Case Study: Custom Fire Protection Fiberglass Water Tank With an Advanced Fire Sprinkler System for a Rural Poultry Processing Plant in Ontario
When Amir Meats built their new poultry processing facility in rural Ontario—with no municipal water supply available—they faced a major challenge: meeting Ontario Building Code (OBC) and NFPA fire protection requirements without access to municipal water.
To solve this, Amir Meats assembled a team of specialized contractors. Granby Composites partnered with Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd. to design and install a complete fire protection water storage tanks and wet well (pumping station) combined to a fire sprinkler system, demonstrating how effective collaboration and technical expertise can overcome significant infrastructure challenges in remote locations.
Project Details
- Location: Rural Ontario, Canada
- Client: Amir Meats
- General Contractor: Coldbox
- Fire Protection Contractor: Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd.
- Tank & Wet Well (Pumping Station) Supplier: Granby Composites
- Project Cost: > $1 million
- Project Timeline: 3 years (design to completion)
- Water Storage Capacity: 134 000 Litres (35 423 Gal)
Fire Protection Challenges in a Location Without Municipal Water
Building a modern poultry processing plant in a rural area created unique fire protection challenges:
- No municipal water supply on-site
- Ontario Building Code (OBC) and NFPA 13, 20, and 24 compliance requirements
- Insurance demands for robust fire suppression capability
- Complex wet well/pumping station engineering needed to house a vertical turbine fire pump capable of delivering adequate water pressure for the entire fire sprinkler system
- Fire sprinkler system design complexity requiring seamless integration between the storage tanks, wet well, underground piping network, and building-wide sprinkler heads
- Fire department access requirements necessitating an on-site dry hydrant connection to the fire protection tank system
- Wet ground conditions requiring extensive dewatering
- Coordination between multiple contractors and stakeholders
- Nearly three years from design to completion
The project required not just standard fire protection equipment, but a complete, self-contained NFPA fire water tank supply and distribution system. This included designing a wet well capable of maintaining a consistent water supply to the fire sprinkler system, ensuring all three fiberglass tanks could feed the pumping station efficiently, and creating an underground piping network robust enough to handle Ontario’s freeze-thaw cycles while maintaining fire protection reliability.
NFPA Fire Water Tank Solutions from Granby Composites
Granby Composites provided the key infrastructure components for the system:
Products Supplied
- Three fibreglass fire protection tanks with a combined capacity of 400 000 Litres (106 000 Gal)
- One wet well (pumping station) to house the vertical turbine fire pump
- Technical support and coordination throughout installation
Fire Sprinkler System and Water Storage Tanks Design
The fire protection system integrated:
- Three fiberglass water storage tank located north of the facility
- An underground piping network connecting tanks to the wet well/pumping station
- A vertical turbine fire pump installed inside the building
- An on-site dry hydrant for fire department use
- A complete sprinkler system throughout the plant
Implementation Process
The project was delivered in carefully phased stages to align with site readiness:
| Phase | Timeline | Key Activities |
| 1 – Wet Well/ Fiberglass Pumping Station Installation | Feb 2025 | Granby Composites delivered the wet well/ fiberglass pumping station first, requiring extensive dewatering due to wet soil, and installation continued despite challenging winter conditions. |
| 2 – Site Preparation | Spring 2025 | Ongoing dewatering, excavation for tank installation, and coordination with Coldbox engineering teams. |
| 3 – Tank Installation | Early summer 2025 | Sequential delivery and installation of three 134 000 Litres (35 423 Gal) tanks using precast footings, straps, and turnbuckles. Favorable weather ensured smooth progress. |
| 4 – Complete Fire Protection System Integration | Ongoing | Installation of interconnecting piping, fire pump, and sprinkler system. Project expected to be completed the following summer. |
Granby Composites’ NFPA Fire Water Tank Expertise
Responsive Technical Support
“Whenever we needed technical information or adjustments to delivery schedules, Granby Composites responded within an hour,” said Tyson Chaykowsky, Sales & Contract Manager at Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd.
This responsiveness was crucial for maintaining the project schedule despite the dynamic nature of construction work.
Seamless Coordination
Even during key personnel absences, Granby Composites maintained continuity through strong internal communication, ensuring Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd. always had access to knowledgeable support.
On-Site Assistance
Granby Composites provided on-site guidance during critical installation phases—essential for troubleshooting and ensuring proper tank placement and integration.
Results: NFPA-Compliant Fire Protection Achieved
On-Budget Delivery
- The three fibreglass water tanks and the pumping station installation were completed on budget
- Total project tracking within cost projections
Full Regulatory Compliance
The system meets all fire protection requirements:
- NFPA 13: Sprinkler system installation
- NFPA 20: Fire pump installation
- NFPA 24: Water storage tanks and underground mains
- Full Ontario Building Code (OBC) compliance
Why Superior Sprinkler Chose Granby Composites
With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd. selected Granby Composites for this critical project based on:
- Proven product reliability for mission-critical applications
- Technical expertise in custom water storage solutions
- Responsive communication and problem-solving
- Flexible delivery aligned with construction schedules
- Comprehensive support throughout every phase
“The collaboration with Granby Composites was exceptional,” said Tyson Chaykowsky. “Their ability to adapt to our changing needs and provide immediate technical support made the difference in keeping this complex project on track.”
Takeaways
This project demonstrates how Granby Composites’ NFPA fire water tanks and wet wells are ideal for:
- Rural facilities without municipal water infrastructure
- Industrial applications needing large-capacity water storage
- Projects requiring certified, code-compliant components
- Complex, multi-stakeholder builds with strict deadlines
Superior Sprinklers Co Ltd. has already chosen Granby Composites for their next project—a 40,000-gallon farm tank—confirming the success of this partnership.