Project Overview

Designed and coordinated the electrical systems for multiple new fire stations in Medford, OR. The facilities required fire station alerting systems, legally required standby power, and essential services infrastructure to support 24/7 emergency operations. The design included emergency power distribution, advanced lighting controls, security systems, and site utilities, ensuring reliable and flexible functionality for first responders.

Role & Responsibilities

Power & Emergency Systems – Designed a dual-fuel standby generator system (propane and natural gas) with a load-shedding strategy to prioritize critical systems.

Fire Station Alerting & Public Safety – Coordinated integration of a fire station alerting system with city-appointed vendors, ensuring proper bid, permit, and construction processes.

Lighting & Controls – Developed advanced lighting control sequences for effective nighttime operations, allowing flexibility for future modifications.

Security & Access Control – Engineered electrical support for secure entry points, personnel areas, and operational zones, ensuring compliance with emergency services security standards.

IT & Communications – Designed and coordinated tel-data systems, roof-mounted antenna systems, and public address (PA) systems with a design/build performance-based specification.

Site Utilities & Power Distribution – Provided site electrical and data utilities, integrating PV systems with utility tie inverters and backup power distribution.

Key Challenges & Solutions

🔹 Reusing an existing generator under budget constraints – One of the stations required integrating an older, pad-mounted generator as the sole source of standby power due to funding limitations.
✔ Solution: Developed a load-shedding strategy with a prioritization sequence to ensure all critical systems operated reliably within the generator’s capacity.

🔹 Vendor and stakeholder coordination – Multiple third-party vendors, including city-appointed specialists, needed to integrate security, communication, and alerting systems with the electrical design.
✔ Solution: Conducted regular site visits and collaborative meetings with the city, vendors, and fire department to define system functionality, align expectations, and ensure smooth construction execution.

🔹 Flexible and future-ready lighting control – Fire station operations required precise nighttime lighting controls with adaptability for evolving needs.
✔ Solution: Designed programmable lighting control systems with easily modifiable sequences, ensuring operational efficiency and long-term flexibility.

Outcome & Impact

✅ Cost-effective and mission-ready design – Successfully integrated an existing generator while ensuring essential services remained fully functional.

✅ Well-coordinated systems – Close collaboration with vendors and city officials resulted in properly aligned security, communication, and alerting systems.

✅ Future-adaptable infrastructure – Designed lighting, power, and emergency response systems with flexibility for future upgrades.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Looking for a trusted electrical engineering partner for your next fire station or emergency services facility? Let’s connect to discuss how NLS can support your project needs.

Fire Station Electrical Design

(Medford, OR)