Nelson Engineering is Salas O’Brien

Mission assurance engineering

Nelson Engineering Co./Salas O’Brien provides engineering, architecture, and systems integration for mission-critical facilities, infrastructure, and operations (including missile defense). Services include MEP, Civil, Structural, and Fire Protection. Specialty services include Reliability Engineering, Commissioning (Cx), Sustainability Engineering, Facility Condition Assessments, and Power Infrastructure and Modernization.

Mission-critical services

We are engineered for impact™ with optimized solutions for complex challenges:

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection

Salas O’Brien offers comprehensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection design (MEP/FP) solutions for mission-critical buildings and facilities of all types and sizes. These include office buildings, industrial complexes, research centers, testing facilities, hangars, and command-and-control centers. Learn more

Civil engineering

Salas O’Brien’s civil engineering team offers site development services for the Federal DoD, civilian agencies, and private sector clients from planning through construction. With offices across the country, we understand local regulatory requirements, geotechnical conditions, climate, stormwater, and more. Learn more

Structural engineering

Salas O’Brien’s structural engineering team provides tailored structural systems to meet planning and design needs for mission-critical new facilities, renovations, and expansions. Learn more

Architecture & interiors

Salas O’Brien’s architecture and interior design team has decades of experience serving clients from initial design strategy and planning through implementation and management. Our expertise includes corporate workplaces, data centers, critical facilities, manufacturing, laboratories, testing facilities, aerospace, transportation, and military installations. Learn more

Reliability engineering

Reliability Engineering offers services including failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), criticality analysis (CA), fault tree analysis (FTA), root cause analysis (RCA), condition-based maintenance (CBM), reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM), and alternative equipment maintenance (AEM). Our precise approach adheres to industry standards like SAE JA1011, ISO 31000, and ISO 55000. Learn more

Sustainability engineering

Sustainability Engineering, also known as Lifecycle Engineering, ensures ongoing mission performance, compliance with regulations, and long-term asset value. Salas O’Brien offers a unique combination of reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) and energy-efficiency solutions, specifically designed for mission-critical federal and commercial facilities. We assist facility managers in lowering operational and maintenance costs while preserving operational readiness. Learn more

Environmental engineering

At Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center, Salas O’Brien is the top engineering firm for environmental studies and permits. The team is quick and precise. We understand what the regulators seek, and we deliver what they need to approve the project. We get it right the first time, so you can proceed without delays, no matter your location. Learn more

Power infrastructure and modernization

Salas O’Brien partners with clients to upgrade and modernize their systems—enhancing reliability, enabling grid interactivity, and supporting long-term resilience. From substation design to distributed energy resources (DER) integration, we deliver solutions that are smart, scalable, and built to last. Additional services include microgrids, geothermal energy, and renewable projects. Learn more

Facilities condition assessments

Salas O’Brien is deeply experienced in Facility Condition Assessments (FCAs) using various platforms ranging from BUILDER SMS to commercial software and integrated work management platforms. We help those responsible for the upkeep of buildings and infrastructure understand their component inventory, remaining useful life, and replacement costs, and leverage our analytical capabilities to prioritize where to allocate limited resources. Learn more

Commissioning (Cx)

We involve engineering, construction, and quality teams early in the Cx process, so protocols are integrated alongside design—not added afterward. This results in fewer surprises during startup, fewer change orders late in the schedule, and a smoother path to operational readiness. Our teams understand both the technical systems and the compliance environment. We create documentation that withstands regulatory review and perform testing that mimics real operating conditions rather than just theoretical performance. Additionally, we offer initial training and ongoing programs to ensure smooth operations. Learn more

Cost segregation studies

A Cost Segregation Study (CSS) is an in-depth study of new construction or existing property renovation. A CSS analyzes new or existing property and optimally classifies depreciable assets to generate cash flow tax savings. Salas O’Brien identifies assets eligible for accelerated depreciation so the property owner can realize faster recovery of capitalized costs and near-term tax savings. Learn more

Incident energy analysis / arc flash studies

Salas O’Brien provides programmatic power studies to help ensure that your electrical system is safe, reliable, and efficient, while minimizing the risk of downtime and damage. We provide incident energy and arc-flash hazard analyses, short-circuit, and protective device coordination studies. Our engineers collect detailed electrical system data at each site and use it to validate existing drawings or develop new one-line and electrical system floor plan drawings. We perform short-circuit, equipment evaluation, arc-flash, and protective device coordination analyses in accordance with applicable NFPA, IEEE, and ANSI standards. Learn more

Experience

Case studies

Condition-based maintenance program at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Salas O’Brien updated NASA’s policy on “Condition Based Maintenance” (CBM), also known as Tiered Maintenance or Reliability Centered Maintenance for all of NASA’s infrastructure (NASA Interim Directive-NID 8831.124). In addition, we inspected and tiered 100% of their infrastructure and facilities, applying the new standard to all 10 NASA Field Centers and associated facilities, occupying approximately 313 million square feet of space. Learn more.

Launch Complex 41 Modifications for the United Launch Alliance (ULA)

Salas O’Brien provided comprehensive design and construction management for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan launch site. Services included the design, engineering, and construction management of fuel and acoustical suppression water systems and engineering services for electrical, communication, fire protection, fixed water spray, storage vessel layout, environmental, and process piping. Learn more.

Science processing and ammonia vapor containment facility

NASA needed additional processing space and capabilities at the Kennedy Space Center to ensure the success of its Mars 2020 program. Salas O’Brien led Phase 1, including renovating the Flight Crew Equipment Processing Lab to provide additional clean room laboratory space and redesigning the kitchen to create seven extra Science Processing Areas. The design scope grew due to the Ammonia Vapor Containment Facility (VCF) needing to stay operational during complete construction. Therefore, we included a 20-foot expansion of the VCF without an increase to the budget. Learn more.

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