Fire Alarm Upgrade - The Home Depot
Retail
The Project
The Home Depot location in Elmont, NY required design and installation of a completely new fire alarm system in order to comply with code requirements. QPM was hired to manage the fire alarm contractor, the alarm design group, the local Planning and Zoning Department, the permit expeditor, and to work with a particularly strict Fire Marshal to ensure compliance.
The QPM Solution
QPM was asked to complete a work schedule, keep store management informed and involved during the project, provide weekly updates to the Home Depot Construction department, and schedule inspections with the Fire Marshal. Because the ceiling structure of the site was unusual (the building had once been three separate structures which had been combined into one facility), the project was particularly challenging.
Phase 1
The first phase of the project was to design the system, acquire the permit and install based on the approved plans. (350) smoke detectors were placed through out the sales floor and office are, a new main panel was installed, and all new flow switches and audio/visual devices were required. Once installed, inspections were scheduled for approval. Upon inspection, the Fire Marshal was not satisfied with the outcome of Phase 1 and required more additions to the fire alarm system.
Phase 2
Upon his inspection during Phase 1, the Fire Marshal added the requirement of an additional 300+ smoke detectors because the 88 skylights and beam pockets were deeper than 18 inches, which required an upgraded fire alarm panel. The Marshal also required full-time Fire Watch, for which QPM acquired bids and hired a Fire Watch company.
Based on these new requirements, QPM managed the re-design of the drawings and obtained the Fire Marshal’s approval on the revisions. In addition, issues surfaced with the contractor used for Phase 1 and QPM had to research, bid and hire a new contractor to complete these new requirements set forth in Phase 2.
Phase 3
After final inspection and approval, the store experienced (2) false alarms within a one-week period of time due to the high dust content near the smoke detectors, which could have resulted in large fines to the store. To solve this issue, QPM established a maintenance program to ensure that the high-dust environment did not interfere with operation of the smoke detectors. Also, an additional enunciator and strobe were installed at the Customer Service desk to help store personnel know when a device needed attention.
The Results
QPM’s knowledge of managing and correcting compliance issues, as well as drawing review, helped The Home Depot obtain the best method for insuring compliance with all of the local fire codes in Elmont, NY.
QPM received final approval from the Fire Marshall and was successful in obtaining the ‘Certificate of Completion’ from the local Planning and Zoning Department.
In addition, the maintenance program QPM put in place to help manage the high-dust environment is still being used and no additional false alarms have been reported and no fines have been issued to the site.
Despite the challenges that arose during the project, QPM was able to work with the expeditor and maintain a good relationship with the Fire Marshal and store management team, minimizing the impact to store sales, as the store remained open for business throughout the upgrade process.
