Fire & Life Safety Study

Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2019 Fire & Life Safety Study found that 83% of engineers are responsible for determining the requirements/writing specifications for fire and life safety systems; 76% research and evaluate these systems for consideration on a project; and 58% recommend the brand of system to be used. Below are five additional findings from this report:

1. Annual revenue: During the most recently completed fiscal year, the average engineering firm earned $8.8 million in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection design revenue — up 17% over the previous year. The average total dollar amount of fire and life safety systems specified for new and existing buildings has also increased from $1.9 million to $2.6 million year-over-year (+40%).
2. Fire, life safety systems: Engineers most commonly specify smoke detection, control systems, dampers, etc. and fire, smoke, heat and linear detection systems for new and existing nonresidential buildings.
3. Writing specifications: Engineering firms most commonly write performance or prescriptive fire and life safety systems specifications; 29% always use performance specifications (those in which text is restricted to stating the required performance).
4. Current challenges: Having an inadequate budget for high-quality design remains the top challenge for fire protection engineers. Other difficult tasks include adhering to the expected project delivery date and the subjective interpretations of regulations by code authorities.
5. Design factors: When comparing fire and life safety systems, engineers are heavily weighing product quality, previous experience with the manufacturer, service support and manufacturer’s reputation.

Access the full 2019 Fire & Life Safety Study here. View additional research from Consulting-Specifying Engineer: www.csemag.com/research

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