As soon as Chris was old enough to push a broom and sort fittings, he started working in his father’s fire sprinkler business. He worked Summers from the time he was ten years old, picking materials, fabricating pipe, and organizing and cleaning the shop. Chris says he has developed a truly unique perspective on the fire sprinkler industry, having worked in every staff position—both in the office and out in the field—from the “bottom” to the “top.”
Chris started working full time in the sprinkler industry in 1991, installing fully functional sprinkler systems. In-depth studies of drafting and sprinkler design led him to obtain certification in sprinkler design from the National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies (NICET). With a Level IV in Sprinkler Design, Level II in Sprinkler Inspections and Testing, and Level I in Special Hazards Suppression Systems, Chris offers a breadth and depth of knowledge that few of his competitors possess. He is certified as a sprinkler designer in Ohio and Kentucky, and he holds a State of Ohio license that allows him to service, test, and repair sprinkler/standpipe systems, portable fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler mains, fire pumps, and diesel pumps. Chris is certified to inspect systems in Kentucky, as well.
Chris’s extensive technical training provides a solid foundation for estimating and selling a full range of sprinkler system types. He prides himself on providing accurate estimates, and he makes every effort to keep costs in line with both customer expectations and code requirements.
Chris opened the doors of Dorn Fire Protection LLC (DFP) in 2006. DFP is a small, regional, family-operated fire sprinkler company. DFP’s focus is on providing sprinkler design, installation, relocation, and inspection services to industrial, commercial, and residential customers. DFP is a full-service design/build contractor, capable of taking customers from inception to completion on fire sprinkler projects.
Recent projects include many of the large residential and multi-use renovations in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, from the Vine Street Corridor to Market Square and Findlay Market.