Article by Li Li, Regional Practice Leader at Telgian Engineering & Consulting, published in Buildings Magazine – September 2026
Key Highlights
- Different project stakeholders prioritize safety, schedule, quality, and financial outcomes, making coordinated fire safety planning essential.
- A failed fire inspection can delay occupancy, increase costs, damage reputation, and compromise building safety, affecting all parties involved.
- Common issues leading to failed inspections include incomplete testing, blocked sprinkler coverage, and impaired fire pumps, which require early detection and resolution.
- Fire watch teams are temporary measures that cannot replace properly functioning fire protection systems, emphasizing the importance of thorough pre-inspection checks.
- Early coordination and verification of fire safety systems during design and construction can save time, money, and protect stakeholder interests.
On any given project, each stakeholder has a different priority in mind. The owner may focus on rent and revenue. The architect may prioritize the quality and integrity of the design. The contractor may be thinking about the schedule, turnover, and avoiding liquidated damages. The fire protection expert focuses on fire and life safety as well as compliance.
When people think about a failed fire inspection, they often focus on the citation, reinspection fee, or possible fine. However, fees and citations are normally the smallest part of the problem.
A failed inspection could impact every project stakeholder’s objectives and profitability. A failed inspection could be the result of dire issues, such as an incomplete or impaired fire or life safety system, or something more easily resolved. Either way, all project disciplines must plan around helping that inspection pass.
To read the full article on Buildings website, please click here.
About the Author
Li Li
Li Li is a Regional Practice Leader of Fire Protection Engineering for Telgian Engineering & Consulting’s (TEC) Seattle office. He provides leadership for the region, oversees project execution using established performance metrics, and supports diverse fire protection engineering and consultation projects. Mr. Li can be reached at lili@telgian.com