Key considerations for fire protection of seismic isolation bearings

Seismic isolation bearings are used to protect buildings against earthquakes. When designing seismic isolation bearings, it is necessary to consider how fire resistance objectives will be achieved.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: September 6-12, 2024

Top CSE articles this week covered topics including the MEP Giants winners, fire protection standpipes and battery energy storage systems

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed fire and life safety articles in 2024

Read the best fire and life safety articles from the past year covering topics like NFPA 20, fire alarm notification strategies and passive fire safety

Comparing CPVC to steel pipe for fire sprinkler systems

CPVC pipe can be an alternative to steel in light hazard facilities. Engineers should consider performance, cost and construction methods when choosing between the two.

Deciphering the codes for fire protection standpipes

There are considerations for the standpipes’ locations, sizes, pressure and flow that all must be addressed before a commercial building can be occupied.

Structural fire engineering for innovative solutions

Structural fire engineering (SFE) offers a practical and cost-effective way to determine the potential impact of a fire on a building’s structural elements while also addressing fire safety challenges related to new building products and designs

Video: 2024 NFPA Conference & Expo interview with Antonio Di Vaira, Schneider Electric

Antonio Di Vaira, S...

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: June 7-13, 2024

Top CSE content this week covered topics including pressure-regulating devices for fire protection, generators in mission critical facilities and modern data center design

Remote testing: Advancing technology in fire damper installations

NFPA 80 and 105 require life safety damper testing, which can be accomplished through remote means

Learn to specify pressure-regulating devices in water-based fire protection

Pressure-regulating devices are required to maintain safe system working pressures

2024 40 Under 40: Jodi Balido, PE, CFPS, 38

Global Fire Safety Manager, The LEGO Group; BS, Architectural Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

2024 40 Under 40: Mariah Seaboldt, PE, 33

Senior Code Consultant, AKF; MS, Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Compare emergency illumination systems for life safety

Emergency illumination and lighting designers need a basic understanding of the various emergency lighting systems and how they compare

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content, March 29-April 4, 2024

Top articles this week covered topics including fire alarm notification strategies, ASHRAE 90.1 and heat pump technology

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content, March 22-28, 2024

Top articles this week covered topics including passive fire safety techniques, HVAC analysis and heat pump technology

An overview of fire alarm notification strategies

A review of several fire alarm notification strategies that are permitted by the IBC, NFPA 101 and NFPA 72

How new fire alarm system technologies are advancing safety

With a focus on improving safety, efficiency and adaptability, innovations in fire alarm systems are a remarkable leap forward in safeguarding lives and property

Case study: Fire alarm devices for historic or heritage buildings

Wireless fire alarm devices can solve many of the unique problems that come with retrofitting historical and heritage buildings.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content, March 1-7, 2024

Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer content this week covered topics including: designing hospital suites, retrofit pump kits and the product of the year award

Case study: How to use NFPA 101 suite requirements for health care applications

A hospital utilized suites for cesarean section operations to increase operability and flexibility

Understanding compartmentation as a passive fire safety technique

NFPA 101 outlines compartmentation requirements that are important to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. It is necessary to understand the correct terminology and intent of the requirements to identify when inspections should be completed.

Special Q&A on NFPA 72, fire alarms and more

This Q&A covers fire rating, strobe placement and designated work areas

Most-viewed Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles in 2023

Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles this year covered topics including medical gas storage, emergency generator systems and NFPA 101

Hospital designs: Adapting fire and life safety systems

Fire protection codes and standards are shifting in a post-pandemic world, necessitating engineers and designers to adapt these systems

Video: Methods of visualization testing for hotel smoke removal systems

This presentation illustrates methods of conducting smoke removal visualization testing in a hotel environment: atrium, ballroom and corridor.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content, November 23-30, 2023

Top articles this week covered topics including NFPA 20, hydronic heating systems and medium-voltage distribution systems.

Your questions answered: Integrating fire and life safety system testing

Fire and life safety system testing is defined by several codes and standards

Video: Using NFPA 285 for fire performance tests of exterior wall assemblies

Why fire protection engineers should be paying special attention to exterior walls, specifically exterior walls of tall buildings

Video: Lighting the fire under whole building commissioning

The new NFPA 4 outlines the requirements for integrated testing of fire protection and life safety systems, which is now being adopted as a code requirement in Building and Fire Codes across the US.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content, October 6-12, 2023

The top 5 articles of the past week covered mitigating arc flash hazards, low-GWP refrigerants and fire sprinkler design.

Your questions answered: How to select a clean agent suppression system

Learn about fire protection and suppression systems, specifically clean agent systems, in this Q&A.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed fire and life safety articles in 2023

Read the best articles about fire and life safety including fire pump electrical design, medical gas storage and NFPA 101 changes.

Top 5 Consulting Specifying Engineer content, August 18-24, 2023

The top 5 articles of the past week covered changes to NFPA 101, electrical and power system design, electrical circuit protection and BACnet control points.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: August 11-17, 2023

Top articles in the past week include changes to NFPA 101, pressure independent control valves, manufacturing building design and dedicated outdoor air systems

Fire, life safety trends drive industrial, manufacturing building design

Fire and life safety systems in industrial and manufacturing buildings must protect both occupants and materials within the facility

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: July 28-August 3, 2023

The top five articles in the past week covered upcoming changes to NFPA 101, BACnet for HVAC systems, codes for data centers and more

When, how to use a team approach for integrating MEP systems with fire, life safety

Successful mechanical, electrical and plumbing integration with fire and life safety systems require significant investment from all angles

Fire alarm systems market to be worth $40.6 billion by 2033

The fire alarm systems market is projected to be worth $40.6 billion by 2033 thanks to steady growth in solution category and the business sector.

Case study: High-piled storage code reference

In this example, a high-piled storage warehouse included many different aspects.

How to design fire sprinkler systems for high-piled storage

Learn the fire sprinkler code and requirements for high-piled storage systems design

What do you need to know about designing fire and life safety in data centers?

Will data centers get larger? More efficient? Use less water? Learn about the fire and life safety trends here

Best practices: Sprinklers and unrated glass partitions

In situations where building compartmentalization strategies using fire-resistance rated glass may not be an option, it may be possible to use sprinklers to design a code-compliant passive fire protection solution

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Content: March 31-April 6, 2023

The most viewed content from the past week covered fire alarm notification, lighting efficiency, codes and standards and more.

Fireaway announces United States Coast Guard (USCG) approval

Fireaway Inc. has announced receipt of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Certificate of Approval (COA) for its condensed aerosol fire suppression systems.

Assembly occupancy fires that wrote NFPA 101

Learn about some of the historic fires that helped formulate NFPA 101: Life Safety Code

Office fire systems change, accommodating new work styles

To appeal to various clients and work styles, office building fire system design is being updated

NFPA 13 performance-based design solutions

This article will discuss two types of designs for fire and life safety systems: prescriptive and performance-based design

Back to basics: Fire pump electrical design guide

This quick reference offers a guide for fire pump electrical design

Health care building design model shifts for fire, life safety

As hospitals and health care facilities evolve, the fire and life safety systems within them must change

Your questions answered: Specifying fire and life safety systems

Engineers should be aware of the contents and intent of the building when specifying fire detection, notification and suppression systems.

Benefits of using professionals for smoke damper investigation and repair services

Smoke damper testing is often overlooked, which can lead to dangerous situations in buildings should a fire incident occur. Testing, though, is a complex process and is best left to professionals who know and understand the codes.

Webcast: Specifying fire and life safety systems

Attend this webcast on October 12 2022, to learn about mass notification systems to alert the occupants and first responders, including a review of nonfire event notification practices.

Your questions answered: Fire and life safety suppression systems

Unanswered questions from the July 21 fire suppression webcast are answered here

Manufacturing and industrial building fire, life safety trends

Several new and retrofit manufacturing building projects show trends in fire and life safety systems

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed content, July 2022

Read the best content in July 2022 including: NFPA 13-2022 updates, emergency generators, data center trends and more.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: June 10-16, 2022

The most-viewed content from the past week covered NFPA 72-2022, rooftop units, 40 Under 40 winners, K-12 school changes and emergency generators.

Trends, changes in data center fire and life safety system design

Several trends are pushing the fire and life safety systems in data centers in different directions

Webcast: Fire and life safety: Suppression systems

This webcast on July 21, 2022, will explain the minimum building codes/standards that govern fire suppression systems, such as the International Building Code, International Fire Code and a variety of NFPA codes and standards.

What makes a fire sprinkler special?

Special sprinklers provide unique solutions for conditions that are not adequately addressed by standard spray sprinklers, though they come with limitations on use that designers should familiarize themselves with

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: May 27 to June 2, 2022

The most-viewed content from the past week covered 40 Under 40 winners, smoke control systems, NFPA 72-2022, HVAC systems and K-12 schools.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed content, May 2022

Read the best content in May 2022 including: 40 Under 40 winners, NFPA 72-2022, hospitals and electrification, smoke control systems and more.

