Serving the St. Louis Region, Mid-Missouri and Metro East

Blue Bell Creameries

Integrated Facility Services completed a complex, design build fire protection project to design, procure and install interior fire sprinkler systems for Blue Bell Creameries’ 16,000-square-foot distribution facility in St. Peters, Missouri. The state-of-the-art system was designed by IFS’s Fire Protection Department to ensure the safety and protection of the ice cream manufacturer’s facility and its occupants. 

Key features include both a wet pipe sprinkler system and a double interlock preaction sprinkler system. To ensure a reliable source of water in case of fire emergencies, IFS installed an eight-inch spigot inside the building, supplemented with a remote fire department connection.

AT A GLANCE

Client

Blue Blue Bell Creameries

PROJECT

Fire Protection

LOCATION

St. Peters, MO

SERVICES PROVIDED

Fire Protection, Design Build, Installation, Equipment Procurement

Project Highlights

Fire Protection

AT A GLANCE

Client

Blue Blue Bell Creameries

PROJECT

Fire Protection

LOCATION

St. Peters, MO

SERVICES PROVIDED

Fire Protection, Design Build, Installation, Equipment Procurement

Project Highlights

Fire Protection

Challenge

Large freezer areas required a fire protection solution that could operate effectively in subzero temperatures and would not risk damaging equipment if piping or other components of the system were damaged.

Solutions

IFS installed a preaction system for water-sensitive areas including the facility’s freezer and cold loading dock. These specialized sprinklers have complete automatic heat detection with a lower temperature rating than the sprinklers to make sure the detection system activates before a sprinkler head operates preventing accidental triggering of water release. Since water is not constantly present and the filling of preaction sprinkler pipes only occurs after heat is detected, water will not release onto sensitive equipment if part of the system is damaged as can happen with wet pipe sprinkler systems.

The IFS team also strategically installed sidewall sprinklers for column protection in the freezer. The system also was equipped with a dry air generator to prevent ice plugs and freeze-ups in subzero temperatures.