Fire Suppression & Life Safety Systems in Chicago, New York & Miami

Almost every tenant improvement touches life-safety systems. New walls and ceilings change sprinkler coverage, new rooms need fire alarm devices, and a revised layout has to keep exit paths clear and properly marked. These systems are also among the most closely inspected parts of a project, so they need to be planned with the drawings rather than adjusted in the field.

We coordinate fire sprinkler, fire alarm, and egress work with licensed fire protection contractors and the building’s existing system providers. Typical scopes include relocating and adding sprinkler heads to NFPA 13 coverage requirements, adding or moving alarm notification and detection devices under NFPA 72, exit and emergency lighting, and fire-rated penetrations and firestopping.

Each jurisdiction has its own review. In New York City, fire alarm and sprinkler work involves the FDNY as well as the Department of Buildings, Chicago projects are reviewed with the Chicago Fire Department’s requirements in mind, and Florida projects follow the Florida Fire Prevention Code. Building management usually has to schedule system shutdowns and fire watch.