Fire & Life Safety: Detection systems

Fire detection systems are specified for the safety of the building’s occupants in the event of a fire. Fire and life safety systems need to be specified, installed, commissioned and maintained, depending on each building type and location. Codes and standards, including the International Fire Code and various NFPA standards, provide design and installation provisions for fire detection systems in the event of a fire or other emergency event.

During the commissioning and testing process, there are many fire and life safety design challenges due to interpretation of regulations by code authorities, design budgets, complying with codes and standards and designing for interoperability and integration of systems that need to be addressed.

Learning objectives

• Explore the challenges and solutions of designing fire and life safety systems.
• Review a brief history of why fire detection systems are selected and what is driving the installation.
• Apply fire detection system requirements to meet the objectives of the building’s fire and life safety system.
• Review what needs to be on the plans submittal for approval by the authority having jurisdiction.