Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 Fire and Life Safety Study

Eight key findings for the fire and life safety industry

Respondents to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 Fire and Life Safety Study identified eight important high-level findings impacting the fire and life safety industry today:

1. Building structures: The top building structures respondents specify, design, or make fire and life safety system product selections for are office buildings (68%), industrial/manufacturing facilities/warehouses (60%), and government buildings/military facilities (55%).

2. Involvement: Three-quarters of respondents determine requirements/write specifications for fire and life safety systems.

3. Systems specified: More than 70% of respondents specify or expect to specify detection products—including control systems, dampers, and fire, smoke, heat, and linear detectors.

4. Systems value: The average total annual dollar amount of fire and life safety systems specified for new and existing systems is $1.9 million, a 12% decrease from 2014.

5. Challenges: When asked about the challenges to fire and life safety system design and specifications, 65% or more indicated subjective interpretation of regulations by code authorities, inadequate design budget, and AHJ or code enforcement not understanding new systems as constant hurdles.

6. Disciplines: Local AHJs or fire officials have the most input and impact on fire and life safety design, according to 65% of respondents, followed by owners (40%), architects (35%), and the electrical engineer (35%).

7. Design factors: Product quality (70%), service support (50%), and manufacturer’s reputation (45%) were identified as extremely important to respondents when selecting fire and life safety systems.

8. Experience: The average engineer involved in fire and life safety systems has been in the industry for 21 years.

Access the full 2015 Fire and Life Safety report to view additional key trends and findings.

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.