A tenant improvement looks simple on paper: new walls, new ceilings, maybe a break room. But almost every TI touches the building's fire alarm system. New rooms need devices, moved walls change coverage, and every change has to tie into a panel that someone else installed years ago.
Here's what to check before demo starts, so fire alarm doesn't become the surprise line item on your project.
Find out what's already on the wall
Start with the existing fire alarm control panel: its make and model, its age, and who services it now. Many buildings in Houston run on panels from Fire-Lite, Silent Knight, Potter and other manufacturers. New devices generally need to be compatible with that panel, so knowing the brand early keeps you from buying the wrong equipment.
Check whether the panel has room to grow
Every panel has limits on how many devices and circuits it can support, and every horn and strobe draws power. A TI that adds a lot of notification devices can push an existing system past what its power supplies and batteries were designed for. Your fire alarm company should check capacity and run the power and battery calculations before you commit to a layout.
Coordinate with the building's fire alarm vendor
In a multi-tenant building, the panel usually belongs to the landlord, and another company may hold the monitoring and service contract. Ask the property manager who that is and how they want TI work handled. Some buildings require their vendor to do any programming at the panel. Sorting this out up front avoids access problems and finger-pointing at inspection.
Expect a permit and an inspection
Adding, moving or removing fire alarm devices is usually permitted work. In Houston, plans go through the Fire Marshal's Office review at the Houston Permitting Center, and the finished work is inspected on site before the permit is closed out. Build that time into your TI schedule, especially if the tenant has a fixed move-in date.
Protect the system during construction
Dust from drywall and sanding can set off smoke detectors and damage them. Talk to your fire alarm company about how detectors in the work area will be protected or temporarily handled, and make sure the rest of the building stays protected while you work. Never leave a system disabled without following the building's and the fire marshal's procedures.
Close out cleanly
At the end of the job, every new and relocated device should be tested, the panel programming should be updated and labeled, and the building owner should get updated drawings. That makes the next tenant's TI easier, and it makes the annual inspection go faster.
One fire alarm partner for every TI
Avenger Security Houston handles TI fire alarm work for general contractors and building owners across the Houston area. We work on most major panel brands, coordinate with building management, and take the job through permit and inspection.
Planning a TI? Send us the drawings through our
Contractor Hub, or see our
Fire Alarms page for the full list of services.
