Technological advances in building construction materials and methods are becoming an increasing challenge to traditional fire protection practices. Fortunately, building codes typically provide a mechanism for considering nontraditional design. This mechanism offers a vehicle for growing collaboration between three key constituents: fire departments, buildings departments, and property owners. This increased collaboration can, in turn, benefit all three.
Forward-thinking design professionals can conjure up plans that leave traditions behind. Still, they must either meet standard building code requirements or prove “equivalency.” It’s the allowance for equivalency that offers potential for far greater benefit than it has in the past. I’ve seen that potential in my role as a fire protection engineer who has successfully petitioned for equivalency. Interestingly, technology enhances this opportunity.
