Regional Jurisdiction Hub: Florida
Fire Protection Engineering in Florida
PE-Stamped Submittals for Florida Fire Officials, Building Departments, and the State Fire Marshal
Florida writes its own statewide codes: the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which is built on NFPA 1 and NFPA 101. Local building departments enforce the building code, local fire officials in each county, municipality, and special fire district enforce the fire code, and the Division of State Fire Marshal reviews state-owned and state-leased buildings. DGA Fire Protection Engineering prepares PE-stamped sprinkler, fire alarm, and life safety submittals for each of them, from Miami and South Florida to Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville. Owners, architects and contractors hire DGA as their fire protection consultant and engineering firm for fire sprinkler design, fire alarm design, and fire and life safety code reviews across Florida, with a licensed PE on every file.
Licensed PEs in NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, WA, OR and FLReply within one business dayCall (646) 355-8274
Florida Review Pathway
Local Fire OfficialFire protection plan review under the Florida Fire Prevention Code in each county, municipality, and special fire district.
Division of State Fire MarshalPlans review for state-owned and state-leased buildings under the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
Building PermitsCounty and municipal building departments issue building permits under the Florida Building Code.
What DGA Does in Florida
Fire Protection Engineering for Florida Review
Florida does not use the International Fire Code. The Florida Fire Prevention Code, 8th Edition, adopts the Florida editions of NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 (2021), and the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), governs construction. The 9th Editions of both codes take effect December 31, 2026, so projects permitted around that date need the edition confirmed early.
DGA confirms which offices review the project at kick-off and prepares one set of PE-stamped documents that answers each of them.
Fire Official Plan Review
Sprinkler, fire alarm, and life safety documents prepared for review under the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
South Florida High-Rise
Fire protection engineering for high-rise, mixed-use, and residential towers in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.
State-Owned and State-Leased Buildings
Fire protection documents for buildings reviewed by the Division of State Fire Marshal.
Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Design
NFPA 13 sprinkler and NFPA 72 fire alarm design to the editions Florida adopts, with hydraulic calculations and flow test analysis.
Life Safety and NFPA 101 Analysis
Occupancy classification, egress capacity, and NFPA 101 life safety reports for new buildings, renovations, and changes of use.
Warehouses and Distribution Centers
ESFR and in-rack sprinkler design, high-piled storage analysis, and commodity classification for logistics buildings along the I-4 and I-95 corridors.
AHJ Authority & Code Framework
Who Reviews Fire Protection in Florida
| Jurisdiction / Authority | Governing Code Framework | Typical Review Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Local Fire Officials (County, Municipal, and Special Fire Districts) | Florida Fire Prevention Code, 8th Ed. (NFPA 1 and NFPA 101, 2021 Florida Ed.) | Fire Protection Plan Review and Inspections |
| County and Municipal Building Departments | Florida Building Code, 8th Ed. (2023) | Building Permits and Construction Inspections |
| Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Prevention | Florida Fire Prevention Code | Plans Review for State-Owned and State-Leased Buildings |
Typical arrangement. The 9th Editions of the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code take effect December 31, 2026. Confirm the reviewing office and adopted code editions at project kick-off.
Project Map
Taking Florida Projects Now
DGA is licensed in Florida and taking projects now. Florida work joins the project map as it is completed.
Miami and South Florida: As a fire protection engineer in Miami, DGA takes on high-rise, mixed-use, and residential towers from Miami to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Orlando, Tampa Bay, and the I-4 Corridor: Hospitality, assembly, healthcare, and distribution buildings across Central Florida.
Jacksonville and North Florida: Distribution, industrial, and institutional buildings, including state-owned and state-leased space reviewed by the State Fire Marshal.
See 100+ completed projects across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania on the Project Map →
When to Call DGA
When Florida Projects Call for a Fire Protection Engineer
FL Triggers
When You Need It
- Fire Official Review: New buildings, additions, and changes of occupancy that need fire protection approval under the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
- State Buildings: State-owned and state-leased buildings that go through Division of State Fire Marshal plans review.
- Code Edition Changes: Projects permitted around December 31, 2026, when the 9th Editions take effect.
- Review Comments: Plan review comments from a fire official or building department that need a technical response.
What We Deliver
Florida Engineering Deliverables
- PE-Stamped Design Documents: Sprinkler, standpipe, and fire alarm design documents sealed by a Florida PE.
- Hydraulics & Water Supply: Flow test evaluations, hydraulic calculations, and fire pump sizing with the local water utility.
- Code Analysis Reports: Occupancy, construction type, egress, and fire protection requirements under the Florida Building Code and NFPA 101.
- Review Responses: Responses to plan review comments, with revised documents, through approval.
Process
How a Florida Engagement Works
01
Confirm the Reviewers
The engineer confirms which offices review the project and which code edition applies: the local fire official, the building department, and for state buildings, the State Fire Marshal.
02
Analyze the Building
The engineer reviews the occupancy, storage, and water supply before any design starts.
03
Design and Document
The engineer prepares the fire protection design, calculations, and code narrative for each reviewer.
04
Support Through Approval
The engineer answers review comments and supports inspections and acceptance testing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who reviews fire protection plans in Florida?
The local fire official in each county, municipality, or special fire district reviews fire protection plans under the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and the county or municipal building department issues the building permit under the Florida Building Code. The Division of State Fire Marshal reviews state-owned and state-leased buildings. DGA confirms the reviewing offices at the start of every project.
Does Florida use the International Fire Code?
No. The Florida Fire Prevention Code adopts Florida editions of NFPA 1 and NFPA 101. The 8th Edition, in effect since December 31, 2023, is based on the 2021 editions, and the 9th Edition takes effect December 31, 2026, together with the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code.
Can you help with a project in Miami?
Yes. DGA prepares fire protection documents for the local fire official and coordinates with the building department’s permit review in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.
Do you work on state-owned buildings?
Yes. DGA prepares documents for Division of State Fire Marshal plans review on state-owned and state-leased buildings.
Are your engineers licensed in Florida?
Yes. Deliverables are prepared, reviewed, and sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in Florida.
Can DGA act as the fire sprinkler engineer on a Florida project?
Yes. DGA prepares the sprinkler design and hydraulic criteria as engineer of record, reviews the fire protection contractor’s shop drawings and calculations, and answers the review comments. See fire sprinkler design and hydraulic calculations.
From the Technical Library
Related Services
Related Services
High-Piled Storage Fire Protection Consulting
Commodity classification, high-piled storage permits, and ESFR design review.
Life Safety & Egress Consulting
Occupant load, egress capacity, and life safety plans for new and existing buildings.