Fire protection companies

Large providers compared

Each company's own site lists its main services and where it works. Click a name for the full profile.

Company	Main services	Where it works
Cintas	Extinguishers, alarm monitoring, sprinkler inspection, emergency lights	U.S. and Canada
Pye-Barker	Extinguishers, kitchen suppression, sprinklers, alarms, security	Most U.S. states
Johnson Controls	Makes and services alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers, and suppression	Nationwide
Koorsen	Extinguishers, alarms, sprinklers, kitchen suppression, security	Midwest and South
Summit Fire Protection	Design, install, inspection, monitoring	Midwest, Colorado, and Arizona
Western States	Sprinkler design and install, special hazards, alarms, monitoring	Western U.S.
Wayne Automatic	Sprinkler install and service, alarms, underground fire lines	Florida and North Carolina
Siemens	Fire alarm and detection systems, monitoring, service	U.S., through Siemens and its partners

Being listed isn't an endorsement. fireprotectionhub.com isn't affiliated with any of these companies.

How to check a company's license

The license comes first, since every state makes its own rules. Texas issues licenses to individuals and registrations to companies. A sprinkler company in that state needs a Sprinkler Certificate of Registration, and registration isn't possible without a licensed employee on staff. Proof of liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage must also be submitted.

In Florida, a certificate from the State Fire Marshal is required before doing any fire protection system work. Advertising as a fire protection contractor without one is unlawful.

What credentials should you ask for?

NICET offers a nationwide credential for people who work on fire protection systems. On the fire alarm side, Level I calls for at least 6 months of experience, while Level II calls for 2 years. Level III requires 5 years, and Level IV requires 10 years.

Ask what level the technician assigned to your job has earned.

Florida contractors have to hand over operating instructions plus a final installation diagram. The Florida Contractor II credential applies to sprinklers and standpipes that use water.

What should a sprinkler inspection report tell you?

Inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based systems is governed by NFPA 25. A solid report places every problem into one of three categories:

• Noncritical deficiency: the problem won't stop the system from working in a fire, but it still has to be fixed to meet the standard.
• Critical deficiency: left unfixed, it could keep the system from working properly in a fire.
• Impairment: something in the system is out of service and might not work when needed.

If part of your sprinkler system is out of service, ask the contractor what must happen next and what interim protection is needed. As the property owner, making sure repairs get done falls on you. Those repairs must match the design and installation standard that applies to your system.

Color-coded tags are common across many states, even though NFPA 25 doesn't mandate any tagging system. Its Annex G lays out the colors this way:

Got an orange or red tag on your system? Give us a call so repairs can get going.

Before you sign a service contract

• Find the contract term and the auto renewal date, and put them on your calendar.
• Ask what the yearly price covers, and match it to the fire inspection frequency chart.
• Ask how repairs get approved, so no work starts without your OK.
• Ask who watches your alarm signals around the clock. The fire alarm monitoring guide explains the options.