Preserving Historical Buildings While Modernizing Fire Safety

By Julie Brown, global director of business transformation, Johnson Controls

With systems advancing at an accelerated pace, it’s inevitable that K-12 school districts will eventually require a fire and life safety retrofit. But historical buildings that demand special attention can derail the best laid plans. One west coast high school experienced this challenge firsthand when retrofitting its sprinkler system to enhance safety and reduce costs. The school’s contracted systems provider simply lacked the experience necessary to safely update fire infrastructure without damaging the integrity of the building. With phases one and two of the retrofit finalized and deadlines fast approaching, the school needed to bring in another organization to safely complete phases three and four.

Fire retrofits guided by expert customer communication

The school’s search for a team with extensive experience working on historical buildings led it to Johnson Controls. On-site coordination and weekly meetings ensured all decision makers were aligned throughout the retrofit process to minimize the production and performance issues that occurred with the previous systems provider. Leveraging the existing underground supply system and their proven track record updating historical facilities, Johnson Controls experts implemented a full sprinkler system that met the school’s criteria for pipes, sprinkler heads and hangar attachments.

Creating safer learning environments without sacrificing historic integrity

The completed fire sprinkler retrofit modernizes the school’s systems without negatively impacting its historical integrity. By working with Johnson Controls, the school was able to bond at their desired value and keep costs low, freeing up valuable capital that can be redirected to students. And by adhering to weekly coordination meetings, the school was empowered to meet its desired deadlines and avoid previous missteps. The high school is now a safer learning environment without sacrificing its history.

To learn more about how Johnson Controls supports K-12 students and teachers through smart, safe, healthy and sustainable buildings, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/industries/k-12-education.