Help! My Jurisdiction Requires a Fire Protection Engineering Design Evaluation ​

Picture this...you’re just about to submit your plans for permitting and you discover that you may need a Fire Protection Engineering Design Evaluation (FPEDE) to meet local AHJ requirements. Panic sets in and you have so many questions. 

• What is a FPEDE?
• How do I get it done?  
• Who can get it done for me? 
• How does it impact my project?  

We are so glad you asked.  

Campbell Code Consulting can produce a FPEDE report for you! We work on numerous projects in Maryland, including projects in Prince George’s County and the City of Rockville, where an FPEDE may be required. 

In addition to providing an overview of the FPEDE, this article will help you determine when you need a FPEDE in Prince George’s County and the City of Rockville, who can produce the report and how to submit it. 

What is an FPEDE? 

A Fire Protection Engineering Design Evaluation (FPEDE) is intended to assist in applying the appropriate building and life safety codes. It will help to ensure that public and fire safety goals are met for projects involving a complex building or fire protection system. The purpose of the evaluation is to report observations and proposals of corrective action for all deficiencies a building or fire protection system may have. These deficiencies will be considered in accordance with all applicable codes adopted by the jurisdiction. The FPEDE should be designed to expedite the review process of a complex building or fire protection system design. The plans for these complex projects should address all issues and deficiencies observed in the FPEDE prior to submission. 

Once the FPEDE report is completed, the plans must be revised to incorporate any changes deemed necessary by the FPE prior to the plans being submitted for review. Failure to do so could result in a delay in the permitting process. The FPEDE report must be included with the submitted permit plans. 

​Prince George’s County 

When an FPEDE is Required 

​Link: FPEDE Guidelines Document 

​There are projects that have been predetermined to require an FPEDE by the local ordinance, Prince George’s County Subtitle 4. The AHJ may require an FPEDE for projects that may not have been predetermined to require an FPEDE, if it is deemed necessary due to the nature, complexity, or persistent code deficiencies of the project. The projects that are required to have an FPEDE are as follows: 

1. Any assembly occupancy with an occupant load equal or greater than one thousand (1,000) (the occupant load is determined by the AHJ). 
2. All high hazard occupancies, classified as use Group “H” 
3. Use Group I-2 and I-3, Institutional, including daycares required by the AHJ 
4. All covered malls and open malls that exceed thirty thousand (30,000) square feet in gross floor area 
5. Any project with an estimated construction cost at or exceeding five million dollars ($5,000,000). 
6. Any Use Group when deemed necessary by the Director or the Director's designee due to complexity or scope of the design; 
7. Any automatic fire suppression, fire detection, fire alarm or smoke management system shop drawings when deemed necessary by the Director or the Director's designee due to complexity or scope of the design; 
8. Any building design for a Use Group when deemed necessary by the Director or the Director's designee due to submission of drawings containing extensive or repeated code deficiencies, which create an undue burden upon the review process. 

Qualifications of Fire Protection Design Evaluation (FPEDE) Preparer 

An FPEDE will only be accepted from a qualified professional. 

• Recognition by the state of Maryland as a registered Professional Engineer is required. 
• Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited university.  [NOTE: Only University of Maryland has this accreditation.) 
• If the FPE does not have the required degree, a minimum of five years of professional experience will be considered. The FPE must have been a registered Professional Engineer by the state of Maryland during the five years of experience and must be certified in fire protection plan review by a major model code organization. The experience gathered must include the review and evaluation of buildings and fire protection systems for code compliance. Documentation to support the required qualifications may be requested by the AHJ. 

 
City of Rockville 

When an FPEDE is required 

According to the Building Code of the City of Rockville, Section 107.2.10, an FPEDE is required for the following buildings or fire protection systems for which a building permit application is made: 

1. Use Group "A", Assembly, with an occupant load of One Thousand (1,000) persons or more; 
2. Use Group "E", Educational; 
3. Use Group "H", High Hazard; 
4. Use Groups "I-2 and I-3", Institutional; 
5. Use Group "M": all malls of Type I construction;  
6. All Use Groups with an estimated construction cost of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) or more;  

Exception: The Chief of Inspection Services may waive the FPEDE requirements for minor construction projects such as, but not limited to, projects where required life safety systems are not affected.  

Qualifications of Fire Protection Design Evaluation (FPEDE) Preparer 

The FPEDE must be prepared by a Fire Protection Engineer who is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland.  
 
Need a Fire Protection Design Evaluation? 

Campbell Code Consulting is qualified and ready to help! Our principal, Chris Campbell, has a Bachelors and Masters in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland, and is a registered fire protection engineer in Maryland, making us qualified in Prince George’s County and the City of Rockville. In addition, Campbell Code Consulting specializes in helping design teams navigate the building code and fire/life safety portions of the permit review process. We assist our clients in developing code-compliant designs and obtaining building permits. 

​Email [email protected] or call 719-352-9086 to get started.