An architect and engineer (A&E) will design the plans for a complete facility based on their comfort, knowledge and past history with fire alarm manufacturers. The A&E is the representative of the owner and works for the owner.

A general contractor (GC) will bid the entire project to the A&E and is solely responsible for the entire job. Usually, a GC will send the plans to several electrical contractors (ECs) for an open bid process.

The EC will follow the same process as the GC, except that the fire alarm companies will be bidding their scope of work to the GC, and the selection process is based most often on several factors: low bid, past history and comfort level of the installing fire alarm contractor (FAC).

The FAC is solely responsible for the fire alarm system installation and approval from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

After the FAC is awarded the bid, a submittal package should be assembled and contain all items in the fire alarm system – type, size, rating, style catalog number, riser diagram, wire type, manufacturers’ names, photographs and data sheets.

All documents should be placed in a binder or folder, and submitted to the AHJ for approval. No equipment should be ordered without approval.

After the AHJ signs off on the submitted fire plan, the installation begins. Once it is completed, a fire inspector will come to approve the installation and sign off on the certificate of occupancy. This completes the fire alarm installation and the owner may open for business.

For retrofit fire installations, the FAC must follow this same submittal and installation process. The only exception is that the company will be dealing directly with the owner and not the A&E.