Enhanced Fire Protection Expertise for High‑Performance Buildings

Tec Inc. has expanded its building systems capabilities with in‑house fire protection engineering, strengthening the way projects approach life safety, performance, and risk. With the addition of Drew Robinson's new license for Fire Protection Engineering, Tec now offers a level of coordination and judgment that goes beyond what a traditional mechanical and plumbing group can provide on its own.

For architects, building owners, and facilities managers, this means fewer surprises in design and review, tighter integration of fire and life safety with HVAC and plumbing, and more confidence that complex code and performance issues are resolved proactively and not in the field.

Why a Licensed FPE Matters Beyond MEP

Mechanical and plumbing engineers routinely touch fire protection systems—through sprinkler coordination, smoke control interfaces, fire pumps, and emergency ventilation strategies. But a licensed Fire Protection Engineer (FPE) brings additional, specialized value that complements and elevates those efforts:

• Deeper code strategy, not just code minimum. An FPE is trained to interpret and apply fire and life safety codes at a systems level, enabling performance‑based approaches, alternate means and methods, and nuanced solutions in complex occupancies where prescriptive MEP design alone may be too rigid or conservative.

• Holistic risk management. Instead of treating sprinklers, alarms, smoke control, and egress as isolated checkboxes, an FPE evaluates how all systems perform together during a fire event and how that performance affects operations, downtime, and resilience over the life of the building.

• Better alignment with AHJs. FPE involvement often leads to clearer, more defensible documentation and narratives for reviewers, smoothing permit review and helping avoid late-stage redesigns requested by the authority having jurisdiction.

  
  

This specialized perspective allows Tec’s mechanical and plumbing teams to move from “code-compliant layouts” to fully integrated fire and life safety strategies that are aligned with the project’s architectural intent and operational priorities.

Enhancing Tec’s Mechanical Engineering Capabilities

Bringing licensed fire protection in‑house directly strengthens Tec’s mechanical engineering practice and the outcomes it can deliver for building projects:

• Integrated HVAC and smoke control strategies. Fire protection and mechanical systems share air pathways, control sequences, and equipment that must perform reliably under emergency conditions. An FPE working alongside HVAC engineers allows early coordination of smoke control, pressurization, and shutdown sequences so they are performance‑based, verifiable, and easier to commission.

• Smarter coordination of wet systems and plumbing. Fire pumps, standpipes, and sprinkler feeds interface with domestic water systems and site utilities. An in‑house FPE can collaborate with plumbing engineers to optimize pipe routing, pump sizing, and redundancy, improving reliability while controlling cost and space impact.

• More efficient plant and equipment decisions. When mechanical engineers understand how fire scenarios affect system operation, through FPE input, designers can make better decisions about equipment zoning, emergency power priorities, control strategies, and resilience, especially in mission-critical or high‑value facilities.

• Cleaner, more coordinated documentation. Having fire protection design and review inside the same team reduces conflicting notes, overlapping responsibilities, and RFIs between mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection scopes. This leads to clearer bid documents, fewer change orders, and smoother construction.

  
  

For existing buildings, this integration also supports phased upgrades, where HVAC modernization, code-triggered life safety improvements, and operational constraints must all be balanced carefully.

Tec’s enhanced capabilities are anchored by Drew Robinson, PE, Associate, the first Tec engineer to obtain a Fire Protection Engineering license. Drew’s achievement reflects a significant investment in specialized training and rigorous experience, and it positions Tec to better serve projects where fire and life safety are central to the program.

Drew’s role includes:

• Leading fire protection system design and peer review in close collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers

• Developing fire and life safety strategies that reinforce the architectural vision rather than constrain it

• Supporting architects and owners through code analysis, AHJ negotiations, and documentation needed for permitting and insurance

  
  

For project teams, Drew provides a single, knowledgeable point of contact who understands both the engineering details and the broader project goals.

Value to Architects, Owners, and Facility Managers

By pairing in‑house fire protection engineering with mechanical and plumbing design, Tec Inc. offers more than a list of services. Tec offers a coordinated, risk‑aware design partner:

• Architects gain a design ally who can help reconcile aesthetics, program, and life safety, especially in complex or nonstandard conditions.

• Building owners gain better control over long‑term risk, insurance implications, and the cost of future modifications or expansions.

• Facility managers gain systems that are more maintainable, better documented, and easier to test and operate during inspections and real events.

If you were evaluating Tec for an upcoming project, which aspect of this integrated fire protection–mechanical approach would matter most to you: smoother approvals, better coordination with your architectural vision, or long‑term operational resilience? Contact us today to learn more about this added integration of capabilities.

Ready to elevate the performance of your next project?

Connect with our licensed fire protection engineer to get started.

Contact: Drew Robinson, PE

Email: drobinson@tecinceng.com

Phone: 614.267.4928 ext. 210