When constructing one of North America’s most expansive logistics hubs – a massive 3.2 million-square-foot multi-story fulfillment center in Richmond, VA area (south of the DC Metropolitan region) – fire safety during the build phase was a top operational priority.
With 1,400 trade workers on-site daily operating around the clock and high-risk construction activities underway, the main contractor required a continuous, compliant fire monitoring strategy to replace costly and labor-intensive manual fire watch patrols. By deploying the WES3 Wireless Fire & Evacuation System, Ramtech delivered a 24/7 wireless detection network that completely eliminated the need for human fire watch without causing any interruption to work at the property, while delivering approximately $500,000 in net savings over 60 days.
Extreme Labor Costs & Risk
During major construction projects, local fire codes and building inspectors require strict round-the-clock fire surveillance – especially before permanent fire suppression systems (sprinklers and standpipes) are fully commissioned. Initially, the project required continuous manual fire watch patrols:
- Massive Human Footprint: Required 22 personnel per day working round-the-clock shifts to cover the 3.2 million sq. ft. footprint
- Prohibitive Expense: Maintaining continuous 60-day manual fire watch coverage created a severe budget drain for the contractor
- Human Error Risk: Manual patrols leave gaps in monitoring high-risk areas, potentially delaying critical response times in a facility of this magnitude
- 1,400 trade workers on-site continuously: The contractor needed a reliable, code-compliant and fully automated temporary fire safety technology to replace human patrols completely
What really stands out about this project is the scale of the challenge and how quickly we were able to respond. Working closely with ASAP Firewatch, we delivered a solution that gave both the contractor and local inspectors confidence in the level of protection across the site, while removing the need for continuous manual fire watch. It’s a great example of how technology can provide a safer, more efficient approach to fire safety during construction.
Andrew Medina, Sales Engineer, Ramtech
350+
Manual Call Points
200
Heat Detectors
60
Smoke Detectors
87
Interfaces
Wireless Protection in 6 Days
Ramtech engineered and supplied a fully integrated, wireless fire protection system utilizing its industry-leading WES3 temporary fire safety technology. Despite the sheer scale of the building, installation was completed in just 6 days, giving local building inspectors complete confidence to greenlight the total removal of manual fire watch personnel.
Comprehensive Coverage Network: Installed over 700 total WES3 devices across the entire 3.2M sq. ft. structure, including:
Key Deployment Highlights
Active Fire Suppression Integration: Leveraged system interfaces to connect directly with the property’s active standpipe and sprinkler systems for real-time waterflow monitoring.
Dual CONNECT Control Network: Deployed two base stations/networks – one positioned at the main site office/trailers for site management, and a dedicated interface station specifically for local fire authorities and inspectors.
24/7 Wireless Monitoring: Connected to the cloud via Ramtech REACT, offering remote monitoring, real-time alerts and instant location pin-pointing in the event of an alarm.
The biggest achievement for us was how quickly we were able to get the site fully protected. On a project of this scale, speed and reliability are critical. Working with Ramtech, we were able to install and commission the system in just six days, giving the building inspector the confidence to remove the manual fire watch and allowing construction to continue without disruption.
Chris Seguinot, Managing Partner, ASAP Firewatch, LLC
Immediate ROI:
Generated approximately $500,000 in direct net savings over 60 days by eliminating manual fire watch patrols
Zero Operational Disruption:
Provided 24/7 compliant coverage with zero interruption to ongoing round-the-clock work on site
Enhanced Evacuation Speeds:
Significantly improved site evacuation response times through instant, localized visual and audible alerts across all levels
Rapid Authority Approval:
Generated approximately $500,000 in direct net savings over 60 days by eliminating manual fire watch patrols
Setting a New Standard for Construction Fire Safety
On a project of this size, fire safety can’t depend on people walking the floors. With 1,400 workers on site around the clock and 3.2 million square feet to protect, the risk of gaps in manual patrols was simply too high. The cost of keeping a 22-person fire watch crew in place was just as hard to justify.
By switching to WES3, the contractor got complete 24/7 coverage in just six days. More than 700 wireless devices now watch every level of the building. They are linked directly to the sprinkler and standpipe systems and monitored remotely through REACT, so any alarm is pinpointed and acted on straight away. Local inspectors had the confidence to remove manual fire watch entirely, and work carried on without a single interruption. The result was around $500,000 in net savings over 60 days, faster evacuation alerts for every worker on site, and the largest single WES order in Ramtech North America’s history.
As construction projects across North America grow larger and faster, this project shows that wireless fire safety can keep pace, protecting people, meeting code and keeping the build moving.