TEC’s fire protection engineers can design fire alarm systems, including sensors, alarms, and control panels, to detect fires and allow occupants and emergency responders to respond effectively. Our experts’ designs incorporate local building and fire code compliance as well as integration with other fire suppression and detection systems.
Fire Suppression Design
TEC provides design services for a variety of fire suppression systems, including fire sprinkler systems, foam-water suppression systems, low and high-expansion foam systems, and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) system replacement. Our team will assess the needs of our client and the local regulations to determine which suppression system would be the most effective.
Jurisdictional & Code Compliance
Telgian Engineering’s fire protection consultants specialize in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code, International Building Code (IBC), and International Fire Code (IFC), as well as local jurisdictional requirements. We use this expertise to help our clients comply with all relevant codes and standards. TEC collaborates with authority-having jurisdictions (AHJs) to verify building safety and compliance with fire regulations.
Life Safety Analysis and Design
TEC offers life safety analysis and designs of the site, including fire department access, amenities, identification and correction of deficiencies in egress, such as noncompliant paths and appropriate exit signage, proper fire extinguisher provisions, and fire hose locations.
Risk Assessment
TEC will conduct assessments of existing facilities and processes and identify areas of improvement for risk mitigation. Our assessments focus on the operational use factors important for building operations.
Video Surveillance
TEC’s security team specializes in incorporating video surveillance into your facility’s security program. Cameras can provide real-time visual information about movement in your facilities. TEC utilizes sophisticated features like object detection and artificial intelligence to deliver an efficient video management program. We also design our video management systems to allow authorized individuals, such as emergency responders, to view real-time video to respond when an incident occurs.