Understanding the NFPA 13-2022 updates

An overview of the adopted changes of NFPA 13 offers insights into what changes are imminent

Case study: Airport fire protection design

Gates at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were overhauled for the life safety, code consulting, fire alarm and fire protection system design

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer content: April 29 to May 5, 2022

The most-viewed content from the past week covered NFPA 72 changes, smoke control systems, electrification, electrical power quality options and air movement.

What to know about the 2022 edition of NFPA 72

The 2022 edition of NFPA 72 has a number of changes. These changes can be implemented before the adoption of the code to enhance a fire alarm’s system design

What every engineer designing smoke control systems should know

This outlines the design requirements and their basis for smoke control systems

A guide to fire alarm interdisciplinary coordination

To ensure a smooth bidding and construction process, coordinating the fire alarm with other design disciplines is beneficial to all project stakeholders

Webcast: Fire and life safety: Detection systems

Attend this webcast on April 28, 2022 to explore the challenges and solutions of designing fire and life safety systems

Door locking requirements in NFPA 101

NFPA 101: Life Safety Code defines door locking requirements and how to successfully apply them to health care occupancies

Consulting-Specifying Engineer March/April 2022 issue

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, January 2022

Read the best articles in January 2022 including: Fire pump design, BAS replacements, health care generators, lighting codes and more.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 21-27, 2022

Read the best articles from the past week. Fire pump system design, BAS replacements, lighting controls and limiting COVID-19 infections and hospital fire life system design.

Fire pump systems design and coordination

Learn about the details of fire pump design and interdisciplinary coordination throughout the design process

How are hospital fire and life safety systems being designed differently?

Hospitals and health care facilities are changing and their fire and life safety systems must transform with them

COVID, sustainability drive college fire, life safety design

Colleges and universities have been sustainability trendsetters over the past several years. COVID-19 has required designers to think differently about fire and life safety systems.

Your questions answered with Jon Sajdak: Designing fire/life safety systems in health care buildings

Fire protection engineers must know which products and systems will best support the owner’s needs and authority having jurisdiction’s requirements. Read this Q&A for more details.

Fire protection engineering / life safety consulting at TLC Engineering Solutions

Experience in building design and construction has given TLC Engineering an intimate understanding of the need for coordination and integration of building fire safety systems into the total building design.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, August 2021

Read the best articles in August 2021 including: Product of the Year finalists, NFPA 99, pandemics and building design, cooling plant optimization and more.

New life safety requirements for business occupancies

These changes will impact both Hospital and Critical Access Hospital standards.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed fire and life safety articles in 2021

Read the best articles about fire and life safety published in the last year including: Fire pump applications, NFPA 72-2022, NFPA 101 and COVID, NFPA 99 interpretations and more.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: August 13-19, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. Product of the Year finalists, NFPA 99 changes, medical gas systems and hydraulic system design.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: August 6-12, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. Product of the Year finalists, NFPA 99 changes, university supercomputers, cooling plant optimization controllers and transformer protection.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, June 2021

Read the best articles in June 2021 including: Active and passive fire protection systems, HVAC specifying in warehouses, wireless lighting systems and more.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: June 11-17, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. Fire protection systems, power for fire/life safety systems, modeling electrical systems, specifying HVAC systems and designing standby power systems.

Specifying fire, life safety systems in manufacturing, warehouse buildings

Warehouse, manufacturing and logistics facilities need engineering experts to specify various fire and life safety systems

Choosing active and passive fire protection systems

A combination of active and passive fire protection systems is needed to address the factor of human behavior in the built environment

Passive fire protection offers safety measures

A passive fire protection system, while sometimes omitted, is vital to occupants’ life safety

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, April 2021

Read the best articles in April 2021 including: NFPA 101, electrical system software, NFPA 72-2022, effective COVID-19 mitigation, NFPA 72-2022 and more.

How to design data center fire, life safety systems

An expert panel provides engineering and design tips for fire and life safety systems in this Q&A

Fire protection challenges in storage spaces

Fire sprinklers for high-piled storage continues to evolve as challenges arise and technologies are developed, tested and implemented, driving forward the levels of protection

The history of fire sprinkler systems and their problems

Fire sprinklers have evolved over the years to account for larger warehouse facilities

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: April 16-22, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 101 and COVID-19, rooftop units, ECM and VFDs, COVID-19 mitigation and lab opportunities.

Fire safety best practices for manufacturing facilities

Are lights, alarms, extinguishers and sprinklers inspected every year?

Best practices for engineering government buildings: Fire and life safety

Designing utilities, public works, airport, mass transit, transportation or other government projects is a big task. Learn how to design fire and life safety systems in government buildings.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: March 19-25, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 72-2022, NEC electrical grounding, COVID-19 mitigation, the scope and cost of a BAS and NFPA 101 and COVID-19.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: March 12-18, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 72-2022, NEC electrical grounding, COVID-19 mitigation, the scope and cost of a BAS and NFPA 101 and COVID-19.

What to look for in NFPA 72-2022

This article is a look at some of the significant changes that may be included in the 2022 edition of NFPA 72

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, February 2021

Read the best articles in February 2021 including: Choosing between an ECM and VFD, NFPA 70-2020 changes, NEC chances and more.

Office buildings focus on air quality, energy efficiency, fire/life safety

Designing office buildings in a post-COVID world is a challenging task with engineering variables, including fire and life safety systems

NFPA 101 and COVID-19

Engineers need to consider the public health and life safety issues of reopening a building after COVID-19

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 1-7, 2021

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 70-2020 changes, BAS integration, VRF system design, electrical grounding and bonding and Product of the Year winners.

Most-viewed Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles for 2020

Most-viewed Consulting-Specifying Engineer topics posted in 2020 include egress and NFPA 101, COVID-19 impacts on consulting engineers, building pressurization and more.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, December 2020

Read the best articles in December 2020 including: Product of the Year winners, fire pumps, 2019 NFPA 110 and more.

Designing flexible, safe labs: Fire and life safety

Safety, budget and flexibility are key factors when designing laboratory and research space

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: December 4-10, 2020

Read the best articles from the past week. Product of the Year winners, 2019 NFPA 110, designing hospitals during COVID, hospital ventilation design and lighting control systems.

Designing, retrofitting hospitals during COVID: Fire and life safety

While COVID-19 has changed many aspects in a health care facility, some things remain identical, including fire and life safety systems

Understanding fire pumps, their applications and sizing

Learn about fire pump types, drivers, sizing and components

Consulting-Specifying Engineer November 2020 issue

Read the November 2020 digital edition to learn about the annual salary survey, NFPA 110, Lighting control systems, fire pumps and hospital design.

Students, tech, COVID drive higher ed design fire, life safety design

College and university building design is being driven by student needs, technology and new air quality demands

Your questions answered: Fire and life safety system design

Several questions about fire protection, life safety and NFPA codes were not addressed during the live event. Learn more in this Q&A

Webcast: Fire and life safety system design

Attend this webcast on Oct. 20, 2020, to learn about fire and life safety systems

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: September 21-27, 2020

Read the best articles from the past week. Fire safety, arc flash mitigation, government building design, integrated buildings and the COVID-19 pandemic and better building ventilation.

Basics of industrial, manufacturing facility fire, life safety system design

Industrial and manufacturing facilities have specialty fire and life safety system needs engineers must include in new or retrofit projects

Creating fire safety resilience

Collaboration and specialized design considerations will provide resilience for more buildings and cities as they prepare for fire and other events impacting life safety

Best practices for designing fire, life safety in government buildings

Learn how to specify fire and life safety systems for government and military buildings

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: June 26 to July 2, 2020

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 99 strategies, improve chiller plant performance, healthy buildings, chilled water plants and improving the workplace.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, June 2020

Read the best articles in June 2020 including: 40 Under 40 winners, COVID-19 questions and advice, smoke control systems, air- versus water-cooled chilled water plants and more.

How is COVID-19 affecting retail, restaurants? Learn about fire, life safety

With consumers frequently enjoying delivered meals and shopping for goods online, brick-and-mortar restaurants and retail structures need to maintain fire and life safety standards

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: May 22-28, 2020

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 13-2019 revisions, 40 Under 40 winners, fire and life safety systems, public health laboratory safety and COVID-19 impacts.

