Rhino

by

Washington Aqueduct

Owner

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Location

Washington, DC
United States

Project Information

69 Buildings on 4 Campuses
1.5 million SF
National Historic Landmark

Sector

The Washington Aqueduct produces drinking water for approximately one million people in Washington, DC and parts of Northern Virginia. It was commissioned by Congress in 1852, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, began operating in 1859, and has been in continuous use ever since. Today, the Aqueduct encompasses 69 buildings on four (4) campuses.

Rhino was engaged to conduct surveys of all 69 buildings for compliance with UFC fire and life safety requirements, and to serve as Fire Protection Designer of Record for new fire alarm systems in 10 historically significant buildings. This effort was subsequently increased to 18 buildings based on our survey findings, and included fire suppression modifications to several buildings. Each building is completely protected by an automatic fire alarm and mass notification system. The fire alarm systems are connected to the Operator’s Control desk on each campus via a fiber optic communication loop.

by

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center – Commissioning

Owner

U.S. Government

Location

Washington, DC
United States

Project Information

580,000 SF
Highly complex & interlocked systems
over 5,000 fire alarm devices

Sector

Rhino FPE served as project manager and licensed FPE commissioning agent for the new Capitol Visitor Center, located adjacent to the U.S. Capitol Building.

The facility, one of the largest underground buildings, has over 5,000 fire alarm devices and more than 100 different types of fire protection and life safety systems interlocked or supervised by the fire alarm system. Systems included mass notification, wet and dry automatic sprinkler, special fire suppression (FM200 and Novec), fire pumps, smoke control, stair pressurization, HVAC, egress door holders and security locks, fire shutters, and other systems. Rhino verified the installation and operational test of fire protection and life safety systems in compliance with code and aided the Fire Marshal with final acceptance testing. All life safety systems were operational and accepted by the Visitor’s Center’s scheduled opening day.