Metropolitan Fire Protection contract renewed for Pace garage sprinkler system inspection and maintenance

Chicago, April 12, 2022 —Metropolitan Fire Protection, Inc. (MFP) has been awarded a five-year extension on its contract to inspect, test, and maintain the fire sprinkler systems at 12 Pace bus terminals in the Chicago metro area. The facilities, located throughout the six northeastern Illinois counties served by the public transportation and paratransit provider, range from Pace’s 30,000 square-foot paratransit facility in McHenry to its 176,000 square-foot South Division garage in Markham.

“Working with us over the past five years has allowed Pace bus management to experience firsthand the safety dividends of a well-maintained fire sprinkler system,” said Robyn Wehrle, MFP inspection and testing coordination manager. “Our certified Local 281 Sprinkler Fitters provide the specific expertise needed to follow proper protocols for buildings housing gasoline-powered vehicles and keep both the people and the buses protected.”

At the 12 Pace garages, MFP conducts all quarterly, semi-annual, annual sprinkler system inspections, including five-year obstruction investigations, monthly fire pump churn, and annual fire pump testing governed by state, municipal, and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) guidelines. The scope of work includes testing wet, dry, and deluge systems, as well as any hydrants located on the Pace premises. In addition, MFP’s union sprinkler fitters are on hand to ensure all equipment is up to code and rapidly make repairs to the sprinkler systems.

Metropolitan Fire Protection selected for retrofit of historic GSA Federal Building

Chicago, April 15, 2022 —Completed in 1935 during the Great Depression, the U.S. Post Office & Courthouse in Binghamton, NY, once symbolized the government’s efforts to project a strong federal presence in American cities despite the era’s economic challenges. Designed by local architects Conrad and Cummings, the building featured Neoclassical and Art Deco details befitting its authority and dignity—from a two-story oak-paneled courtroom to a magnificent marbled lobby with eight murals commissioned by the Treasury Department Section of Fine Arts.

Now the building—a registered national landmark maintained by the General Services Administration (GSA) and still in use—has been upgraded to 21st century safety standards. For the project, Chicago-based Metropolitan Fire Protection, Inc. (MFP) was contracted to design and fabricate a state-of-the-art sprinkler and fire suppression system, remove outdated sprinklers, and install the new components—all while respecting the architectural integrity of the historic four-story building.

MFP designed a detailed schematic for the installation and then fabricated the system components in its Chicago facility before shipping them to New York. Then an experienced team of MFP technicians remained on site in Binghamton for the six-month installation. Work on the project was completed in early 2022.

“Though all postal operations were relocated to another Binghamton facility in 1967 and parts of the interior were remodeled for office use by other federal agencies,” said Brian Ferguson, MFP’s executive vice president, “principal public areas with historic significance had been left untouched since it was built. Our challenge in the project is one we’ve faced numerous times before: bringing an existing structure up to and beyond current standards while protecting original fixtures and finishes, maintaining legacy design aesthetics, and being sensitive to the safety and workflow of current tenants.”