Using a hybrid design approach to stairwell pressurization

While the design process for a stairwell pressurization system should account for many building specific variables and is anything but simple, the system used to achieve the performance criteria doesn’t have to be complicated

Warehouse, manufacturing facilities go high-tech: Fire and life safety

Warehouse, manufacturing and logistics buildings are more than simple boxy structures used to make products and store them before they move onto their next destination. Fire and life safety systems can be as complex and advanced as any other building

Three tips for legacy hospital smoke control systems

There are three considerations for working with existing smoke control systems in hospitals

Best practices for designing smoke control systems

By incorporating NFPA 92 with best practices, fire protection engineers can successfully design smoke control systems for buildings

Data centers achieve a new level of high-tech: Fire and life safety

Designing solutions for data center clients — whether hyperscale or colocation facilities — requires advanced engineering knowledge

Interpreting revisions to NFPA 13-2019

Know how to navigate the restructured NFPA 13 sprinkler standard and understand technical changes

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, March 2020

Read the best articles in March 2020 including: Coronavirus' impacts on consulting engineers, egress and NFPA 101, design aspects of mass notification systems and more.

How to design K-12 schools: Fire, life safety systems

With increasingly complex systems and technology coming into play, work on modern K-12 projects is anything but elementary

Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, February 2020

Read the best articles in February 2020 including: NEC changes, building automation advances, electrical design for smoke control systems, cooling coil condensate, lighting commissioning and more.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: February 21-27

Read the best articles from the past week. NFPA 101 and building egress, NFPA 20 fire pumps, power quality and energy balance, mergers and acquisitions, and lab and research facility design.

Performance-based approach to protecting a membrane roof aircraft hangar

AEI was retained to provide mechanical, electrical, piping/plumbing (MEP) and fire protection design services for two hangars at Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, Ill. Three design challenges are highlighted.

What’s so special about office buildings? Learn about fire and life safety systems

Office buildings are complex structures containing automated features, energy-saving designs, high-tech equipment and other components as advanced as you’d find in any other state-of-the-art project. Fire protection engineers play a key role

How NFPA 101 defines building egress

NFPA 101: Life Safety Code provides fire protection engineers many resources for designing safe egress, along with several other life safety options

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 10-16

Read the best articles from the past week. Electrical design for smoke control systems, NFPA 101 and egress, 2020 expectations for engineering firms, building automation advances, and NFPA 20.

Fire Dynamics & Building Materials: Designed to burn research

While nobody expects a building to burn, it happens every day; so, what can we, as an industry, do to design these buildings to be safer – even when they burn?

EST4 communications platform by Edwards

The enhanced networking capability of the EST4 platform is based on a TCP/IPv6 network, giving it the flexibility to be designed into complex mid- to large-size applications. 

Lab, research facility design: Fire, life safety

Learn tips on how to design labs and research facilities — some of the most high-tech buildings around

NFPA 20: Fire pump design

When designing a fire pump, there are a number of factors to keep in mind, particularly NFPA 20

Ask an expert: Hospitals, health care facilities: Fire and life safety

Health care facility designers are expected to keep pace with increasingly complex, advanced engineered systems and features

Your questions answered: Fire and life safety: Notification and communications systems

Questions not answered during the live “Fire and life safety: Notification and communications systems” webcast Oct. 30, 2019, are answered by the presenters

2019 Fire & Life Safety Study

Fire, life safety in hospitals, health care facilities

Learning how to engineer colleges, universities better: Fire and life safety

Read about emerging trends in college and university buildings, and learn about the emerging trends impacting their design

Video: How Will NFPA 4’s Integrated System Testing Affect Building Commissioning

This session will identify the types of buildings that require integrated system testing, and what model codes will require testing to be completed.

Enhancing efficiency in industrial and manufacturing facilities: Fire and life safety

From high-tech automation to energy-saving lighting and HVAC systems, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to warehouses and factories

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: August 23-August 29

Read the best articles from the past week. Getting started designing a smart building, takeaways from NFPA Conference & Expo, MEP Giants revenue increase, government facility design and MEP Giants 2018 mergers and acquisitions.

Focus on specialty structures: Fire and life safety

Sports arenas, historical buildings, theaters and other specialty buildings require unique engineering design, especially in facilities with a lot of people

Modern codes and mass timber buildings

Building codes and construction techniques have evolved since the 850-year old Notre-Dame was built, leading to a recent resurgence of mass timber buildings

Hot topics: Takeaways from NFPA Conference & Expo

Below are some key takeaways featuring hot topics throughout the fire and life safety industry.

Government facility design: Fire and life safety

Consulting engineers are working on government, state, municipal, federal, correctional and military buildings

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles July 12-18

Read the best articles from the past week. Considerations for electrical testing and commissioning, sprinkler installations and obstructions, best practices for fire alarm notification design, integrating direct digital controls and technologies to watch in fire & life safety.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles June 21-27

Read the best articles from the past week. Fire alarm notification design, 2019 Product of the Year Finalists, arc flash hazards, electrical system design and commissioning, and combining HVAC and fire suppression piping

Retail, restaurant and mixed-use facilities: Fire, life safety

What are the trickiest aspects of retail, restaurant and mixed-use projects and what trends lie ahead? Read on for solid advice from experienced professionals.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, June 14 to June 20

Read the best articles from the past week. Engineers and building professionals clicked on: smoke control approaches in high-rise buildings, 2019 Product of the Year Finalists, sprinkler installation and obstructions, electrical system design and commissioning and the new norm of energy efficiency.

Common smoke control approaches in high-rise buildings

A fire protection engineer’s approaches to smoke control in high-rise buildings may focus on the rationale behind such approaches — with consideration of the benefits, costs and potential pitfalls.

Planning multifamily dwellings: Fire and life safety

Fire and life safety systems are of utmost importance in multifamily dwellings.

Developing an NFPA 92 design analysis

By creating an NFPA 92 design analysis for smoke control systems, fire protection engineers can provide design fire scenarios and a detailed design report.

Sample design fire scenario

Fire scenarios include relevant assumptions regarding the potential fire scenario and describe the meaning of the fire in terms that can be understood by the building owner.

Best practices for fire alarm notification design

As the functions and goals of fire alarm notification systems expand, the system layout must be effectively designed to provide a variety of vital signals. 

Top design trends in data centers: fire, life safety

An increasingly data-driven society demands advanced, high-performance data center facilities. Read on to learn the biggest fire and life safety challenges, emerging technologies and upcoming trends affecting data centers.

Sprinkler installations and obstructions

Sprinkler protection is an essential component of building fire and life safety. Sprinkler fire suppression systems are required to be installed with an understanding of the applicable standards and proper coordination among other building services throughout a project lifecycle.

Visual perception and its impact on emergency illumination design

Emergency lighting provides illumination and wayfinding to allow building occupants to quickly and safely evacuate.

World Trade Center building emergency lighting disasters

While overshadowed by the 9/11 attack, an earlier WTC terrorist bombing on Feb. 26, 1993, was an incredibly significant event in its own right.

Designing high-tech K-12 schools: Fire and life safety and HVAC

The technology at play in today’s K-12 schools is evolving rapidly—inside the classrooms, and in the various systems behind the scenes. Engineers handling such projects, whether the work is on new facilities or retrofits, have their work cut out for them, especially when it comes to fire and life safety and HVAC.

Case study: Sprinklers and smoke detection

Based on several tests, hotel occupancy can be safer with both smoke detectors and sprinklers.

Complex fire alarm system design and commissioning

Fire protection engineers should determine the level of complexity needed in a fire alarm system design based on the building size/type and design a system that meets code requirements accordingly.

Case study: Complex fire alarm system

Resorts require fire alarm systems with several devices connected to the fire alarm control unit.

Designing safe laboratories and research facilities: Fire and life safety

Engineers working on laboratory and research projects are tasked with balancing state-of-the-art systems, budgetary concerns, occupant safety, sustainable performance, and other factors including fire and life safety.

How to design fire alarm notification systems

This mass notification and emergency communication system design discussion is holistic and includes all associated coordination requirements.

Case study: Medical center notification system update

This example will share the fire alarm notification system design approach and construction challenges and resulting solutions at a medical center.

Exploring the requirements for fire pump retrofits

Identifying the impacts of retrofitting a fire pump into existing buildings and being code-compliant are challenging when working with existing buildings.

Designing health care facilities and medical campuses: Fire and life safety

Hospitals, clinics, and similar facilities are among the most demanding an engineer can tackle—technology is evolving rapidly, hospital managers are increasingly budget-conscious, and assist in saving lives. Fire and life safety is also a very important aspect designing these facilities.

How base level engineering can impact your community

Engineers are now using Base Level Engineering (BLE) to prepare broad and accurate flood risk information for FEMA and communities nationwide.

Your questions answered: Fire and life safety

The Oct. 18, 2018, fire and life safety webcast presenters addressed questions not covered during the live event.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, October 22-28

Writing fire protection specifications using NFPA 13, selecting pipe and piping materials, ASHRAE 62.1, reinforcing the engineer's role in the IPD method, and the 2018 Commissioning Giants were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week Oct. 22-28. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

Examining higher education facilities: Fire and life safety

As technology advances in every field, the college and university students being prepped for future careers in those fields need the tech they’re learning with to keep up. That presents unique challenges for the engineers working on such structures—specifying advanced systems that satisfy the unique needs of each institution. Here, professionals with experience in the area offer advice on how to tackle such facilities and receivetop marks in regard to fire and life safety.

