VSS Capital Partners, a private investment firm investing in the business services, healthcare, education and information industries, has completed a platform investment in Barrier Companies, a nationwide fire and life safety and containment services provider specializing in preventing the spread of fire, smoke, water and infection in buildings. Barrier’s management team invested alongside VSS and Lincolnshire Management in the company.

Barrier operates two divisions: compliance services, which provides essential inspection and repair of fire and smoke doors, dampers, barriers and complementary services to hospitals and other healthcare facilities; and new build services, which provides planning, budgeting, consulting and installation of thermal and moisture protection with a focus on data centers, education and commercial facilities.

“Barrier’s services are poised to meet a pent-up demand from hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation that postponed their routine FLS inspections and repairs during the pandemic,” said Jeffrey Stevenson, managing partner of VSS.

“We believe there is a considerable backlog of FLS inspections and repair services that will need to be completed this year by hospitals and healthcare facilities to remain compliant with CMS,” said Jaye Sieland, a partner at Barrier Companies, adding, “We’re excited to partner with VSS and Lincolnshire as the Coronavirus vaccine is widely distributed and allows us to put our ambitious growth plans into action. Our valued clients will benefit from our new partnership as we continue to serve as their trusted FLS and Compliance Services partner.”

“We expect many hospitals to restart this critical work in 2021 and Barrier is well positioned to benefit due to their successful track record, and to perform these crucial FLS and containment services at scale,” said Patrick Turner, managing director of VSS.

Editor’s Note: For analysis of the deal, see senior reporter Brandon Zero’s column.