The Challenge
As an automated boat storage facility, Gulf Star Marina in Fort Myers, Florida is the first of its kind. It utilizes a crane in much the same way a distributor like Amazon would, except this crane is equipped to move boats. It is an impressive facility, indeed. Unfortunately, construction began before any consideration of a fire suppression system, and the Owners were beset with code violations by the fire marshal. Because the building was already built, and because it was a solid concrete prefabricated building, there were limited options for a fire suppression system. A traditional sprinkler system was out of the question.
The Solution
This project posed several challenges for Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC). Because of the complexity and expense of the crane and its value to the business, it was imperative that the crane remained protected and dry during testing for any suppression system. Because of the location, saltwater corrosion also had to be taken into account when considering fire detection options. The size of the facility was also another factor. There are 42 bays, each of which are anywhere from 10 to 20 feet high and 60 feet long.
TEC devised a solution to meet the needs of this unique project—a high-expansion foam system with double-interlock detection. To avoid the risk of false alarms, this system requires two separate alarm signals to trigger the foam application. The effort required to clean up the foam if the alarm is triggered is extensive and mandates significant environmental considerations, so false alarms would be a logistical nightmare.
The Outcome
With a fire detection and suppression system in place, construction on the Gulf Star Marina was able to resume. Both the fire marshal and the owner were satisfied and the design took the business one step closer to being ready for its grand opening.
About Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC)
Leading the industry since 1985, TEC is trusted by businesses around the globe as a single-source solution for fire protection, security and life safety services. This full-service global engineering and risk mitigation consulting firm specializes in complex, multi-discipline public and private sector projects. TEC provides professional services related to the protection of people, property, information, and organizational mission against preventable losses. These include strategic/enterprise risk management, fire protection engineering, industrial security, environmental health and safety, emergency management, operations continuity consulting, and construction administration services. TEC professionals are dedicated to delivering value through effective protection solutions that meet today’s unique risk challenges. Contact us for immediate support at 1.302.300.1400 or tec@telgian.com.