Ingenuity Winter 2018

Pond Ingenuity Winter 2018 13 materials such as nuts and bolts, while other types include high-hazard materials such as Group-A plastics. Other types of materials can be a combination of a physical hazard such as flammable, combustible, both flammable and combustible, or explosive. They can also be a combination of a health hazard such as corrosive, toxic or highly toxic. Additionally, they can be a combination of both physical and health hazards. As a result, it is critical to properly identify the materials stored or used in a building, classify them according to their hazard, and determine a p r o p e r protection strategy to keep the occupants safe from the hazards while mitigating property loss. Pond’s fire protection team includes professionals experienced in properly classifying these materials and their s t o r age a r r angemen t s . The s e professionals determine the best solutions for a protection strategy of designing safe and code compliant facilities, and maintaining the operation of existing facilities in a safe and compliant manner. In a recent project for an adhesive manufacturer in north Georgia, Pond analyzed the hazardous materials by group and maximum allowable quantities. The report provided recommendations for correcting issues that had been a concern of the local authority having jurisdiction. Industrial Design Moving from concept to design is challenging and rewarding work. Industrial customers are always aware of cost impacts to their business; the creation of solutions begins with engineering for the client’s need and then understanding the cost effect of that s o l u t i o n . Iterations of design approaches coupled with cost implications drive the design forward. One of Pond’s clients, a Thermoplastic E l as t ome r ( TPE ) manu f ac t u re r, experienced this evolution. Design approaches for process line placement, process support equipment, tanks, platforms, and waste treatment morphed as the project went from concept through the design phases. Pond worked closely with the Owner’s team based at their plant in Europe to offer solutions and ad j us t des i gns f o r t h i s un i que manufacturing process that will be located in north Georgia. Pond’s team has worked with a bio-tech manufacturer for many years and recently designed a Class 1, Division 1, ISO 7 clean room space. The need for this unusual manufacturing stems from a medical product requiring the use of 200 proof ethanol. Yes, that’s 100% pure grain alcohol. Quality Assurance processes and manufacturing processes can create a temporary open system which allows small quantities of ethanol vapor to escape. Pond drove the solutions that allow the Class 1/Div 1 area to be minimized and to place the operators in the fresh air stream side of the process. Alex Holbrook | Program Director Chris Butts | Director of Fire Protection Engineering & Code Services It is critical to determine a proper protection strategy to keep the occupants safe from the hazards while mitigating property loss. Solutions begin with engineering for the client’s need and then understanding the cost implications. C o n c e p t R e n d e r i n g