Fire Alarm & Detection Systems
Fire Alarm & Detection Systems
PLC, a Jensen Hughes Company, provides a variety of fire alarm system design services. We specialize in all aspects of fire alarm system design, including developing design criteria, creating detailed fire alarm designs, and supervising construction and commissioning. Our fire alarm design packages include schematic designs, detailed designs, construction drawings, and submission packages for building permit applications.
How We Can Assist
Well-informed with up-to-date knowledge on evolving codes and standards, our fire alarm design team provides cost-effective and code-compliant fire alarm systems that meet or exceed safety standards by incorporating advanced features, including improved detection, intelligible notification, central monitoring stations, wireless alarm systems, releasing systems, addressable systems, and fire alarm system designs that are easy to maintain.
Whether as part of a larger consulting design team or as an individual design service, we provide building owners with expertise in fire alarm system design and related activities. We take into account the unique and specialized needs of different facilities, occupancies and clients.
“A fire detection and alarm system is a key element among the fire protection features of any building. Because most fire deaths result from building fires, the use of fire detection and alarm systems in buildings can help significantly reduce the loss of life from fire. Also, if properly specified, designed, manufactured, installed, maintained, tested and used, a fire alarm system can help limit property fire losses in buildings regardless of occupancy.” — NFPA Handbook, 20th ed.
Our Expertise
Members of our fire alarm system design team participate on committees that support the development of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) standards for fire alarm systems. With active involvement in organizations such as the Canadian Fire Alarm Association, our engineers stay current with new and emerging fire alarm and life safety technologies.
Our staff have the knowledge and experience to develop prescriptive and performance-based designs for fire alarm and detection systems across a diverse range of sectors, including complex industrial, healthcare, commercial, institutional, and nuclear facilities.
“A fire detection and alarm system is a key element among the fire protection features of any building. Because most fire deaths result from building fires, the use of fire detection and alarm systems in buildings can help significantly reduce the loss of life from fire. Also, if properly specified, designed, manufactured, installed, maintained, tested and used, a fire alarm system can help limit property fire losses in buildings regardless of occupancy.”
— NFPA Handbook, 20th ed.
Our team designs cost-effective, code-compliant fire alarm systems that meet or exceed safety goals by incorporating advanced features such as improved detection, intelligible notification, central monitoring, wireless alarm systems, releasing systems, addressable systems, and designs that are easy to maintain.
Our staff provide expertise in the following detection types:
Heat: spot, rate compensated, hazardous environment, linear
Smoke: spot, beam, air aspirating, very early warning
Flame: UV, IR, UV/IR, IR with frequency discrimination, video
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fire alarm system?
A fire alarm system warns occupants and first responders that smoke, fire or other fire-related emergencies are present in a facility. A fire alarm system can also activate various fire protection systems and devices depending on the hazards or risks in the facility.
What types of detection device and system expertise do you provide?
We have expertise in utilizing all types of fire detection devices in the fire alarm system design as the design criteria demands, such as:
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- Heat – spot, rate compensated, hazardous environment, linear.
- Smoke – spot, beam, air aspirating, very early warning.
- Flame – UV, IR, UV/IR, IR with frequency discrimination, video.
What fire alarm system design services are included?
Our fire alarm systems team collaborates with building owners, operators, consultants, and contractors to deliver schematic and detailed designs, sequences of operation, cause-and-effect matrices, construction drawings, and building permit submission packages for your facility. drawings, and building permit submission packages for your facility.
How often does my fire alarm system need to be tested?
Your fire alarm system needs to be tested annually as a minimum. Regulations within your industry may require more frequent testing.
What is an Integrated Fire Protection and Life Safety System?
- CAN/ULC S1001 defines this as “a combination of two or more fire protection and life safety systems, which may or may not be physically connected with one another, but that are designed to operate together to achieve an overall fire protection and life safety objective”.
- The following are examples of individual systems that might be part of an integrated system: fire detection and alarm systems, automatic sprinklers, elevators, fire doors, dampers, smoke controls, HVAC controls, emergency communication systems, etc.
Which industry sectors do you specialize in for fire alarm system design?
Our Fire alarm system design team provides design services for all industrial sectors, including nuclear, forestry and pulp and paper, transportation and transit, steel industry, petroleum and petrochemical. We also service non-industrial sectors, including institutional, healthcare, heritage buildings, assembly, educational, commercial, and residential facilities.
Why should I hire you to design my fire alarm system?
- We have decades of technical expertise and industry experience designing fire alarm systems in facilities throughout Canada and internationally.
- In addition, members of our team participate on the codes and standards committees that develop requirements for fire alarm systems, including the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).
- Our innovative approach allows for early schedule planning, reduced financial commitments and optimal resource utilization.
Download our Complete Services Guide
Our Services Guide provides complete descriptions of all our fire and life safety services, a mapping of services to sectors, plus information about our:
- Quality Management Program
- Health and Safety Program
- Corporate Security Program
If you don’t see a particular service in the list below, that doesn’t mean we can’t help, please contact us so we can understand your needs.
How Can We Help?
We have offices across Canada and are available via toll-free phone or email.