Choosing a Technology

Start by asking the right questions…

What are my fire protection goals?

Be certain to consider:

• Applicable Codes (NFPA, State and local building codes)
• Client Desires

Examples of fundamental fire protection goals:

• Goal: Minimize fire-related injuries and prevent undue loss of life.
• Goal: Minimize fire-related damage to the building, its contents and its historical features and attributes.
• Goal: Minimize undue loss of operations and business-related revenue due to fire-related damage.
• Goal: Limit environmental impact of fire and fire protection measures.

 What are my specific objectives for fire protection?

• Identify acceptable (tolerable) levels of loss.
  
  • Injuries to persons.
  • Damage to building.
  • Damage to critical equipment.
  • Interruption of business.
• Quantified in various measurements.
  
  • Physical damage in dollars.
  • Maximum downtime.

What design is necessary to achieve my desired fire protection performance level?

You must first consider the following:

• Identify all hazards to protect against.
• Understand building construction constraints.
• Understand environmental conditions (airflow, temperature, etc.).
• Identify location of critical equipment.
• Understand emergency response availability.

What is the performance level necessary to achieve my fire protection goals and objectives?

Some levels to consider might be...

• How big do you want the fire to be when you first detect it?
• How big do you want the fire to be when you begin to suppress it?
• How much damage will you allow the suppression agent to cause?
• How much smoke spread do you want before the fire is extinguished?