Fire, life safety in colleges, universities

More than half of engineers who responded to the 2018 Fire & Life Safety Study make product selections for college/university buildings.

How to write your firm’s fire protection specifications using NFPA 13

Using NFPA 13 to specify fire protection systems can be done in various ways to ensure code compliance.

CDM Smith: University of Connecticut, On-Call MEP/Life Safety & Fire Protection, Cooling Tower

Electrical, power; fire, life safety; cooling tower; and system replacement

The benefits of integrated fire protection and life safety system testing

NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 explore integrated fire protection and life safety system testing and are vital to a building’s overall fire/life safety implementation.

Case study: Frankfurt International Airport

Frankfurt International Airport in Germany is an example of the benefits of intelligent dynamic signage on crowd movement in a place with constant foot traffic and construction.

Examining government, state, municipal, federal, and military facilities: Fire and life safety

Government and military projects are among the toughest challenges an engineer can face. Demanding facility owners, tight budget limitations, safety concerns, and other factors all come into play. Here, engineers with experience in the field offer advice on how to succeed in regards to fire and life safety.

Connectivity creates safer facilities

NFPA 72 updates focused on audio/visual signaling for mass notification and emergency communication systems can now be more efficient for occupant and building protection.

Evaluating high-rise wood construction

Advances in technology have allowed designers to challenge the status quo, think outside the box, and design high-rises comprised mostly of wood. It’s critical to understand the history associated with high-rise construction, current trends in the industry, and insights on the code-development process associated with high-rise wood construction.

Q&A with Stephen DiGiovanni, chairman of AdHoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings

Stephen DiGiovanni, PE, chair of the International Code Council (ICC) Ad Hoc Committee for Tall Wood Buildings, answered questions about his role with the committee and some of the challenges he and the group have faced.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, Jun. 25 to Jul. 1

Parallel generator design, NFPA 99-2012 requirements, millennials in the workforce, performance-based design, and NFPA 92 were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, Jun. 25 to Jul. 1. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

Understanding the fire safety requirements in NFPA 99-2012

Learning the fire and life safety requirements of NFPA 99 as they relate to hospitals and health care facilities is critical.

Performance-based design achieves fire, life safety

Specifying a single product or system within a facility using a performance-based specification, when the design is subject to performance-based design (PBD), can fundamentally reduce the level of safety achieved.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, May 14-20

NFPA 92, lighting controls, designing efficient data centers, and the 2018 40 Under 40 winners were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, May 14-20. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

2018 40 Under 40: Jacob Epstein, PE; 36

Senior Fire Protection Engineer, JENSEN HUGHES, Phoenix BS mechanical engineering, Arizona State UniversityMS fire protection engineering, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Epstein is a senior fire protection engineer and team leader of JENSEN HUGHES’ Phoenix office with more than 12 years of experience. He first joined the firm in 2010 as an associate consultant and was promoted to a senior position in 2014. In 2017, he was promoted to team leader, where he is responsible for the work product and management of several associate-level engineers.

2018 40 Under 40: Jeremy Lebowitz, PE; 31

Vice President Development, Industrial, JENSEN HUGHES, Framingham, Mass. BS chemical engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Mass.MS fire protection engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Lebowitz is the vice president of development for the industrial, laboratory, and manufacturing sectors at JENSEN HUGHES. He began his so far 10-year career with the company as an engineering intern with the Boston office in 2008, progressing to consulting engineer and client manager after obtaining his professional engineering license in 2012, to his current role, which he has held for the past 4 years. In his current role as “growth director” for the industrial vertical market, Lebowitz is responsible for professional development, large-account development, and technical delivery of projects.

Designing efficient data centers: Fire, life safety

In today’s digital age, businesses rely on running an efficient, reliable, and secure operation, especially with mission critical facilities such as data centers. Here, engineers with experience on such structures share advice and tips on ensuring project success in regards to fire/life safety.

Best practices for emergency lighting

Explore how to implement safe, code-compliant, and cost-effective emergency lighting systems.

Case study: Emergency lighting design

Different lighting layouts can achieve code-required illumination, but there is variation in cost and maintenance.

Using NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 to ensure fire-safe structures

NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 address commissioning and integration of fire protection and life safety systems. It’s critical to review and implement these standards to increase the building’s safety.

Examples of projects that used NFPA 3 and 4

If NFPA 3 and 4 are implemented by building owners, compliance will greatly increase the chances that they will not have a serious fire that impacts the occupants and viability of their property.

Implementing NFPA 101 in hospitals

NFPA 101: Life Safety Code is a reference used for strategies to protect people based on building construction, protection, and occupancy features that minimize the effects of fire and related hazards. It is the only document that covers life safety in both new and existing structures.

Adopting NFPA 101 in health care buildings

Explore the top 10 things to know about the 2012 edition of NFPA 101 for hospitals and health care facilities.

Fire, life safety in data centers

Forty-four percent of engineers who responded to the 2016 Fire & Life Safety Study make product selections for data centers.

Designing for arc flash mitigation in solar photovoltaic systems

Rising solar capacity comes with rising risk. The challenge is mitigating that risk.

Designing passive and active fire protection systems

Fire protection engineers should consider the building's construction, fire suppression systems, and smoke control when designing active and passive fire protection systems. The International Building Code and NFPA standards provide guidance on passive and active fire protection systems.

How to balance passive and active fire protection systems in building design

Both passive and active fire protection features should be included in the design to ensure protection of the building and its occupants.

How to design medical buildings: Fire and life safety

Hospitals and health care buildings have become very sophisticated. Coordination among all parties, special attention to codes and standards, and a focus on patient comfort have each become highly important to engineers. Fire and life safety systems are crucial for patient care.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, November 6-12: VFDs and harmonic mitigation, fire notification systems, eliminating electrical hazards and shutdowns, and more

VFDs and harmonic mitigation, fire notification systems, eliminating electrical hazards and shutdowns, 2017 Commissioning Giants, and the 2017 Lighting Study were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, November 6-12. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

How to design medical buildings

Hospitals and health care buildings have become very sophisticated. Coordination among all parties, special attention to codes and standards, and a focus on patient comfort have each become highly important to engineers.

The complexities of industrial, manufacturing, and warehouse facilities: fire/life safety

Warehouses and factories are more than simply bare-bones buildings for companies to keep equipment. Here, professionals with experience on such facilities offer advice on how to meet and exceed expectations regarding fire/life safety.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, September 18-24: Arc flash mitigation, MEP Giants, 2017 Product of the Year winners, and more

Arc flash mitigation, MEP Giants, 2017 Product of the Year winners, International Building Code (IBC) changes, and integration and interoperability were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, September 18-24. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, September 11-17: Arc flash mitigation, MEP Giants, 2017 Product of the Year winners, and more

Arc flash mitigation, MEP Giants, 2017 Product of the Year winners, understanding overcurrent protection, and LEDs were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, September 11-17. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

Proposed changes to the IBC: 2021 edition

Proposals in the 2021 edition of the International Building Code facilitates sustainable construction materials for tall wood buildings.

Mitigating arc flash hazards

Designers must account for several special constraints when mitigating arc flash hazards.

The art of designing sports, entertainment, and specialty structures: Fire and life safety

Entertainment venues are big businesses—and big on complexity, with a host of complex systems and requirements for engineers to tackle. Fire and life safety issues—mass notification, emergency communication, egress—are of the utmost importance.

Assessing wireless fire alarm systems

Fire protection engineers should assess the costs, benefits, history, technology, and code-compliance aspects of low-power wireless fire alarm systems and wireless smoke alarms.

The benefits and challenges of wireless fire alarm systems

Although designers should consider wireless fire alarm systems for their portability, easy installation, and flexibility, they must also consider cost-effectiveness for each application.

Applying NFPA 99 to health care facilities

The impact of applying NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code to hospitals and health care facilities, fire and life safety systems varies depending on the level of care provided.

High expectations for high-performance buildings: fire and life safety

High-performance buildings are intricate, complex projects that require attention—qualified, expert consulting-specifying engineers apply their knowledge on such projects specifically within the fire and life safety segment.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, May 29 to June 4: 2017 40 Under 40 winners, lighting protection systems, BIM, 2017 Product of the Year, NFPA 3 and 4.

Articles about 2017 40 Under 40 winners, lighting protection systems, BIM, 2017 Product of the Year, and NFPA 3 and 4 were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, May 29 to June 4. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

NFPA 92: Why it matters, how to use it, and changes to anticipate in 2018

NFPA 92: Standard for Smoke Control Systems provides fire protection engineers with guidance for the design and testing of smoke control systems, and there are critical changes underway to the 2018 edition.

How to use performance-based design for fire protection systems

The fire protection engineer must work within the prescriptive constraints of the building codes and standards while applying best engineering practices.

