Cheney Brothers set out to expand its Southeast footprint with the development of a new 386,000+ square-foot distribution center in Florence, South Carolina, its first facility in the state. Strategically located near the intersection of I-95 and I-20, the project was designed to support high-volume foodservice logistics while creating hundreds of new jobs for the region.
The facility required a comprehensive fire protection system capable of safeguarding high-bay warehouse storage, freezer and cold dock operations, office spaces and critical technology areas, while ensuring long-term reliability for a mission-critical food distribution operation.
Value Delivered
North American Fire Protection engineered and installed a robust fire sprinkler solution tailored to the complex operational needs of a modern food distribution center.
Project highlights included:
NAFPCO’s customized approach ensured full facility protection while supporting Cheney Brothers’ rapid growth, operational efficiency and workforce expansion in the Southeast.
Scope of Services
North American Fire Protection provided complete fire sprinkler system design and installation for the new distribution center, including high-capacity water supply infrastructure, fire pump systems, preaction protection for freezer environments, ESFR coverage for high-rack storage, wet and dry pipe systems across operational zones, clean agent protection for critical IT areas and integrated detection systems. The scope was engineered to support a 45-foot-tall building layout with dense racking configurations and varied temperature-controlled spaces, as detailed in NAFPCO’s project proposal.
Background on Building Owner
Founded in 1925, Cheney Brothers is one of the nation’s leading broadline foodservice distributors, serving restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, schools and institutional customers across the Southeast. Known for its strong regional presence, culinary expertise and customer-first approach, the company continues to expand its network of strategically located distribution centers to support growing demand.
The Florence, South Carolina facility represents a major investment in Cheney Brothers’ long-term growth strategy, bringing 600–700 new jobs to the region and introducing advanced logistics capabilities, including a large culinary test kitchen to support innovation and customer engagement. The project also aligns with broader workforce development initiatives in partnership with local technical colleges.
Project Impact at a Glance
Integrated fire protection across high-bay, freezer and technology environments
Dry pendent sprinklers are typically installed in food process plants and box-in-box freezers where temperatures are below 40 degrees F.
Dry pipe sprinkler systems are generally used in cold climates and are highly effective in cold-temperature fire protection.
Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) systems are quick-responding, high-volume sprinkler systems that provide exceptional protection for high-piled storage occupancies.
Fire pumps are an essential part of many water-based fire protection systems. Fire Pumps are used to increase the water pressure (measured in psi) when the original water source is not adequate for the system it’s supplying.
Fire pumps are an essential part of many water-based fire protection systems. Fire Pumps are used to increase the water pressure (measured in psi) when the original water source is not adequate for the system it’s supplying.
Pre-action fire sprinkler systems employ the basic concept of a dry pipe system in that water is not normally contained within the pipes.
Wet pipe systems are the most common fire sprinkler systems. A wet pipe system is one in which water is constantly maintained within the sprinkler piping.
A special hazards fire suppression system is used to put out fires in areas where water damage from fire sprinklers can cause costly or irreparable damage to the assets being protected.
Linear Heat Detection (LHD) is an important component of fire protection systems, as it is designed to detect heat along the length of a sensor cable.
