Why are fire and life safety systems vital?
Fire and life safety systems are the most complex — and vital — systems in any building. Fire protection engineers must coordinate fire detection, notification and suppression systems at many different levels. Both passive and active fire protection systems must be considered. This includes (but is not limited to) mass notification systems, emergency communication systems, life safety systems, firestopping, smoke control systems, egress lighting and much more.
Illuminating the means of egress
Differentiating the requirements of egress lighting versus emergency egress lighting requires a close look at several codes and standards
How egress is planned using NFPA 101
NFPA 101: Life Safety Code is one of the primary sources for the requirements of exit pathways
NFPA 20: Fire pump design
When designing a fire pump, there are a number of factors to keep in mind, particularly NFPA 20
What’s new in NFPA 72?
The 2019 update of NFPA 72 provides fire protection engineers, along with other engineering professionals, improved mass notification and emergency communication guidelines.
Selecting pipe and piping materials
Selecting pipe and piping materials involves many factors. Designers should approach these decisions and identify strengths and weaknesses of various pipe materials and connection methods.
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.
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.