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Plans Review of Fire Alarm Systems R0264

Training Specialist


Keith Heckler
301-447-1380

Delivery type


5-day on-campus

Continuing education units


3.5

ACE recommendation


There is not an American Council on Education credit recommendation for this course.

Advanced-level course

"Plans Review of Fire Alarm Systems," an advanced-level course, will describe the plan review process and show students how to conduct a plan review in a rigorous, systematic approach. This course is not intended as a general overview of a fire alarm system review but is instead focused on detail-oriented, very specific “down in the weeds” components associated with the proper design of a system.

This process will provide:

  • Plan review checklists.
  • Spreadsheets to determine battery and voltage drop calculations.
  • Exercises to determine proper spacing of smoke detectors.
  • Exercises to determine proper audibility spacing of fire alarm notification appliances.
  • Proper sizing and placement of visible notification appliances.

This course will also review the codes that affect where detection is required and how to provide it, help identify what is involved with determining performance of the detection system and be able to identify correct and incorrect methods of detector spacing in a given application. It covers:

  • Definitions of listed spacing.
  • Nominal spacing.
  • Design spacing.
  • Radius of coverage.

Pre-course materials and course syllabus

Precourse Materials: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/pcm_r0264.pdf PDF 128KB
Course Syllabus: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_r0264.pdf PDF 351KB

The target audience includes full-time fire prevention and allied public officials and allied public officials with at least one year on the job experience who are responsible for the review of fire alarm shop drawings in their jurisdictions.

Individuals who are limited to only inspecting fire alarm systems do not qualify.

This course will explore the technical aspects of fire alarm submittals for authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) review and is not a designer’s course.

Applicants who are transitioning or acquiring additional responsibilities must submit a letter from the chief or organizational head of their department.

Applicants must have experience with NFPA 72, plan review processes, codes/standards compliance, and fire protection systems and equipment.

Students need to be familiar with NFPA 72, commercial fire alarm systems equipment, and nomenclature, and have prior experience in fire prevention plan review programs, community goals, priorities, and meet the following minimum requirements:

  1. Incident Command System (ICS)-100-level and ICS-200-level training. Preferred courses are Q0462 and Q0463, available through NFA Online. Chief’s signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training.

Upcoming offerings

Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP
April 21 - 25, 2024 Wait List Opportunity Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland
July 21 - 25, 2024 Apply by 4/15 Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland
August 19 - 23, 2024 Apply by 4/15 Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland