United States Fire Protection took part in the retrofit of a 38 story building that houses the offices of the administration of Cook County. Approximately 6,700 fire sprinklers were installed. The Cook County Administration Building is located at 69 W Washington, which is in downtown Chicago, within sight of City Hall and the Cook County courts building.

Tragically, six people lost their lives as a result of a fire in the Cook County Administration Building on October 17th, 2003. The fire occurred during the work day, with extensive news coverage both while it was burning and after the fact. This incident has spurred some significant dialogue within the City of Chicago to pass sprinkler retrofit legislation.

Cook County officials and other occupants were not allowed to return to the building until the project was completed. To remedy this situation, the sprinkler installation had to be done on a super fast track basis. Within two days of the award of the contract, United States Fire Protection started installation and completed five floors within 2-1/2 weeks.

United States Fire Protection installed Viking white semi-recessed quick response fire sprinkler heads in the Cook County Administration Building, as specified by Cook County. Originally, the building was not protected by fire sprinklers above the lobby level and that area was only partially protected. The new fire sprinkler system should prevent future fires, like the one on October 17th, 2003.

While this is technically not a required system, Cook County wants to do whatever it will take to make the Cook County Administrative Building safe for the occupants.