Navigating fire protection regulations can be challenging for end-users and insurance brokers alike, especially when it comes to compliance for building owners. Fire protection consultants play a critical role in supporting brokers by understanding the requirements placed on owners by insurance companies and developing plans for achieving compliance.  

Insurance brokers and fire protection consultants share a common goal: protect life and property while bringing the best value to the client. By partnering together, they can help businesses not only meet regulatory and insurance requirements but also implement fire protection strategies that reduce risk and improve facility safety. 

Understanding Brokers’ Roles in Risk Mitigation

The insurance broker’s role is to be a subject matter expert between their customers and insurance companies. They use their industry knowledge to help guide their customers through the process of selecting insurance coverage for their particular facility and industry. Part of this role includes providing answers to risk mitigation concerns that come up from insurance risk reviews.  

Risk reviews can happen before or during a policy period. They determine if a customer should be considered high or low risk, what improvements the building owner can make, and whether or not the insurer should ultimately continue coverage.  

While insurers inform building owners of their risk levels, they do not provide specific steps for owners to take to address those risks. This is where a fire protection consultant can support brokers and, by extension, the building owners. 

Fire Protection Consultant and Broker Collaboration

A fire protection consultant can add value to the broker-client relationship by providing subject-matter expertise to the broker’s offerings to their clients. The consultant can help customers understand code requirements and implement fire protection measures that meet insurance carrier requirements. 

A fire protection consultant supports the broker’s role by performing a risk assessment of the client’s facility to: 

• identify hazards, such as immediate or potential fire hazards, ignition sources, or poor housekeeping
• verify compliance with all local, state, and federal code requirements
• evaluate current fire protection systems for their effectiveness in protecting life and property

Following an assessment, the consultant provides short-term and long-term mitigation recommendations for the broker to share with their client. These recommendations will prioritize code and standard compliance so the client knows what to address immediately to obtain insurance or remain on their current policy. 

Increased Client Satisfaction and Loyalty

When a broker collaborates with a fire protection expert, customers will recognize that the broker has their best interests in mind. Customers want to know that their brokers understand what matters to them, including operational continuity, and that they can receive comprehensive risk mitigation services. For example, when brokers have clients moving into new buildings or changing a part of their operations, fire protection consultants can help them navigate local code requirements to transition and avoid disrupting overall operations.  

Strengthened Relationships with Insurance Providers

Insurance carriers prioritize brokers who take risk mitigation seriously. When brokers collaborate with fire protection experts, insurers gain confidence in the broker’s ability to guide clients toward meaningful risk reduction. This proactive approach strengthens the broker’s relationship with the insurer and increases the likelihood of continued coverage for shared clients. 

Customized Approach

There is not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to insurance. Each customer is different. Being able to partner with a consultant who has vast experience with a variety of industries allows brokers to provide tailored services for their customers. 

TEC’s Approach & Services 

Telgian Engineering & Consulting partners with insurance brokers to support their clients’ fire and life safety compliance needs. Our team provides customized, innovative solutions that align with insurance carrier expectations and regulatory requirements, helping building owners receive favorable insurance evaluations.  

Our team evaluates all fire protection systems to determine if upgrades are needed and how to approach them most cost-effectively. Our services include:  

• Risk Assessments and Recommendations: TEC will assess risks and exposures, making recommendations for all deficiencies noted following applicable NFPA codes and standards.
• Evaluations of Existing Systems and Upgrade Recommendations: TEC will evaluate the capabilities of the existing fire protection systems to determine their ability to provide the existing and/or required design criteria for the proposed use. If required, our team will provide recommendations for system upgrades or replacements. 
• Building and Fire Code Analyses: TEC can analyze the local building and fire codes for compliance issues. Identifying these issues early can help prevent costly delays when it comes time for permitting and final sign-off by the local authority having jurisdiction.
• Redrawing of Building Floor Plans and Related Survey Work: TEC can update CAD files to reflect the current building’s systems.  

Past Successes with Brokers

TEC has successfully partnered with insurance brokers to help their clients resolve fire protection compliance challenges. Below is an example of a past collaboration with a broker.  

The Challenge: An insurance broker contacted TEC to partner on a project where their customer’s fire protection system did not comply with their insurance company’s requirements. The insurer identified the issue but did not offer specific guidance on necessary corrections, leaving the client uncertain about the next steps.  

TEC’s Approach: TEC conducted a full survey of the building and its fire protection systems to assess the existing hazards and to determine the current system’s fire protection capabilities.  

The Solution: Based on our findings, we recommended a partial system upgrade to maximize fire protection coverage while keeping costs manageable for the customer. 

The Result: The upgraded system met the insurer’s compliance requirements as well as the local fire protection code and standards. As a result, the client positioned themselves for better rates at their next renewal.  

TEC’s collaboration with brokers has consistently led to successful outcomes for their clients, including compliance with all requirements and improving insurance standing.  

Contact TEC

Partnering with fire protection consultants benefits brokers, clients, and insurance providers. If your client requires fire protection and life safety expertise to comply with insurance requirements, please reach out to our expert, Philip Pope, at PPope@telgian.com for a consultation today. We can help you identify the next steps to supporting your clients and improving their risk management strategies. 

About the Author

Philip Pope has over 20 years’ experience in safety program management and detailed risk assessment programs. In addition, Mr. Pope has experience in operational management leading multi-disciplinary teams both, domestically and internationally. His experience includes developing and overseeing company-wide global safety programs, OSHA reporting compliance, field inspections, audits, JSA programs and lead safety training. 

At Telgian Engineering and Consulting, LLC (TEC), Mr. Pope is a Regional Practice Leader for the Texas Region of TEC. He has vast knowledge in risk assessments, leading all-company safety training, project management, property and equipment global asset management. His contact is PPope@telgian.com.  

Contact TEC today to learn more about our fire protection, life safety and security services.

Media and Interview Inquiries: Please contact info@telgian.com