Manteno inspectors: Goshen plant shows major progress but BDA certification and sprinkler paperwork remain outstanding

Sean Fallows of B and F Construction Code Services told the Manteno Plan & Zoning Board the Goshen battery project is being built in phases: phase 1 is the assembly operation now under temporary occupancy work, and phase 2 is the battery‑cell production facility still in design. He said phase work and engineered solutions are common for specialized facilities and that B and F is requesting additional engineering reports to support alternative design solutions for phase 2.

"We have the first phase, which is going to be the assembly portion," Fallows said, and described open inspection items for phase 1 and outstanding design reviews for phase 2. He added the emergency action plan (EAP) is governed by the International Fire Code and that B and F approved the latest revision with a carve‑out that training tied to any industrial fire brigade be coordinated with Manteno's fire department.

Mike Page, a senior B and F inspector, said he has performed sprinkler, fire‑alarm and BDA checks and that "they've done everything above and beyond what we've asked for" in phase 1 to aid firefighter access, including added hose stations and access aisles. Page said the principal outstanding life‑safety concern is documentation and certification for the bidirectional amplifier (BDA): "That is the most important thing they need to complete for firefighter safety."

On sprinkler holding tanks, B and F said the vendor commissioning/service‑tech report submitted so far is not sufficient for a formal inspection record. Fallows said a third‑party commissioning report or an on‑site inspector evaluation followed by a final inspection of repairs would be acceptable evidence before returning tanks to service; he noted NFPA 25 (adopted via the fire code) requires annual and other periodic inspections for such components.

Goshen's Mark Bridal, vice president of manufacturing, read a response letter stating the company has agreed to build an in‑house industrial fire brigade, that the EAP "has been submitted to B and F and has been approved by B and F as well as the village," and that the sprinkler holding‑tank vendor report has been submitted to B and F for review. Bridal said Goshen is targeting to have additional brigade members onboard and equipped by Feb. 1 and aims to resolve remaining items before the temporary occupancy permit expires on 2026‑01‑28.

Village staff and trustees flagged a date discrepancy between the fire protection district's requested January 18 inspection date and a separate permit timeline tied to the sprinkler permit that village staff said gives Goshen until April 25 (permit issued April 25) to complete the required work. Chris LaRocque (village staff) explained the EAP under review had gone through multiple revisions and that the final approval came after the most recent submittal.

Board members repeatedly pressed whether any immediate danger existed to residents. Page responded he did not believe there was a community‑level safety issue at the time of the meeting but reiterated the need to complete the BDA certification paperwork and final sprinkler inspections; he estimated that, with paperwork in hand, certification/testing could be scheduled promptly.

The meeting record shows no village decision to change permits or occupancy status at this session; village staff said they forward inspection reports and that the village will issue or withhold certificates of occupancy based on the record and any remaining questions.

Next steps identified at the meeting: B and F and Goshen will complete outstanding documentation (BDA test paperwork and internal sprinkler inspection details), the village will forward all inspection reports to the fire protection district and inspectors aim to schedule final testing as soon as complete paperwork is delivered.