Standard of Care
Fire Protection and Life Safety

The standard of care for fire protection and life safety is a complex but crucial aspect of building safety. It’s not just about having a fire extinguisher on every floor; it’s a comprehensive set of regulations and best practices designed to minimize the risk of fire, protect occupants in the event of a fire, and ensure their safe evacuation.

VERTEX evaluates a fire protection engineer design and/or administration against the requirements of contract documents, applicable laws and regulations, and industry standards to opine whether or not a fire protection engineer’s conduct met or fell below a requisite standard of care.

VERTEX is the strongest expert witness team in the industry because we are actively designing and consulting on fire protection & life safety systems. We hold professional engineering licensure across the United States and bring a wealth of experience performing hazard analysis and third party review on new construction and existing facilities. Our forensic engineers have offered expert testimony for both plaintiff and defense attorneys.

VERTEX is frequently asked to participate in a variety of alternative dispute resolution forums including negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, appraisals, and more. Our engineers are highly educated, experienced, and trained through coursework and practical experience.

Fire protection engineering standards are established by a network of building codes and industry standards that are developed and enforced by various organizations. The specific codes that apply will depend on the type of building, its occupancy, and local requirements. However, some general principles apply universally.

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes: Published by the National Fire Protection Association, these comprehensive codes are widely adopted in the US and internationally. They establish minimum requirements for various aspects of fire protection and life safety, including building construction, passive fire protection systems (fire walls, fire doors), active fire protection systems (sprinkler systems, fire alarms), and egress (emergency exits). A key code is NFPA 101, Life Safety Code®, which applies to most occupancies, outlining occupant safety requirements based on building use, size, and occupancy. Other relevant NFPA codes include NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, which specifies the design and installation of sprinkler systems, and NFPA 70, National Electrical Code®, which details electrical safety requirements to minimize fire hazards.

International Building Code (IBC): Developed by the International Code Council (ICC), the IBC establishes minimum regulations for building design, construction and occupancy factors, including fire-safety features. It incorporates fire-resistance ratings for building materials, construction requirements for exit doors and corridors, and guidelines for sprinkler systems and fire alarm systems.

Local Building Codes: Many states and municipalities have their own building codes that amend or supplement the International Building Code based on local needs. These codes may include stricter requirements for fire protection systems, depending on factors like weather conditions or building density.