Government Archives

April 6, 2018 by patrick

Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center IDIQ

The Women’s Health Pavilion renovation at the VA Medical Center in Washington, DC is a good example of Rhino’s creative problem-solving abilities as well as working in an occupied environment. Site surveys had to occur during normal business hours while the facility was fully occupied. The project involved renovation of the 5th floor (9,300 sf) in an occupied hospital. The architectural design called for a “Green Tree” floor plan to create a friendly, warm environment without any square corners.

This rounded corner architectural design posed problems for the design of the sprinkler and fire alarm system. Standard spacing of fire alarm devices and sprinklers were required as well as NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 spacing limitations enforced in a round room. Rhino worked with the Architect to provide the minimum number of devices, which reduced materials and installation costs and resulted in an esthetically pleasing space.

March 10, 2016 by patrick

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Rhino FPE was engaged to conduct a conditions assessment of 28 buildings at the Goddard Space Flight Center. Facilities included large-scale satellite testing facilities, clean rooms, laboratories, office buildings, and other spaces. Our assessment encompassed a code compliance review as well as evaluation of each building with respect to structural elements and life safety features including fire alarm and fire suppression systems, and emergency egress. Facilities were evaluated based on various building codes and regulations including IBC 2006, NFPA, NASA Safety Standard for Fire Protection, and other nationally recognized standards as appropriate.

Rhino developed a Conditions Deficiencies Report detailing our findings as well as a prioritized list of recommendations for remediation with construction cost estimates.

March 7, 2016 by patrick

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Headquarters Renovation

The CFPB is an independent agency of the U.S. government responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector. Rhino FPE provided life safety, fire alarm, and fire protection design as a member of the design/build-bridging team for the renovation and modernization of this high-rise, partially occupied building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The scope included replacement of the building envelope and complete renovation of interior spaces to create an open office concept. Rhino provided life safety consultation as well as design for the standpipe, fire pump, sprinkler, and fire alarm systems. We also provided performance-based code equivalences to minimize construction impact on historic elements, and created a phasing plan to maintain completion function of fire detection and suppression utilities supply, emergency egress, and safety barriers for the grade-level tenants that occupied the building throughout construction.

March 7, 2016 by patrick

Willow Grove Readiness Center

Rhino Fire Protection Engineering was chosen to provide life safety analysis, fire alarm, and sprinkler system design services for the brigade’s new headquarters facility at the Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base.
Formerly a Naval Air Station, Willow Grove Joint Reserve Base is just one example of how the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process is shaping the future of military installations around the country.

Rhino FPE is proud to be able to use our expertise to help provide our military with the quality, safe facilities they deserve.

March 2, 2016 by patrick

P-154 Joint Aircrew Escape Component Center

This project encompassed construction of three new buildings: a 3,000 sf Magazine Building, 8,600 sf Storage Facility, and 10,500 sf Office Building. At project outset, Rhino conducted interviews with the tenant to gain an understanding of the daily facility operations planned for each structure along with the types of hazardous materials to be stored and the functional processes to be conducted. Our subsequent fire protection systems designs were based on these interviews and applicable codes to provide an adequate level of protection.

The fire alarm system was designed for all three buildings. Due to small building size, sprinkler systems were required for only two structures. Rhino also provided an explosion suppression system designed to provide detection and suppression of an oxidizing explosion in under 500 milliseconds for a portion of one building to satisfy client requirements.