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NFPA Develops Useful Tools for Fire Prevention Week

Diane Stone — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:36:41 +0000

The first observation of Fire Prevention Day was on October 9, 1920. It was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 8, 1871. Fire Prevention Day was later extended to a full week in 1922 and continues to be the longest running public health & safety awareness program in the history of the United States. This year, Fire Prevention Week will be observed from October 9^th through October 15^th and the theme is “Protect Your Family From Fire” and focuses on educating families about the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, and what to do in an emergency.

To help increase public awareness of the dangers of home fires, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed several tools available on the Fire Prevention Week website. The website has become a resource for anyone interested in putting together a community campaign or anyone interested in educating themselves and family members. While on the website, visitors can test their fire safety knowledge with the Fire Week Prevention Quiz, watch public service announcement videos, print out a Family Fire Safety Checklist, or download various Safety Tip Sheets.

Be sure to visit the Fire Prevention Week website for safety tips, statistical information, and more!

Robert McFeaters Joins Harrington Group, Inc.

Diane Stone — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:24:02 +0000

Duluth, GA – Harrington Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Robert McFeaters to the engineering team. Mr. McFeaters is a 2010 graduate from Georgia Tech, where he earned his BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He has joined Harrington Group as a Fire/Explosion Protection Engineering Consultant. He will be responsible for helping to develop solutions involving the handling, processing, and storage of flammable/combustible liquids and combustible dusts.

Prior to Harrington Group, he was employed with Halliburton Energy Services as an Associate Field Engineer, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mr. McFeaters has recently relocated from Pittsburgh to the metro-Atlanta area to join Harrington Group. In the short time that he has been back in the area, he has been able to reconnect with fellow Georgia Tech alum and join the Ruby Union, Atlanta Old White Rugby Football Club (OWRFC), where he plays the inside center position.

Public Fire Department Response Down 1.3%

Diane Stone — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:56:05 +0000

Estimates from data received by NFPA’s 2010 National Fire Experience Survey indicate that public fire departments responded to approximately 1,331,500 fires in the United States last year, down 1.3% from the previous year. This also represents the lowest amount of fire department response since NFPA began using this particular survey method back in 1977-78. While the percentage of fire department response decreased, the percentage of civilian deaths due to fire rose by 3.7%. There were an estimated 3,120 lives lost to fire in 2010. In addition to reported fires and civilian deaths, the survey records property damage figures. In 2010, those figures include $711 billion in residential properties, $421 million in public assembly properties, and $515 million in industrial properties. For more detailed information or to download the fire loss report, please visit NFPA’s website.

US Senate Designates September as Campus Fire Safety Month

Diane Stone — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:53:54 +0000

As students return to their colleges and universities, the US Senate has unanimously declared September as Campus Fire Safety Month. The bill is referred to as Senate Resolution 104 and stresses the need to educate young people in regards to the importance of fire safety during college years and beyond. According to the bill, 143 people have died in campus-related fires since January 2000. Campus-related fire deaths have been decreasing, from 20 in the 2006-2007 academic year, to six in 2010-2011. The decrease can be attributed to education and awareness programs, such as Campus Fire Safety Month. Please visit www.campus-firewatch.com for more information regarding campus fire safety.

Six Ways to Prevent Your Lift Trucks from Starting a Fire

Diane Stone — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:11:14 +0000

If you use powered lift trucks in your warehouse, as most warehouse operators do, there is a chance that someday one of them will start a fire in your facility. Are you prepared for that? Are you doing what you can now to prevent it? For six tips to prevent fork lift fires in your warehouse, download our white paper today for free (no registration required):

Six Ways to Prevent Lift Truck Fires

Georgia Manufacturer Cited for Combustible Dust

Diane Stone — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:23:09 +0000

OSHA has recently cited a Norcross, Georgia tea and coffee manufacturer, Excelso Coffee and Tea Co., for 19 violations related to combustible dust and other hazards. The proposed penalties total over $45,000. Among fourteen serious violations was the failure to install isolation devices on dust collector systems to prevent fires and explosions. Combustible dust explosions can be catastrophic, as illustrated by the 2008 Wentworth, Georgia Imperial Sugar explosion, where 14 people were killed and nearly 40 people injured. Combustible dust hazards exist in many industries such as agricultural, chemicals, food, and pharmaceutical. The Excelso fines are a reminder that you should know what your combustible dust hazards are, and that they are properly mitigated. If you aren’t sure, seek help from qualified professional.

Harrington Group, Inc. is on the Move!!

Diane Stone — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:41:04 +0000

Harrington Group, Inc.’s Atlanta office is moving to a new location, effective August 1, 2011. Please make note of our new office address. Our phone and fax numbers will remain unchanged.

