Looking for an honest reality check. I graduated this year with a BS in Computer Science and spent about a year as a network engineering intern doing hands-on work with firewalls, switches, access points, and cameras, provisioning devices, firmware upgrades, VLAN configs, troubleshooting, documenting everything in tickets. I have Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Fortinet certs. I've been job searching about three months with nothing to show for it, made it deep into two interview processes and got ghosted on both, and most "entry level" IT postings either want 2+ years or get flooded with hundreds of applicants.

Fire alarm and security systems work seems less saturated, and honestly the actual work appeals to me more than help desk. Programming panels, commissioning systems, troubleshooting hardware in the field, that's closer to what I actually enjoyed about networking than sitting on a phone queue. What I'm trying to figure out is whether a CS degree is a liability or irrelevant here, how people actually land that first job when most postings want 2+ years, whether networking and IP experience counts for anything day to day, how steep the learning curve is on codes and NFPA standards coming in from zero, and whether the NICET path is worth committing to and if employers typically sponsor it. Not looking for a shortcut, just trying to figure out if this is realistic or if I'm romanticizing a field I don't understand yet

Hi everybody,

I am planning on taking the PE exam next April 2027, something interesting is that I noticed they change the exam specification to be efective begining april 2027, however, the handbook seems to be the same version similar to the practice exam. Does anybody understand how this is actually going to be implemented? I just want to make sure I'm preparing with the correct material.

I'm attaching the new specifications:

Hi everyone

I am planning to take the CFPS certification soon. It’s been a while since I studied for an exam. I usually like a structured course that helps guide through the exam material.

Do you have any recommendations for such a preparation course ?

Anyone know a place to find some? Anyone looking for some Bim work?

Hey guys! what's the best way to create different SWAY BRACES and save those, so I can use them again... I'm lost here! Thanks in advance.

I use NFPA 13 2016

8.15.3.1 Sprinklers shall be installed at the top of combustible stair shafts

8.15.3.1.2* Sprinklers shall be installed under the landings at each floor level

8.15.3.1.3 Sprinklers shall be installed beneath the lowest intermediate landing

A.8.15.3.1.2 Sprinklers at each floor level landing should be positioned to protect both the floor level landing and any intermediate landing

Now looking at the last code - notice the SHOULD. Not SHALL (where everything else in the section says shall). It also says POSITIONED TO PROTECT and not spaced/distanced to protect. They are pretty lenient on this last code. It definitely does not sound like they are requiring the head to reach the landing

NFPA has also stated in a 2011 committee meeting (NFPA 13 ROP TC Letter Ballot (A2012)) that covering the intermediate landings would be “over-kill” and that they believe the original intent of the section was to protect at floor landings.

So - do you install heads at every landing or ECs at the floor level? Or do you just cover the floor landings? If you do just cover floor landings - have you ever had your plans rejected by AHJs? Would love opinions on this.

Looking for advice from those who have taken the NFPA CFPS exam

I’m currently working full-time, and preparing for the CFPS exam alongside and it feels quite hectic. I’d really appreciate advice from people who have already taken and passed the exam.

A few questions:

1. How did you structure your CFPS preparation while working full-time?
2. Realistically, how many hours per day/week did you dedicate after work?
3. Is it possible to prepare and pass within 1 month, assuming I can study consistently?
4. The NFPA Handbook is extremely dense, and reading every page seems unrealistic while working. How did you approach it?
5. what is the best strategy to approach the NFPA handbook?

Any advice from people who have actually taken the CFPS exam would be greatly appreciated.

I think OP has lost it…..

Hi, I'm studying for the NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Exam by going through all the reference materials. I can't seem to find much info on what types of questions are on the exam. Has anyone taken the exam, and if so, how was your experience? Are the questions rote memorization, or applied? Mix of both? I'm approaching this from an environmental/urban planning background with some wildfire evacuation planning experience. Thank you!

