For Immediate Release
December 8, 2008

Ferguson Fire and Fabrication provides fire suppression solution for Continental Airlines

NEWPORT NEWS, VA — Ferguson Fire and Fabrication’s fire protection solutions are bringing the highest standards of performance to a new aircraft hangar for global airline Continental.  Located at the Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, the hangar measures 268' x 250' x 94' high and has been built to house Boeing 777 aircraft for a new inspection regime introduced by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Hi-Expansion foam system installed in the hangar is more environmentally acceptable than many alternatives.  It is biodegradable, requires less water and has less of an impact than low expansion foam, from a corrosion standpoint.  All piping and equipment for the foam systems, pre-action systems, sprinkler system and hose reel system were fabricated and supplied by Ferguson Fire and Fabrication. The company provided all of the piping for the manifolds and to tie-in the fire pumps, water tanks, as well as pump room piping drawings and all of the pipe spool and support drawings.

The finished project was tested at night with 20-25 knot winds. Twelve-foot scaffolds were positioned beneath the generators to gauge the height of the foam. The test was witnessed by more than a hundred Continental employees, risk management personnel, Houston Fire officials, and numerous environmental personnel.  The project for Continental is just one of Ferguson Fire and Fabrication’s abilities in the special hazards field. 

“Increasingly, our skills are being used in the aircraft industry, where new regulations demand that some aspects of aircraft testing are now carried out inside hangars instead of on the tarmac,” said George DiMatteo, central area manager for Ferguson Fire and Fabrication.  “This creates a need for very specialized equipment, which Ferguson Fire and Fabrication is able to provide.”

Ferguson Fire and Fabrication is also active in facilities for the new fuels sector, including locations where ethanol is stored and processed and the market is being driven by regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

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