2400 Meadowbrook Parkway

Suite 250

Duluth, GA 30096

Phone: (770) 564-3505

Fax: (770) 564-3509

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Harrington Group Provided Solutions to Help Client Reduce Construction Costs of Fire Protection by Approximately $50,000 to $100,000

Diane Stone — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:16:09 +0000

Cabinet Supply Company – Flammable Liquid Storage

A construction contractor (Client) requested that Harrington Group, Inc. (HGI) provide fire protection engineering and consulting services to develop appropriate, cost-effective fire protection solutions for a tenant space occupied by a cabinet supply company (Tenant). The Client also requested that HGI negotiate the acceptance of the solutions with the Gwinnett County (Georgia) Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Tenant was a cabinet supplier to local builders in the Atlanta area. Supplies include wood, facing, lacquer, and paint. As a result, the Tenant was required to maintain a small flammable and liquid storage operation on the premises. The Gwinnett County Fire Department conducted a walk through and cited that the existing storage operation did not comply with the Georgia fire code. The Tenant was given 30 days to either correct the code or shut down its operations entirely.

The Tenant initially obtained the services of a large, well-known, and respected fire protection engineering firm to provide consulting services in this matter. The firm provided a report that estimated $200,000 – $250,000 of construction costs in order to comply with the code.

The Tenant, unsatisfied with the cost of those solutions, then employed the services of yet another large, well-known, and respected fire protection engineering firm for a second consultation. This firm was able to provide a less expensive solution; however, the solution was rejected by the Gwinnett County Fire Department.

The Client finally hired Harrington Group to develop solutions for the Tenant and negotiate acceptance with the fire department. Harrington Group’s analysis revealed that the previous fire protection engineers did not apply the Georgia fire code correctly. Ultimately, these firms over-specified the code. They also requested that the Tenant install additional fire protection systems that were unnecessary.

HGI developed a cost-effective solution and gained the fire department’s approval, resulting in a total construction costs of less than $150,000, saving the Tenant between $50,000 to $100,000.

Harrington Group, Inc.’s Fire Protection Services Save Client over $100,000

Diane Stone — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:09:38 +0000

Tire Manufacturer – Code Analysis and Negotiation of Alternatives

A Tire Manufacturer (Client) requested that Harrington Group, Inc. provide assistance with fire code issues at a new manufacturing plant in Reno, Nevada. The client converted 160,000 square feet of an existing 800,000 square foot tire storage warehouse to manufacturing space. The A/E on the project had made mistakes in the design, which caused the local building and fire officials to become concerned about the explosion hazard of some of the ingredients in tires, specifically carbon black and sulfur. The fire marshal ultimately determined that carbon black was potentially a high explosion hazard. As a result, the building code, UBC, would not allow the facility to be constructed as Michelin proposed. Alterations to satisfy the building code would cost Michelin over $100,000, if the facility could even be built at all.

This project was on a fast track schedule, and was on the verge of being seriously jeopardized. Because this plant was the first full scale production facility using a new technical process, its success was critical for Michelin.

Harrington Group brought in one of the country’s premier explosion experts as a consultant. We were able to analyze the code and the hazards, correct the A/E’s design mistakes, conduct explosion testing of the carbon black, and develop a strategy for negotiations with the building and fire officials. We developed an approach which allowed the plant to be built exactly as it was originally proposed and worked out some fall back positions that were acceptable to Michelin.

Finally, Harrington Group met with the local fire marshal and gained acceptance of our approach without modification. The Client’s project was saved, and over $100,000 in unnecessary modifications were been prevented.

Harrington Group, Inc. Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Diane Stone — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:33:51 +0000

April 26, 2011 – Twenty-five years ago, Jeff Harrington saw the need to develop a higher quality, more informed resource for providing fire protection engineering consulting services. He began Harrington Group, Inc. as a one-man shop in the basement of his then Lilburn, Georgia home. Over the past 25 years, it has grown to become one of the largest and most experienced firms headquartered in the southeastern United Sates specializing in fire protection engineering, forensic fire engineering, and property loss control consulting. It has also emerged from that one-man basement shop to offices located in two cities: Duluth, GA and Charlotte, NC.

Harrington Group strives to create intimate client relationships through delivering the “Best Total Solution” to fire protection engineering problems every time. The firm’s mission is to provide clients with creative solutions while optimizing the relationship between cost and benefit. Their specialized expertise includes fire protection design, fire building codes, life safety codes, hazard risk assessments, and fire investigation and has taken the firm throughout the hemisphere with active projects in 20 states, as well as in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.

Harrington Group is proud to celebrate 25 years of providing unsurpassed excellence in the fire protection engineering industry. “We are excited about reaching this very important milestone and look forward to providing both private and public sectors with solutions to their fire protection needs”, said Mr. Harrington.