HVAC Study and Life Safety Analysis
After several years of exploring different possibilities for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning of the Linderman Library (one of the several historically important buildings on campus) Lehigh University retained Brinjac to study methods and make recommendations to air condition the building. Because of the effects of HVAC construction on the building and due to the presence of an atrium, life safety issues were also included in the study.

The goals of the study included addressing the life safety issues such as means of egress, building compartmentation, and fire protection. A site survey was conducted to evaluate the current building conditions in order to quantify the areas of concern. As part of the walkthrough, several of the main exit stairs for the building were identified as not being completely enclosed in a two hour fire rated enclosure. Additionally, the atrium was not protected adequately to inhibit smoke from becoming a hazardous factor in the event of a fire. A study of how the smoke would flow through the building in the event of a fire was conducted.

After the study's completion, we were able to provide solutions to the existing deficiencies as well as opinions of probable construction costs to both air condition the building and address all of the life safety issues.