The Fire Protection Stakeholders

There are various stakeholders within fire protection, and they are all interrelated.

1. Rule makers

  • Publishers of codes and standards, most importantly, ICC and NFPA.

  • Safety standard publishers and testers, notably UL and FM Global.

  • Governments: federal, state, and local governments can each issue specific fire protection rules.

  • Insurance companies may add additional requirements that policyholders must meet to get and maintain insurance coverage.

2. Rule enforcers

Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) is a term that describes people who have the legal or contractual authority to enforce the rules. They can include:

  • Government inspectors, such as fire marshals or building inspectors.

  • Building departments that approve new construction or remodeling plans.

  • Insurance inspectors evaluate whether the property owner is maintaining government standards and any of the insurance company’s standards.
This individual might be an insurance company inspector (an AHJ) or a paid ITM contractor doing an annual visual inspection of this fire sprinkler system’s sprinkler heads and pipes.This individual might be an insurance company inspector (an AHJ) or a paid ITM contractor doing an annual visual inspection of this fire sprinkler system’s sprinkler heads and pipes.

3. Rule executors

  • Designers: Fire protection systems are designed by qualified “design professionals in responsible charge.” These individuals are usually professional engineers or architects who are legally responsible for designing a system properly and/or certifying it has been done right according to NFPA standards.
  • Installers: Some professionals specialize in installing specific systems, while others may install multiple types. The same firm might also provide the ITM services described below, though not always. These professionals require specific training and possible certifications that vary by the jurisdiction in which they operate.
  • Maintainers: The folks who conduct inspections, testing, and maintenance of systems fall into two camps:
  • ITM contractors are hired by building owners or managers to conduct ITM. Most businesses and other organizations hire these outside pros.

    • Some larger organizations, such as big universities or property management firms, have in-house ITM professionals.
Qualified, trained professionals install and maintain fire protection systems, like this “sprinkler fitter.”

4. Rule followers

  • Building owners are usually ultimately responsible for their fire protection systems. They must keep the building up to code by installing proper systems and other fire protection measures and ensuring they are maintained. Building owners are legally responsible and potentially liable for a failure to do that.
  • Designated representatives can take over this legal responsibility from building owners when they are contractually obligated to maintain systems. For example, a company that leases a building from someone may take over responsibility for completing the fire protection system’s ITM if doing so is in the signed lease contract.

5. Other players

  • Fire protection equipment manufacturers make fire protection parts, of course, but they serve other functions, too. Many of their representatives also serve on the committees responsible for creating and updating codes and standards (NFPA, ICC), helping shape the rules.

    In addition, manufacturers develop new equipment to meet specific fire protection challenges, which also requires collaborating with the code and standard publishers (such as NFPA, ICC, UL, and FM Global).

    Some major fire protection equipment manufacturers include:
  • Reliable
    • Senju
    • Tyco
    • Victaulic
    • Viking
    • Wilson & Cousins
    • Landsdale
  • Distributors/sellers offer fire protection equipment to consumers, who could be building owners or fire protection pros who need parts. There are three types of distributors/sellers:

    • Fire protection professionals buy from manufacturers or retailers and sell these parts to end users (building owners) as part of their installation and maintenance services. Often, they mark up these parts. This is the traditional way fire protection equipment makes its way into the market.

    • Retailers sell fire protection equipment directly to end users, pros, and anyone else who might need it. This is a comparatively new phenomenon in the industry but growing rapidly.

    • Some manufacturers sell parts directly to end users and everyone else, as well.
  • Emergency response professionals, such as fire marshals and firefighters, often perform double duty: fighting fires to save lives and protect property while also serving as AHJs/fire inspectors.
Fire service personnel often inspect buildings and systems, in addition to their other duties.
  • Additional professional associations serve their members with resources and lobby for changes in codes, standards, and laws. Some relevant ones include:

    • The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA)
    • The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA)
    • Fire Equipment Manufacturers Association
    • The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE)
    • Electronic Security Association (ESA)
  • Training/certification organizations help fire protection pros develop skills to ensure they do quality work. They include:

    • The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) is the most prominent and respected certification for fire protection professionals, spanning numerous systems and roles.

    • Associations mentioned above like NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, SFPE, and ESA, as well as dedicated training providers like FireTech Solutions, also offer training. This training accomplishes certifications and fulfills continuing education units (CEUs) required by some jurisdictions and private organizations.

NFSA is a major player in fire sprinklers and fire protection overall.