Solutions-Based Engineering
Strategic Consulting
Navigating the complexities of fire codes and life safety requirements shouldn't be a bottleneck for your project. I provide expert-level design and consulting services that bridge the gap between architectural vision and strict regulatory compliance.
My mission is simple: To save your project time and money while ensuring the highest standards of safety for building operations and occupants.
Core Consulting Services
1. Specialized Sprinkler System Design & Review
Whether you are starting from a blank page or need an expert eye on existing plans, I offer comprehensive fire sprinkler solutions:
Full System Design: Custom-engineered sprinkler layouts tailored to your building’s specific hazard classification.
Plan Review & Quality Assurance: A meticulous secondary review of third-party designs to identify errors or inefficiencies before they reach the field.
AHJ Compliance & Review Letters: I provide formal review letters and documentation required by Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to streamline the permitting process.
2. Code Strategy & Life Safety Consulting
Fire protection is more than just hardware; it’s about a cohesive strategy. I help developers and design teams navigate the "grey areas" of the code to find the most cost-effective path to compliance.
Code Interpretation: Expert guidance on NFPA standards and International Building/Fire Codes (IBC/IFC).
System Recommendations: Advice on selecting the right fire protection and life safety systems to match your building’s use case.
3. Egress & Life Safety Drawing Review
From small-scale renovations to massive industrial complexes, I analyze the movement of people within a space to ensure total safety and compliance.
Egress Analysis: Review of travel distances, exit widths, and occupant load calculations.
Drawing Audits: Identifying potential life safety violations early in the design phase to avoid costly late-stage revisions.
Alternate Means and Methods Reports (AMMRs)
Performance-Based Solutions for Modern Challenges
When a project’s vision pushes the boundaries of traditional code, or when physical site constraints make prescriptive compliance impractical, you shouldn't have to compromise. I specialize in developing AMMRs (Alternate Means and Methods Reports)—engineered solutions that move beyond "check-the-box" compliance to focus on actual safety performance.
The Global Standard: Performance-Based Design
While prescriptive codes are common in the U.S., the rest of the world has long embraced performance-based design. This approach focuses on the intent of the law—how a building actually performs in a fire—rather than strictly following a rigid, one-size-fits-all manual.
AMMRs are now becoming more common across the United States as developers and AHJs realize that modern architecture requires modern engineering. By utilizing an AMMR, we are bringing these globally accepted practices to your project, ensuring you aren't held back by outdated or inflexible requirements.
Why Choose an AMMR Approach?
As a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), I provide a stamped, data-backed AMMR that proves to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) that your project provides a level of safety equal to or greater than the prescriptive code.
Engineering vs. Compliance: Instead of changing your project vision to fit the code, we use engineering analysis to make the code work for your vision.
Cost & Time Efficiency: An AMMR can save hundreds of thousands of dollars by avoiding over-engineered systems or forced structural changes, all while streamlining the approval process.
Professional Accountability: Every AMMR is backed by my PE seal, providing the technical rigor and liability-backed assurance that building officials require for approval.
Future-Proofing: By adopting a performance-based approach, your project benefits from the latest in fire science and life safety technology, often exceeding the safety margins of traditional methods.
When is an AMMR Necessary?
Unique Geometries: When a building’s design makes standard egress or sprinkler layouts impossible.
Innovative Materials: When using new, sustainable, or advanced materials not yet covered by current code cycles.
Cost Prohibitive Requirements: When the literal application of a code provides no actual safety benefit but adds significant project cost.
"An AMMR is the bridge between what the code says and what your project needs. It allows for smarter, safer, and more cost-effective construction by treating fire protection as a science, not just a set of rules."
Partnership for Building Owners & Developers
For owners and developers, fire protection and life safety should be considered long before the first shovel hits the ground. I serve as your technical advocate, ensuring that fire code requirements become a predictable part of your pro forma rather than an expensive surprise.
Pre-Acquisition & Due Diligence
Don't inherit a code-compliance nightmare. I provide expert consultation during the due diligence phase to identify potential "deal-breakers" or hidden costs.
Feasibility Studies: Before you close on a property, I assess the existing fire protection infrastructure to determine if it can support your intended use.
Cost Projection: Get a realistic estimate of the costs required to bring a building up to code, allowing you to negotiate from a position of strength.
AHJ Conflict Resolution & Advocacy
If you are facing roadblocks with a Fire Marshal or Building Department, I step in as the technical "translator." I help bridge the gap between your operational vision and the regulatory requirements.
Violation Remediation: I work directly with inspectors to solve existing citations through engineered solutions rather than just "throwing money at the problem."
Negotiation: I present the technical justification for your project’s design, ensuring that the AHJ understands how your vision meets safety goals.
Procurement & Bidding Intelligence
Fire protection systems are a major capital expense, and the "lowest bid" often turns into the most expensive contract due to unforeseen change orders. I ensure you get exactly what you need—nothing more, nothing less—while locking in pricing through clarity.
Bid Document Development: I create detailed bidding packages and technical specifications that ensure all contractors are bidding on an "apples-to-apples" basis.
Change Order Mitigation: By defining precise requirements, equipment standards, and code interpretations upfront, I eliminate the "grey areas" that contractors often use to justify mid-project price increases.
Service Contract Review: I help you build procurement documents for fire protection service contracts, ensuring that your maintenance and inspection spend is directed toward the right priorities.
Design-Build Oversight: I act as the owner’s representative to review contractor shop drawings, ensuring they align with your project goals, budget, and the originally bid scope.
Turning Vision into Reality
Building departments and fire marshals speak a specific technical language. I translate your business goals into the engineered plans and reports they require. Whether you are repurposing an old warehouse into a modern office or developing a high-density mixed-use site, I ensure your project moves through the approval process with minimal friction.
Why Developers Partner With Me:
No "Surprise" Costs: Know the fire protection price tag before you commit to the project.
Streamlined Approvals: My professional reputation and technical rigor lead to faster sign-offs from the AHJ.
Investment Protection: Ensure that every dollar spent on fire protection adds value and longevity to your asset.
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!
If you need something urgently, please call or email me directly:
Phone: (702) 720-3602
Email: Levi@BarrFPE.com