How to use NFPA 92 to design smoke control systems

NFPA 92: Standard for Smoke Control Systems provides fire protection engineers with guidance for the design and testing of smoke control systems.

Fire, life safety in office buildings

The 2016 Fire and Life Safety Study provides details about fire, life safety in office buildings.

Clean agent fire suppression for mission critical facilities

Clean agent systems have changed over the years due to a variety of reasons, including safety and product updates. Know the design parameters and codes and standards that dictate the specification of clean agent systems.

Case study: Clean agent system design at a data center

A project involving total-flooding clean agent protection of a mission critical data center illustrates the clean agent selection and system design process.

Understanding lightning protection systems

Scientific advances improve lightning protection for mission critical facilities.

What’s new to NFPA 13 and what to expect in future editions

Changes to the 2016 edition of NFPA 13 are evaluated along with what to expect in the 2019 edition.

Selecting a fire pump

The need for a fire pump should be decided early—ideally as a project scope is being developed. This article outlines a process to determine if a fire pump is needed and explains how to select a fire pump that meets the required pressure and flow.

Designing sprinkler systems for maintainability

Best practices for designing an automatic sprinkler system that can be easily inspected, tested, and maintained.

Coordinating fire protection designs via BIM

BIM can be a very powerful tool in the design and construction industry. It takes 2-D information far beyond just a 3-D environment. It places the tool of a database or model in the hands of fire protection engineers, giving them the benefit of what they want to achieve within the BIM model.

Fire protection detection tubing

Firetrace International has just been granted the LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) approval for both its 3M Novec 1230 and FM-200 direct low pressure (DLP) systems.

Notification devices for fire safety

System Sensor's L-Series AV notification devices reduce power consumption by up to 35%.

Fire alarm control panel

The Person Machine Interface (PMI-3) is the primary user interface for the FireFinder XLS fire alarm control panel.

Firestop documentation manager

The CFS-DM Firestop Documentation Manager is a cloud-based system designed for the AEC market that provides an easy way to document, manage, and report compliance.

Life safety dampers solutions

Ruskin's I503 design provides mechanical engineers and contractors with an alternative method of construction for the top or bottom of rated shaft penetrations when applying dampers.

Achieving a state of readiness: The importance of life safety code compliance

Life safety codes exist to ensure health care institutions are able to provide the highest quality of care.

Using NFPA 3 and 4 to commission fire protection systems

NFPA 3 and 4 provide the process for commissioning and integrated testing of fire protection and life safety systems.

Ten things to know about emergency illumination

Highlights of the NFPA 101: Life Safety Code and the International Building Code’s key requirements.

The keys to designing emergency lighting systems

There are numerous building codes in various editions in use around the country for engineers designing emergency illumination systems. The most widely used codes in effect today are NFPA 101: Life Safety Code and International Building Code.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, March 6 to 12: NFPA 101 for mission critical facilities, pump curve reading, fire alarm systems testing, generator set rating definitions, and more.

Articles about NFPA 101 for mission critical facilities, pump curve reading, fire alarm systems testing, generator set rating definitions, and integrated design solutions for energy efficiency were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, March 6 to 12. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.

Arc Flash 101: AIA CES accredited online course

This course explores the differences between arc flash and electrical shock.

Integrating commissioning, testing for fire alarm systems

System coordination includes commissioning and integrated testing of fire alarm systems using NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 as guidance.

Have you gotten close to your fire door lately?

The importance of initial fire door inspections and subsequent annual inspections cannot be overemphasized. The adoption and execution of initial and annual fire door inspections will result in safer conditions for building occupants.

Ground fault equipment protection line

The line of UL ground fault equipment protection (GFEP) devices are designed for solutions to help prevent costly production shutdowns due to ac and dc pulsating ground faults, as well as overloads and short circuits.

How does your salary stack up?

Consulting engineers share information about compensation, accreditation, age, retirement goals, and business development via a national salary survey.

Pendent sprinklers for warehouse and storage applications

Model ESFR-25 is an early suppression fast response (ESFR) pendent sprinkler with a K-factor of 25.2 for warehouse and other storage applications.

Colored explosion-proof signal light with an audible horn

EPL-TL-1X10W-C-PA LED signal light is a Class 1 Division 1 and Class 2 Division 1 LED signal light equipped with an audible horn and approved for use in hazardous environments.

Clean agent total flooding system

E4 engineered clean agent total flooding system is FM aproved and offers 500 psi 3M Novec 1230 systems.

Testing burn characteristics via ASTM E84

ASTM E84 is used to assess the surface burning characteristics of building products. The results help fire protection engineers better understand how various materials will react during a fire.

Fire, life safety in government, military facilities

Half of respondents to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2016 Fire and Life Safety Study specify, design, or make product selections for government buildings and military facilities—and 86% of these engineers are responsible for determining requirements/writing specifications for these projects.

Fire-resistant system

Pyrotenax fire-resistant system ensures a minimum of 2 hours of electricity to critical emergency and life-saving equipment in the event of a fire.

Suppression technology

Model RM-1 Riser Manifold features a proprietary connection between the manifold and the Potter alarm switch.

Firestop automation software

Hilti Button is the firestop automation software that integrates with building information model (BIM) software platforms.

Case study: Fire protection for IDF, MDF rooms

Fire protection systems were selected for a building with intermediate distribution frame (IDF) or main distribution frame (MDF) rooms.

2016 40 Under 40: Will Fletcher, PE, FPE, 27

Associate Consultant, Jensen Hughes, San Diego BS Civil Engineering, MS Fire Protection Engineering, California Polytechnic State University

2016 40 Under 40: Toby White, PE, LEED AP, 36

Associate, Fire Protection Engineer, Arup, Cambridge, Mass. BS Mechanical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute MS Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Data centers’ intricate design: Fire and life safety

Data centers are important structures that hold vital information for businesses, schools, public agencies, and private individuals. Fire suppression systems must be carefully designed.

Emergency communications system

Safepath SP40S is a multi-use system for emergency messaging, paging, and voice evacuation.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, April 11-17: designing generator systems, emergency egress and illumination systems and using online commissioning tools, more

Articles about designing generator systems, emergency egress and illumination systems, using online commissioning tools, water management in commercial buildings, and hot to design safe fire pump power service were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, April 11-17. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.

Jensen Hughes acquires Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corp.

Jensen Hughes announced that it has completed the acquisition of Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corp.

Fire, fire/smoke dampers

DFD, FD, and FSD series fire and combination fire/smoke dampers are approved for installation in horizontal, non-concrete, fire-rated barriers.

Dry valves

The FireLock NXT Series 768N Dry Valve provides simplified setup and design, ensuring ease of maintenance and speed of installation with a more intuitive trim layout.

Dynamic curtain fire damper

VFD-10D is a multiple section dynamic curtain fire damper available in A style with curtain style blades, B style with out of the airstream and curtain style blades, or C style with out of the airstream frame and curtain style blades.

Electrical fire pump with emergency generator

In this case study, an onsite generator must provide the secondary source of power for the fire pump.

Campus-style distribution with differing voltages

In this arrangement, the fire pump and service entrance voltages are not the same.

Your questions answered: Fire/life safety: Detection, notification, and suppression

Both active and passive fire protection systems are specified to ensure the safety and well-being of building occupants in case of a fire. Engineers should be aware of the contents and intent of the building when specifying fire detection, notification, and suppression systems.

Fittings for fire protection systems

FireLock Installation-Ready Fittings require minimal fasteners and offer fast installation while maintaining a safe and efficient jobsite.

Fire protection valve

BFV-300 Butterfly Valve has a compact design that allows for more efficient installation, easier operation, and better long-term performance.

Class A office building system design: Fire and life safety

Class A office buildings are among the toughest projects an engineer can work on—complex structures, demanding clients, and advanced technology. Fire protection engineers frequently face unique fire and life safety challenges.

On-Ramping and Off-Ramping

Women engineers who start families face a number of challenges in integrating their personal and professional lives. Company representatives at the WE14 career fair discussed some of these issues and offered candid answers about how their organizations are addressing work/life issues and employee retention.

Receptacle designed to protest against electrical fires

Leviton's OBC AFCI is compliant with NEC requirements and protects against electrical fires resulting from arc faults.

Healthy hospital success: Fire and life safety

With hospital projects, it is imperative that engineers get everything exactly right—after all, the lives of patients treated in the health care building may depend on it. Answers to a variety of fire and life safety questions are included

Your questions answered: Circuit protection in health care facilities

Designing electrical systems for health care facilities—especially hospitals—is more demanding than for conventional buildings because the stakes are so high.

Fire and life safety in data centers

The Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 Fire and Life Safety Study indicated that 46% of engineers specify, design, or make product selections for data centers.

Designing, enhancing office buildings: Fire and life safety

Office buildings might seem like relatively simple structures, but engineers with experience in the field know differently. Fire, life safety, and security professionals chime in with expert answers.

