Confidential Healthcare Network, Sprinkler System Upgrade

Burns provided fire protection and life safety engineering services for multiple facilities within a leading healthcare network, including several large medical campuses in the New York region.

Being physically safe in a healthcare facility is integrally important. When a large healthcare network in the New York region realized it needed to modernize its life safety systems, they engaged our life safety and fire protection experts in a program to bring all its facilities into compliance with updated Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements mandating that they be fully sprinklered by 2028.

Burns scope of work included:

Fire Protection Design:

Burns evaluated existing conditions across multiple hospital buildings to identify unsprinklered areas. Designed sprinkler system layouts and documentation for construction.

Specialized Suppression Systems:

Burns developed and coordinated water mist and other non-traditional suppression systems for high-risk areas such as boiler and generator rooms containing combustible materials.

Phased Construction Planning:

Burns created construction documents and implementation strategies allowing for system installation in occupied, operational healthcare environments.

Construction Administration:

Burns provided construction monitoring and coordination support throughout the multi-year program to ensure systems were installed safely and in compliance with code requirements, including FGI and NFPA 13,70, and 72.

Work occurred in continuously operating hospital spaces, requiring precise sequencing and coordination to avoid disruption of patient care. Installation of new sprinkler piping required extensive ceiling removal and reconstruction in tight spaces typical of hospital buildings. Due to operational limitations and the invasive nature of the work, construction is being completed in small phases—sometimes room by room—over multiple years.

When complete, all facilities within the network will meet full sprinkler coverage and code compliance requirements by 2028. Our phased approach and close coordination with the healthcare network enable these critical life safety upgrades to be implemented safely and efficiently within fully functioning hospital environments.