Why Proper Fire Alarm Design Matters

If you have a multi-unit residence, storefront, or office of any kind, your fire alarm system is one of the most important pieces of your plan. Municipalities take fire safety very seriously. Just this week, I visited the town municipal office to submit drawings for one of my clients, who is building an addition to his single-family home. Even though a full fire alarm system is not required, the town official immediately noted that she needed to see where exactly the individual fire alarms would be installed by the owner. Even this small addition to a modestly sized house faced extra scrutiny because new fire alarms had to be installed.

When we think about building design, we often focus on structural integrity, electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing, and energy efficiency. But don't underestimate the importance of the fire alarm system. It's a very big deal.

There are now engineering firms that will sign and seal a plan for a small fee because they send it overseas to be reviewed by an engineer who earns a much lower wage. But they are frequently not up to date on local codes and are certainly not able to speak to town officials, who will not hesitate to deny your permit unless their comments can be addressed. Especially for multi-unit dwellings, it's not uncommon for the town to request that the engineer appear before a town committee to answer questions about the fire alarm system.

Fire alarm system design for a common work space in a New Jersey commercial building

A fire alarm system is designed by electrical engineers and, really, is a life-safety system. There's a very good reason that town officials consider it so important: According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), analysis of U.S. home fires from 2018–2022 found that nearly three out of five fire deaths occurred in properties where there was either no smoke alarm or the smoke alarm failed to operate. NFPA also reported that the death rate per 1,000 reported home fires was approximately 60% lower when working smoke alarms were present.

More recent NFPA data for 2019–2023 shows an even clearer relationship: homes with no smoke alarm had an estimated fire death rate of 13.4 deaths per 1,000 reported fires, compared with 6.7 deaths per 1,000 fires when an alarm was present. Hardwired alarms were associated with an even lower rate.

Research by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also demonstrates the value of early detection. NIST found that smoke alarms reduce the average time required to report a fire by approximately 19 minutes—time that can be critical for occupants attempting to escape and for firefighters responding to the emergency.

This is why municipalities and fire officials frequently require fire alarm drawings, calculations, equipment specifications, and code-compliant system designs as part of the permitting process. In New Jersey, for example, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) administers and enforces the State's fire-safety regulations, while project-specific requirements determine what documentation and professional involvement are necessary.

I have always understood that engineering is ultimately about protecting people. This is also a big component in how engineers set their rates -- we have to think through not just a technical design, but also how the design serves and protects people. A properly designed fire alarm system provides occupants with early warning, facilitates safe evacuation, and supports emergency responders when every second matters.

Fire alarm design is not simply about meeting a code requirement—it is about designing for life safety.

If you're a developer or landlord with a multi-unit dwelling in New York or New Jersey, make sure your fire alarm system is in good working order. If it's not, I can create one that meets all codes, and ensures both the safety of your investment and your tenants.