Dual path control panel communicator

Bosch's B465 Universal Dual Path Communicator is designed to enable dialer-based fire or intrusion control panels to use modern IP addresses or cellular communication formats.

Equipment enclosures

Type 4X Outdoor Equipment with corrosion-proof GRP construction that ensures maintenance-free service life in salt-laden environments.

Digital video manager

Digital Video Manager (DVM) R600 by Honeywell manages security system with enhanced mobile capabilities and voice command.

Pneumatic control systems

The FireChek pneumatic control system comes with quick-exhaust and pilot valves to quickly shut down large pneumatic actuators in fire situations.

Commissioning commercial buildings: Fire and life safety

Ideally, all nonresidential buildings would be commissioned, and the team would start at the onset of the project. Because that’s not always the case, commissioning authorities and experts offer advice on building projects in various stages of commissioning, recommissioning, or retro-commissioning. Fire and life safety systems are discussed.

Low-frequency notification appliance

The 520-Hz, Low-Frequency Sounders have been established to comply with the latest requirements for low frequency for sleeping rooms, per NFPA.

Burst-tolerant rupture disc

The Large Atlas rupture discs provide safety performance for critical processes.

Intelligent smoke detector

The ASAtechnology fire detector and fire and carbon monoxide detector provide safety and early warning of flaming fires.

Fire alarm panel

The SIMPLEX 4007ES is an expandable fire alarm panel that is compatible with both addressable and conventional detection and notification technologies.

2015 Fire and Life Safety Study: Fire and life safety in hospitals, health care facilities

More than half of fire protection engineers specify, design, or make product selections for hospitals and health care facilities. Through the 2015 Fire and Life Safety Study, Consulting-Specifying Engineer identified four key findings on hospital and health care facility projects.

Fire suppression sprinklers

RAVEN studio sprinklers are designed for use in commercial spaces such as offices, hospitals, universities, schools, apartments, and hotels.

Pre-assembled fire protection enclosure

The Victaulic Fire-Pac is a pre-assembled fire protection valve and trim that is prewired to a fire alarm’s control panel or junction box and enclosed inside a metal cabinet.

Fire suppression system – 2015-07-13 – 2015-07-13

The INERGEN clean-agent fire suppression system provides a regulated agent discharge into the protected hazard area.

Aspirating smoke detectors for smaller applications

The new addition to FAAST line of aspirating smoke detectors, the FAAST XS is used for smaller applications and uses the same technology.

Intelligent audible base

The Model ABHW-4S audible base is designed for use in sleeping areas of a building.

Tom Divine joins editorial advisory board

Tom Divine, PE, has joined the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board.

Industrial-strength design: Fire and life safety

Manufacturing and industrial facilities tackle heavy-duty projects during their day-to-day operations—so it makes sense that engineers working on such structures face a number of tough challenges. Engineers offer advice on how to achieve strong results for fire suppression, life safety, and other fire protection systems.

Arup Thoughts: How can we prepare for multi-hazards?

Are engineers and designers doing enough to limit the impacts of natural and man-made disasters? Could a better instant response to hazard scenarios reduce casualties?

Explosion protection passive isolation valve

The passive isolation explosion protection is a solution for dust aspiration and dilute-phase pneumatic conveyance systems.

Linear heat detector

The CTI Series Linear Heat Detection has the ability to eliminate the incidence of false alarms caused by mechanical damage.

2015 40 Under 40: Simon Goodhead, PE, CEng, MIFireE, 32

Director, Jensen Hughes Inc., Atlanta BS Fire Science, The University of Leeds

2015 40 Under 40: Wayne Griswold, CFPS, 30

General Manager, Martech Fire Solutions, Spring, Texas BS Fire Protection and Safety Technology, Oklahoma State University

The evolution of BIM

BIM may impact fire protection and security services in the future.

Government building design: Fire and life safety

When your client is the government, engineering design can be tricky, thanks to stepped-up regulations, budgetary concerns, and other considerations. Respondents discuss fire and life safety issues in government, state, municipal, federal, and military facilities.

World demand for security equipment to reach $126 billion in 2018

Technological innovations and the integration of security equipment with smartphones and other electronic devices, as well as with lighting, heating, and other building systems, will aid sales of security equipment.

Piping arrangements for fire pumps

NFPA 20 provides fire protection engineers with guidance on design and installation of fire pumps and related components.

Smart seismic expansion loop

The Seismic BreakAway coupling is designed for seismic events when hanger rods are too short to allow the full-rated movement of seismic expansion loops.

Driving data center design: Fire and life safety

In the information age, data centers can be the beating heart of not just a building, but an entire global corporation. Fire suppression systems must be carefully considered by fire protection engineers.

Aspirating smoke detector for mission critical facilities

The Faast XT aspirating smoke detector combines advanced particle separation with dual source optical smoke detection technology to provide highly sensitive very early warning fire detection while providing enhanced immunity to false alarms.

Seismic design of fire suppression piping systems

Fire protection engineers should use the guidance of NFPA 13 when designing fire suppression piping in nonresidential buildings.

Jensen Hughes brand launches after historic merger

Jensen Hughes is launched as the merged company of the RJA Group and Hughes Associates.

Sounder base series

The B200S sounder base series by is designed to listen to the communication between the attached sensor head and FACP to adopt the same address as the detector, but as a unique device type on the loop.

Fire and life safety: Six trends that matter to engineers

Consulting-Specifying Engineer sees the following as the six most important high-level findings impacting the fire and life safety industry today.

Waterflow detectors

The WFDN Series waterflow detector features a timer dial, cover, and terminal block.

Wireless fire alarm solution

The Smart Wireless Integrated Fire Technology (SWIFT) detectors are a wireless fire alarm solution designed to protect challenging applications and building expansions and are UL-certified.

Specifying passive firestop systems

Fire-rated wall assemblies and passive firestop systems are key elements to the design of all commercial buildings.

Engineering workable, successful office space: Fire and life safety systems

Whether new or retrofit, office buildings can be a challenge for the mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), or fire protection engineer. Fire protection engineers have many challenges in these buildings.

Arup Thoughts: Seismic engineering for tall buildings in Asia

Performance-based seismic engineering ensures buildings are designed to withstand an earthquake and keep functioning, something countries like the Philippines and Indonesia badly need.

Additional info about integrating BAS and fire/life safety systems

The presenters from the webcast about “Integration: BAS and Fire/Life Safety” respond to questions not addressed during the live presentation.

Building commissioning challenges, solutions: Fire, life safety

Commissioning, recommissioning, or retro-commissioning, can be a challenge—and the more complex a facility is, the more boxes an engineer has to check to get the job done right. Fire and life safety systems have some of the most complex requirements.

Fire protection valve series

The FireLock Series 745 Fire-Pac has been updated to give customers more options and benefits for installation, maintenance, and design as well as a lower profile.

LED series expanded for ceiling models

The Wheelock Exceder LED Series has been expanded to include ceiling models for horns, horn strobes, strobes, speakers, and speaker strobes and are designed to help reduce overall costs in fire alarm and emergency communication systems.

Fire alarm systems with voice communication

The Intelligent Voice Communication systems deliver multiple messages simultaneously via digital voice.

Fire pump solution

The HSC Firepak is an integrated fire pump solution in a compact design.

Seismic expansion joint for fire sprinkler systems

The Fireloop quake-ready expansion loop is FM approved, UL listed, and meets all NFPA 13 guidelines for seismic expansion joints in fire sprinkler systems.

Fire rated floor boxes

Legrand's Evolution Series Floor Box has a 3-hour rating and boxes are available in 6-, 8-, and 10-gang configurations and they accept existing cover plated and service fittings.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, July 21-27: Smoke control systems, female engineers, NFPA 99-2012, more

Articles about smoke control system testing, top five things female engineers should know, NFPA 99-2012 changes, power for fire pumps, and lowering energy use in buildings were Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s five most clicked articles from last week, July 21-27. Were you out last week? Miss something. You can catch up here.

Fire smoke curtains

Colt's fire curtains can be used in areas where visibility is not a concern and feature a fabric material that is held and clamped by a series of angle pieces.

The challenge: Tall and super-tall buildings: Fire and life safety

High-rise buildings aren’t just big—for engineers, they present big challenges. Fire and life safety issues are top on the list of challenges for fire protection engineers

Power for fire pumps

Power is a key element in ensuring a fire pump works in an emergency situation.

David Lowrey joins editorial advisory board

David Lowrey, Chief Fire Marshal, Boulder Fire Rescue, has joined the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board.

William Koffel joins editorial advisory board

William Koffel, PE, FSFPE, has joined the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board.

Voice communication panels for emergency life safety portfolios

The Intelligent Voice Communication panels are designed to provide protection for small and medium-size facilities with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology as well as digital voice communication capabilities.

Fire suppression system – 2014-06-23

The Vortex 500 Fire Suppression System uses water and nitrogen to cool hazard areas in information technology spaces like data rooms and server spaces.

