Fire Protection Systems
The Fire Protection Systems Unit (FPS) is comprised of three interactive sections that are responsible to review submitted fire protection system plans, commission new fire protection systems, and witness inspection and testing of existing systems. The Fire Protection Systems Unit deals with many different fire protection systems including fire sprinkler, fire pump, standpipe, suppression, fire hydrants, alarm, detection, smoke control, and access control systems.
To schedule a Fire Protection Systems Inspection, call 703.746.4255.
Supervisor
A. Maurice Jones, Jr., Fire Protection Engineer
703-746-4256
maurice.jones@alexandriava.gov
Staff Directory
FPS Plans Review Section
Plans Examiners review submitted construction plans and specifications for all new, upgraded, and altered fire protection systems.
FPS Inspections Section
System Specialists conduct inspection, testing, and system commissioning for all new, upgraded, and altered fire protection systems.
FPS Retesting Section System
Specialists witness code required inspection, testing, and maintenance on existing fire protection systems to ensure the systems perform as designed, installed, and approved.
FPS News & Announcements
- Fire Protection Systems Code Reference Package - 2006 Code Edition
The FPS Code Reference Package has been approved for released to the design and development community. This package covers the complete process for FPS plans review and permitting for Fire Alarm & Detection Systems, Water Based Suppression Systems and Suppression and Control Systems.
- Fire Protection Systems Inspections & Testing Guide - 2006 Code Edition
Our FPS Inspections & Testing guide is now available online for contractors and developers. This guide covers the complete process in detail from scheduling to conducting all required FPS inspections and tests for new and altered systems as well as required periodic testing and inspection and certification of existing systems.
- Fire Protection Systems Small Project Walk-Thru Guide
The FPS small project Walk-Thru policy for tenant Fire Alarm & Detection and tenant Fire Sprinkler plans has been expanded to include Fireline, Hydrant, Commercial Hood Suppression and Access-Control plans.
Quick Takes
The Devil is in the Details
Fact: Fire protection systems plan reviews affect the construction industry. The definition for the accurate and complete information required for submittals is typically thought by industry to be at the whim of the plans examiner. Although the acceptable completeness of a submittal is subject to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) involved, Chapter 8 of the 1999 edition of the National Fire Protection Association, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, (NFPA 13) lists the items required for approval of any submission. Paragraph 8-1 allows some leeway on these items (subject to AHJ approval), but the more information that is included, the better chance of success you will have with getting that first submittal through the system. The rejection rate for plan reviews is still unacceptably high and it is not because the plans examiners are being too critical. It may be that the plans examiners are becoming more educated regarding what to look for, and that competent training of designers, and/or the necessary time for design including training and in-house peer review has not been budgeted for by many companies. Also, and we hear this frequently, the fire protection contract is let out late and submittals are rushed through to meet the construction schedule. But nothing is more of a schedule-killer than re-submittal due to revise and resubmit, or a problem with the design being found after installation.
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