Modern residential sprinkler systems are designed so that only the sprinkler nearest the fire will activate – this ensures that the fire will be put out with minimal damage to your property while extinguishing the fire in half the time it would take the fire department to arrive. Many homeowners fear that the system can misfire and destroy their belongings and property, or that a localized fire will set off the entire system.īoth of these worries are incorrect. There are many misconceptions about home sprinkler systems, in spite of the fact that residential sprinkler systems can save your life, your property, and your loved ones. He brings this all to the table with him when you use Katco for your design and consulting needs.Home Sprinkler Systems for North and South Carolina He also has gained experience in risk analysis, high piled storage permits and passive fire protection systems and methods. Mike's commitment to excellence and desire to be the very best at what he does has established a reputation among his clients and peers as a very capable and knowledgable fire sprinkler professional. In addition, he travels throughout the Western United States, often accessing areas not serviced by commercial airlines. He travels there often in a company owned small airplane, maintaining his contacts and establishing new business. In late 2003, Katco moved its offices from Southern California to Salem, Utah.ĭespite the move, Mike continues to do a great deal of work in California. By the end of the year, Katco Fire Protection became Katco Fire Sprinkler Design. Starting in 1998 Mike began to change the focus of his business from installation to strictly design and consulting. Katco was one of the first firms in the Southern Califonia area to do all of its designs using AutoCAD. During this time, Mike did most of the design work himself, establishing a good working repore with most of the AHJ's in the Southern California area. In seven years Katco Fire Protection completed over 600 projects valued at over $25 million. In 1991 he obtained his California fire protection contracting license. Since the opportunity to do more design work was not available where he was at, in 1989 Mike moved to Southern California to take a job as an estimator and project manager with a Los Angeles area firm.Īt the same time, Mike started doing freelance design in the evenings and on weekends. He took a home study course in hydraulic analysis and studied the NFPA standards as well as the Uniform Building and Fire Codes. Although he was good at the field work, he enjoyed the engineering much more. Before long he was working as a foreman but continued helping with the design in the evenings. He was able to gain experience in fabrication, installation as well as design. Along with the two owners, Mike did everything necessary to get the job done, learning every aspect of the business very quickly. After having completed his education at Brigham Young University he became the first employee of a small fire sprinkler contractor located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Michael Ricks started working in the fire protection business in 1985. In the meantime, please browse our website and take a look at the services we offer. If you are not familiar with our company and your first contact with us is online: We would be pleased to hear from you! Please let us know what your needs and questions are, we will be more than happy to help. We are not satisfied unless our clients expectations are fully met in every regard.
We always strive to provide prompt and professional service with the utmost consideration being placed on code compliance, accuracy and cost effectiveness. Our purpose is to assist our clients in completing their fire protection project on time and under budget while emphasizing public safety and property protection. We have experience in all types of wet and dry pipe fire sprinkler systems. Our designs have ranged in size from small tenant improvements and single family homes to major new construction and retrofit projects. Our clients have included fire sprinkler contractors, both large and small, general contractors, developers, fire and building departments, insurance companies, home owners, architects and engineers. Our services range from basic fire sprinkler design to plan review and inspections to risk analysis and code consulting. Since 1991, Katco has been in the business of fire protection.