LED low frequency sounder line

The Wheelock Exceder LED low frequency sounder feature multiple 520 Hz modes of operation, including T3, T4, Continuous and T3/T4 and meet NFPA standards for fire alarm and carbon monoxide code requirements.

NFPA 20 presentation highlights standard’s changes

At the NFPA Conference and Expo, Milosh Puchovsky discussed NFPA 20-2016, and focused on fire pump installations in tall buildings.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, May 12-18

Articles about selecting arc flash protection techniques, mitigating harmonics in electrical systems, considerations for building energy modeling, NFPA 110, and kinetic energy storage were the Consulting-Specifying Engineer's most-clicked articles from last week, May 12-18. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.

2014 40 Under 40: Jared J. Birmingham, PE, 34

Operations Manager, Rolf Jensen & Associates Inc., Los Angeles

2014 40 Under 40: Nicholas Moriarty, PE, 32

Fire Protection Engineer, jba consulting engineers, Las Vegas

Joshua Greene joins editorial advisory board

The RJA Group’s Joshua Greene has joined the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board.

Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, April 27 to May 4

Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are the Consulting-Specifying Engineer ’s five most-clicked articles from last week, April 27 to May 4, including articles about data center tier classifications, designing a sustainable sports venue, arc flash protection, preventing arc flash with codes and standards, and generators for data centers.

Designing a winning sports venue: Fire and life safety

Sports and entertainment arenas are more than just seats and a playing field; they are highly complex structures bringing in thousands of fans—and millions of dollars—every year. Fire, life safety, and mass notification are topics of high importance to fire protection engineers.

Criteria for selecting arc flash protection techniques, Part 2

Conducting an arc flash study to identify hazards and proper PPE and tools is critical in reducing the risk of arc flash incidents.

Fire, life safety award launched

Fire and life safety engineers can enter innovative designs in this inaugural awards program.

Designing fire systems for flammable, combustible liquids

Specifying fire protection for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids in containers is critical.

Your turn: How has counterfeiting affected you?

Share your experience about counterfeit electrical products with other engineers.

Low frequency sounders and strobes

System Sensor SpectrAlert Advance Low Frequency Sounders and Sounder Strobes meet new low frequency requirements for certain sleeping spaces.

Cosentini hires senior fire protection engineer

Cosentini has named Laura J. Bennett, PE, as senior fire protection engineer for the company's New York office.

Carbon monoxide detectors

The CO1224T and CO1224TR (round) CO detectors from System Sensor have 24/7 central station monitoring and meet NFPA 720: 2009 requirements.

Beyond messaging: Mass notification software adopts smartphone-based alerts

Mass notification system software is going beyond text messages to deliver emergency warnings and taking advantage of existing Smartphone technology.

Damper levels with quick response codes

Greenheck has added quick response (QR) codes to the labels on its life safety dampers, and control and air measuring dampers to provide instant access to product specifications and other information.

LED fidelity speaker line

Cooper Notification’s Wheelock Exceder LED Series produces high-fidelity sound output for indoor wall-mount applications and has a frequency response from 300 to 8000 Hz.

Integration examples: Fire alarms and BAS

Examples of integrating building automation and fire alarm systems for special circumstances are shown.

Selective coordination in elevators

Selective coordination in elevators is required when more than one elevator is supplied by a common feeder.

Fire and carbon monoxide detector

System Sensor’s Advanced Multi-Criteria Fire/CO Detector (AMCF/CO) combines fire and CO protection using one footprint and can sense multiple components of a fire.

Mass notification system demand soars

According to a report from IMS Research, spending on MNS in North America is expected to rise to $2.1 billion in 2017, up from $1.6 billion in 2013.

2013 40 Under 40: Christopher Lynch, 29

Operations Manager, Rolf Jensen & Associates Inc. (RJA), Boston

2013 40 Under 40: Scott Voelkerding, 33

Fire Protection Program Manager, 
URS Corp., Chicago

Fire suppression system – 2013-04-09

The Victaulic Vortex 500 fire suppression system utilizes water and nitrogen in a combined suspension to cool the hazard area and remove the oxygen that sustains the fire.

Fire alarm control panels

The FCI 7200 Series fire alarm control panels from Gamewell-CFI have been upgraded to the latest, code-compliant technology.

Fire incident command software

Simplex TrueSite Incident Commander technology by SimplexGrinnell provides full graphical maps, high-resolution touchscreen display, and wide-ranging command and control features on a PC platform.

Fire suppression system – 2013-02-28

The Vortex 500 by Victaulic is a fire suppression system designed for data rooms and server spaces and uses water and nitrogen to cool hazard areas.

SFPE 2013 president named

Joshua Elvove was named president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) for 2013.

Fire and CO Detection

The Advanced Multi-Criteria Fire/CO Detector (AMCF/CO) by System Sensor adds carbon monoxide detection in addition to fire detection.

Salaries increasing for fire protection engineers

The SFPE found that fire protection engineers' salaries have increased almost three percent since 2010, making the profession among the highest salaries in the engineering field.

NFPA 20: Changes to the standard on fire pumps

Regardless of whether the 2013 edition of NFPA 20 will be applicable to your next project, fire protection engineers need to be aware of the changes to the standard.

Commissioning buildings for fire, life safety

Proper commissioning of the fire and life safety features will ensure an on-time building.

Mass notification system

Cooper Notification’s mass notification system with WAVES High Power Speaker Array (HPSA) 7100 Series has been scaled and designed for stand-alone applications in the fire alarm market, and can be integrated with a facility’s existing audio source, including voice-capable fire alarm control panels and paging systems.

Firefighter telephone control system

The Farenhyt IFP-FFT firefighter phone system developed by Silent Knight by Honeywell provides supervision, annunciation, and control for local and remote telephone handsets.

Desktop notification and positioning system

The Situational Awareness and Response Assistant (SARA) eMessenger system developed by Status Solutions delivers desktop notification of emergency and non-emergency events.

Smoke and CO detector

NOTIFIER by Honeywell designed the IntelliQuad PLUS detector, offering carbon monoxide (CO) detection with smoke detection and nuisance alarm rejection as part of an ONYX series fire alarm system that quickly verifies a true fire or CO emergency.

Firestop industry conference, trade show

The Firestop Contractors International Assn. (FCIA) will be holding its 13th annual Firestop Industry Conference (FIC) Nov. 6 to 9, 2012.

Fire alarm detection system

The Advanced Signal Analysis (ASA) by Siemens provides reliable and false alarm resistant fire detection.

Fire, CO detector

The AMCF/CO detector by System Sensor produces Temp 3 and Temp 4 patterns for fire and CO alarms.

Fire system panels

Siemens Building Technologies Division has introduced its Cerberus PRO and Desigo Fire Safety portfolios.

Remote service technology

Finalist in Fire, Life Safety, and Mass Notification in Consulting-Specifying Engineer's 2011 Product of the Year competition

Early warning fire detector

Finalist in Fire, Life Safety, and Mass Notification in Consulting-Specifying Engineer's 2011 Product of the Year competition

SFPE names president

Deborah Boice becomes first female elected to lead the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Silent Knight welcomes new sales manager

Silent Knight has announced Jonathan Beach as its new regional sales manager for the U.S. Northwest Territory.

Engineering company adopts parent name

Schirmer Engineering adopts Aon name, expands global reach and services.

Chauvin Named President of SimplexGrinnell

Longtime Company Leader to Succeed Retiring Chief Executive on Oct. 1.

2017 40 Under 40: Andrew Coles, PEng, PE, 39

Senior Engineer, Jensen Hughes

Fast cars, steep hills, trashy novels

Q. When you first wanted to be something in life, what was it? A. I wanted to be an engineer, just like my father, from when I was five or six years old. Q. What kink in the road changed your path? A. I took a stand on principle and got fired. Timing was bad. Brand new baby, brand new wife. Couldn't get a job.

Fire Prevention Week begins October 4th

NFPA's Fire Prevention Week begins on Sunday, October 4th.

Commercial building fires caused almost $7 billion worth of property loss during 2008

NFPA Journal publishes new fire loss statistics on the number of civilian injuries, deaths, and property loss associated with fires during the previous calendar year.

IP communicator

ProductText With complete upload and download capabilities from any IP connection, Fire-Lite Alarms' IPDACT-2UD is compatible with a wide variety of alarm panels. Connected to a fire alarm panel's standard telephone port, the communicator can download panel data while uploading program updates, and can be used through any type of IP line (LAN, DSL, cable, etc.). The IPDACT-2UD is also equipped with an AES 512-bit level of encryption, bolstering its security. www.firelite.com #5.

Demand high for fire protection engineers

Despite downturn in global economy, many employers are finding it difficult to recruit qualified fire protection engineers.

Chinese building fire breaks out

A fire broke out Sunday, April 19, in Nanjing's 50-story International Center Tower.

