AHJ Representation + Plan Review
Understanding the intent of the codes and standards allows us to augment and supplement your teams, provide subject-matter expertise for specific projects, and offer training to regulatory agencies and AHJs throughout the world.
Regulatory Consulting + Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Support
Whether a project is a renovation, addition, tenant fit out, or new construction, all facility designs are subject to compliance approval by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Our engineers and consultants review your work during the building design phase to verify fire protection, life safety, and accessibility code compliance is achieved to maintain project schedules.
Plan Review
To ensure timely building permit approvals, it’s critical to know code requirements and to have a clear understanding of the AHJ’s expectations. We review design drawings for compliance with the life safety, fire protection, and accessibility requirements of the codes and standards. Fire protection, contractor shop drawing submittals, fireproofing and fire resistance-rated assemblies submissions are reviewed.
Inspection + Testing
Hidden deficiencies that aren’t caught before an inspection can lead to penalties, fees, or even a loss of accreditation. We can inspect fire suppression, fire detection and alarm, smoke control, passive fire protection and other life-safety systems prior to final acceptance testing by the AHJ. When possible, we can develop alternative design and methods of construction for submission to the AHJs.
Performance-based Design + Peer Review
Performance-based design is an essential tool used by fire protection engineers to demonstrate a buildings’ fire safety performance where prescriptive-based codes may result in design restraints. Our engineers, subject matter experts, provide an independent review of the analyses to verify the appropriate application of fire protection engineering principles to the design of buildings and structures.
Staff Augmentation – Plan Review and Inspection Services
When you have workload challenges or when specialized expertise is needed, our firm provides plan review and inspection services to augment your team. Our experience with codes and standards development and application allows us to provide reliable assistance in many areas of the built environment including architectural, structural, accessibility, civil, utilities, MEP, fire protection and security. We’ve supported plan review and / or inspection services on behalf of the New York State Office of General Services, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the U.S. Pentagon, Marriott International, City of Sunnyvale, CA and many more.
Training
To share the knowledge of our engineers, research scientists and code experts, we offer onsite and online safety training. We are a training partner of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA) as well as instructors for NFPA programs. We provide extensive online and onsite training for countless municipalities, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Leaders in the Industry
Our multidisciplinary staff offer expertise in architectural, structural, accessibility, civil, utilities, MEP, fire protection and security codes, standards and regulations. We maintain leadership roles on 400+ technical committees and are continuously involved in the code development life cycle.
Codes + Standards Development
Our team members are deeply engaged and involved in developing regulations and codes with agencies such as NFPA, SFPE and ICC. Additionally, we routinely collaborate and offer our expertise to agency representatives as they adapt model building codes into their local codes and standards. We’ve served on numerous committees to develop building and fire safety requirements for major cities and countries including, but not limited to, Washington, DC; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Vancouver, BC; Toronto, ON; and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
RELATED INSIGHTS + RESOURCES
Project Profiles
Mega Casino and Resort Fire Safety Consulting
We’ve helped revolutionize Macau’s mega-casino and resort fire and life safety practices over the last 13 years.
