by Sean Ellis | Aug 26, 2026 | Fire Protection
For U.S. facilities, extinguisher placement comes down to two documents: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157 and NFPA 10. Follow whichever is more stringent. Class A and Class D hazards get a maximum 75 ft travel distance. Class B runs 30 to 50 ft depending on the extinguisher’s...
by Sean Ellis | Aug 24, 2026 | Fire Protection
Expect to pay $75 to $180 per device for a standard backflow test, with a wider national range of $30 to $300 depending on the assembly. A single irrigation preventer typically costs less, while commercial RPZ assemblies are among the more expensive types to test....
by Sean Ellis | Aug 23, 2026 | Fire Protection
New construction sprinkler systems run $1.50 to $3.00 per sprinklered square foot, while retrofitting an existing building typically costs $2.00 to $7.00 or more per square foot. High-rise and hazardous occupancies push past that range quickly, driven by pumps,...
by Sean Ellis | Aug 22, 2026 | Fire Protection
Yes, if your alarm system can automatically notify the Houston Fire Department, you need a permit under city ordinance. City Code Chapter 11, Sec. 11-12 makes it unlawful to operate such a system without one. Single-family homes are exempt, but monitored commercial,...
by Sean Ellis | Aug 21, 2026 | Fire Protection
If you find a sprinkler pipe leak, isolate the affected riser or control valve immediately, only if it can be done without disabling protection to occupied areas, start an NFPA 25 impairment procedure, and notify your monitoring company or authority having...
by Sean Ellis | Aug 20, 2026 | Fire Protection
Local fire codes are the legally enforceable minimum standards that dictate how a building prevents fires, detects them, suppresses them, and gets people out alive. They aren’t suggestions or best-practice guides. They’re law, and the local Authority Having...