Gas detection system

Collect, display, and act on data received from gas detection devices with the NFS2-3030 fire and gas detection system. The system interfaces to industry standard 4-20 mA devices using Notifier's FMM-4-20 module. The module connects to the detection system through the signaling line circuit, which is user-programmable for up to five different thresholds; fire, security, supervisory, non-fire trouble, pre-alarm, non-fire, and critical process. www.honeywell.com #13.

Transformer glitch burns Wisconsin paper company

Fire officials point the blame at a faulty transformer for a blaze that caused $500,000 in damages at Wausau Paper.

MEP Insider – 2009-02-11

Recent hires and promotions

SFPE has new president

Richard J. Davis, PE, FSFPE, took office as president of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

Fire alarm IP communications

The IPDACT-2UD from Fire-Lite allows operators to download alarm panel data and upload information such as program updates from a networked computer or over the Internet. The unit transmits all information digitally via TCP/IP and is secured with the industry's highest level of encryption. The fully digital transmission eliminates common dropouts in communications caused by signal noise. www.firelite.com #12.

Preparing for the future of fire safety

A symposium--hosted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation--will gather industry leaders to glimpse the future direction of fire and life safety.

Graphical workstation

ONYXWorks designed by Notifier combines fire alarm systems, security, card access, and closed- caption TV into a single point of control. The UL-listed workstation allows facility managers to monitor and control life safety and security systems in a building, city, state, and worldwide enterprises over local or wide area networks.

Selecting and maintaining smoke detectors

Smoke detectors can have a lifecycle of up to 20 years if certain design and installation recommendations are followed and if annual maintenance is performed for each detector. Given the tight budget of many companies in today's economy, a reliable fire system can be one less budget issue and one less concern for the owner, operator, or lessee.

Web site encourages girls to enter engineering field

The National Academy of Engineering, Washington, D.C., has launched “Engineer Your Life,” (www.engineeryourlife.org) a Web site to encourage academically prepared girls to enroll in undergraduate engineering programs. “This Web site is part of a national effort to inform high school girls, and those who counsel them, about engineering through personal and informative sketches ...

Teach students fire science

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), Bethesda, Md., has partnered with Discovery Education to create a new in-school program titled The Chemistry of Fire. Geared to high school chemistry students, the program will teach the science behind fire. The interactive program includes a teacher's guide with five lesson plans, a DVD that demonstrates exciting experiments included in the less...

NFPA releases mitigation of cooking fires report

The National Fire Protection Assn. last month announced the completion of a report and accompanying educational tools on behavioral mitigation of cooking fires: “Behavioral Mitigation of Cooking Fires Through Strategies Based on Statistical Analysis.”

14th. ed. of ‘Fire in the United States’ available now

This edition is organized differently than previous. The report presents a summary of the national fire problem in terms of losses for structures, vehicles and other mobile properties, and outside and other properties. Detailed analysis of the residential and non-residential structure fire problems will be published as stand-alone reports.

Scholarships awarded to fire safety students by NFPA

The National Fire Protection Association Fire Safety Educational Memorial Fund awarded four students scholarships based on their academic achievement, leadership abilities, contributions to fire safety activities and pursuit of careers in fire safety.

Wireless intrinsically safe devices and equipment: emerging markets

Venture Development Corp., Natick, Mass., developed a market study, “Intrinsic Safety Devices: Global Market Assessment, Sec. Edition”. The market study estimates the total 2006 worldwide shipments for wireless intrinsically safe devices and equipment at $271.5-mil. and predicts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8%, and reaching $432.7-mil. by 2011.

Senator Praises Efforts to Recycle Fluorescent Lamps

VaporLok Products LLC, a health and safety company headquartered in Mankato, Minn, has joined the efforts of Wal-Mart to help answer the question of what to do with burned-out fluorescent lamps.

GF Piping Systems Helps Mandalay Bay Hotel Keep Environment Stable for Aquatic Life

The Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel’s Shark Reef attraction, Las Vegas' only American Zoo and Aquarium Assn. accredited Animal Care Facility, contains more than 1,200 aquatic species including sharks, crocodiles, piranhas, rays, sea turtles, jellyfish and other freshwater and saltwater fish. Maintaining the water environment for these very special species is a great challenge for the life support crew. More than 1.6 million gallons of water is recycled hourly through the vast array of pipes and water treatment equipment.gallons of freshwater is delivered to the exhibit daily. The recycled and incoming water can be treated consistently, but only with the use of reliable analytical equipment. Salinity, pH, ORP, flow, and temperature are the measured parameters and controlling them ensures water quality. The pH ofthe incoming city water to the exhibit is never consistent due to the various drought conditions and elements that the water will carry. The recycled water also contains microorganisms and fish waste and must be treated before it is sent back into the exhibits. Throughout the exhibits’ensor.

Hilton Hospitable

For helping to restore critical fire and life-safety protection in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a major industry player is tipping its hat to the Hilton Hotels Corp. According to Michael Lohr, director of service marketing for SimplexGrinnell, the hotel chain stepped forward to provide the fire-protection and life-safety company with hotel space to support its displaced employees and to provide a staging base for the service technicians repairing and retesting fire and life-safety systems damaged by the disaster and subsequent flooding. "This gesture says a lot about Hilton as a company and about the strength of our relationship," said Lohr, who added the two have had a longtime business relationship. "It helped some of our employees whose own lives were affected by Hurricane Katrina. At the same time, Hilton has contributed to the well-being of the community by supporting SimplexGrinnell's efforts, under the most difficult of circumstances, to provide fire and life-safety protection.".

A Healthy Balance Between Work and Personal Life

Studies show that one of employees’ highest priorities is achieving a healthy balance between professional career and private life, says Kim McLean, a SullivanKreiss market sector leader whose area of focus includes A/E design firms. “This concern is especially prominent among younger employees,” she writes in the SullivanKreiss Executive Search Newsletter for Aug 2005, “who seem less satisfied with working conditions than previous generations.” According to McLean, a survey of 7,718 Americans aged 18 and over, conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc. for Age Wave, an independent think tank, found that just 45% of employees are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobs. Younger workers are the most distressed, and they feel the least amount of loyalty to their employers, the survey, released earlier this year, found. “Maybe it's not surprising that younger workers are more dissatisfied with their jobs and are less loyal to their employers,” writes McLean.

The Right Way to Fire an Employee

In the June 2005 issue of the SullivanKreiss Executive Search Newsletter, executive search pro John Kreiss offers advice on the right way to fire an employee. “’You're fired,’ or the numerous less harsh euphemisms, are the hardest words for any manager, with the possible exception of Donald Trump,” writes Kreiss. “Indeed, firing an employee is probably the most stressful and difficult task for managers. While it's never easy, handling the situation properly can minimize the negative repercussions for all involved and mitigate the impact on the organization's morale.” Kreiss also points out that every firm should have policies in place to mitigate the possibility of wrongful termination lawsuits. Some of the important points to consider, according to Kreiss, are the following: New employees.

Recent NFPA Report Finds That Arson Rate Hits Historic Low

Designers of engineered fire-protection systems will be happy to know that at least one thing that puts their systems to the test has abated in recent years. According to a recent report from the National Fire Protection Assn., in 2003, the rate of arson offenses relative to population decreased by 6% from the previous year. The number of intentionally set structure fires in 2003 dropped to 37,500, marking the lowest number recorded in the 27 years studied. This figure does not include suspicious fires or fires with undetermined causes, but if those are included, recent numbers are still the lowest NFPA has ever recorded.

Fire Protection Markets Increase 15% Worldwide in 2004

The markets for fire protection showed high growth rates worldwide during 2003 and 2004—mainly in China—says a recent report from German consultant Helmut Kaiser Consultancy. Moreover, it is expected to increase 6% to 15% per year until 2008, depending on the segment. Fire-protection markets are more and more global for key applications, technologies and materials, says Helmut Kaiser, creating millions of new jobs. The market increase is being driven by more damage to assets, more fire events around the world, climate change but also new technologies and companies.

CAD Society Presents Lifetime Award

The CAD Society announced L. Stephen Wolfe, P.E., publisher and CEO of CAD/CAM Publishing, Inc., as the winner of the 2004 CAD Society Industry Lifetime Achievement Award. The not-for-profit CAD industry user association presented the award on April 3 at COFES2004: The Congress on the Future of Engineering Software, held in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Not so Distant Learning

Distance learning and distance recruiting were on the minds of a number of people attending a session on the topic. The panel, including representatives from fire-protection firms, universities and professional associations who provide such offerings, universally noted the movement is growing slowly but steadily.

NFPA Reports Variances in Fire Death Rates among States

Although fire deaths in the United States have declined significantly from 5,804 in 1980 to 3,347 in 1999, there are big variations between states, according to an analysis of fire death patterns by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

SFPE Updates Fire Protection Engineering Guide

Providing a technical reference for fire-protection engineers, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers has released an updated version of its Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering.