LangZ US planned to operate a smart warehouse in Chicago, Illinois, using a Hai Robotics automated storage and retrieval system within an approximately 82,000-square-foot S-1 warehouse tenant space. The project included installation of a new ASRS racking system with storage heights up to approximately 30 feet.

Engineering Fire Protection, LLC provided fire protection consulting, high-piled storage permit support, fire sprinkler system design, and construction-phase support for the project. EFP prepared the fire sprinkler system design, high-piled storage/life safety drawings, and permit documentation to support the City of Chicago review process.

The project required a performance-based fire protection approach based on fire scale fire test because the proposed ASRS configuration did not fit neatly within conventional NFPA 13 rack storage criteria. EFP helped evaluate the proposed commodities, storage arrangement, existing ESFR sprinkler protection, and Hai Robotics fire test data to develop a project-specific fire protection strategy. EFP also prepared sprinkler modification design documents, provide permit submission service, attended inspection-phase meetings, conduct installation inspection for the general contractor, represented the project team during building department and inspection coordination, and helped work through field comments with the inspector. This support helped the client obtain final inspection approval and the tenant certificate of occupancy while reducing uncertainty during both permitting and construction closeout.