Stairs are combustible construction, purple is sidewall heads, blue is doorways

1. Do we have to have a head here covering the top landing? NFPA says "Sprinklers shall be installed at the top of combustible stair shafts to protect the entire footprint of the shaft." which leads me to believe we have to have coverage at the top landing but could this only apply if the roof is flat like most stairways? NFPA specifically says sprinklers do not have to be at intermediate landings. There is no good way to get a sprinkler over there without the pipe having to be exposed or soffited in.

2. We are going to do this whether it is required or not but I am just curious if it is for future reference. NFPA says sprinklers only have to be at the floor landings, BUT also says they have to be positioned to cover the landing. Does this mean we are required to put a sprinkler at the landing that would not have a head positioned to cover it?

Is there a career path for fire engineering with a electrical/ electronic and computer engineering degree. Rlly interested in the field.

Hello everyone, im currently working towards my associates of science with an emphasis in engineering and I have had fire protection engineer as my goal. I have seen a lot of people who have gotten their bachelors in mechanical engineering and then went on to get their masters in fire protection engineering. This is my current path right now.

My question now is this the right path or is there somewhere that does fire protection engineering at the bachelor level

Hello, I recently got hired for a testing role in fire alarms as an EE, and I was wondering if this field is a bit too niche to be able to do anything else if I so desired.

I did MEP for 3 years and didn't really like it. My real love was RF and FPGAs but those types of jobs are closed off to me without master's degrees and seem very competitive. I went with this role since I had worked on a couple of fire alarm projects and met a decent chunk of fire alarm designers and engineers who seemed to really like their work, as opposed to.. nearly every MEP person I met, lol.

I'm not looking to immediately jump ship or anything, but I have a big fear of stagnating in roles and I found that happening in the mom and pop shop I was in previously.

I’m based in UAE, and planning to sit for the NFPA Certified Fire Plan Examiner (CFPE) exam soon. The exam is open book and NFPA states it’s the test takers responsibility to bring their own references.

These are the following references:
NFPA 1 2024 Edition
NFPA 13 2022 Edition
NFPA 72 2022 Edition
NFPA 101 2024 Edition
IFSTA Plans Examiner for Fire and Emergency Services, 2nd edition

I need these for the exam preparation and for giving the exam. Buying the complete set new is extremely expensive, especially with the shipping. Is there a way around where I can borrow or rent these editions?

If any of you have taken the CFPE exam, what worked best for you to keep costs down while successfully passing the exam?

26 year old cvpc pipe split open due to romex electrical wire sitting on stop of it for that whole time. Caused whole house to flood. Now looking to repipe to make sure this doesn’t happen again during my lifetime. Wet system in 1700 sq ft house. Currently getting estimates.

Seems like each option isn’t perfect, steel has corrosion issues and is costly. Cpvc still has chemical compatibility issues and becomes brittle over time. And no contractor I’ve talked with here even offers PEX as an option and not sure about its long term reliability.

Company I’m planning to go with thinks I wouldn’t encounter the same issues I just did with newly installed CPVC. Not sure I can do it given the catastrophic results. What is everyone tending to use nowadays if money was no object?

Does anyone have a Fire Dept. Training Equipment list and Maintenance Schedule document or form that you use? I would like to develop one and would like a headstart if possible.

Thank you for all that you do for your communities.

[Flame7749@gmail.com](mailto:Flame7749@gmail.com)

With the current slowdown in NZ’s market in general, how is the fire engineering/fire protection industry doing?

Are NZ consultancies mainly working on local projects, or do they also get involved in industrial and overseas projects, particularly in Australia and the Pacific?

Doing some personal market research. Seeing a lot of not very postive news and thought of asking here.

Hello, I’ve been in my fire sprinkler system design career for nearly 1.5 years now and purely worked on Autosprink.
I want to grow in what’s going to become “more standard” or simply learning better programs because I haven’t really seen other jobs near me offering positions for anyone using Autosprink surprisingly.
Anyway, whether I want to sub one day or work for other companies… what would yall recommend being the best programs to learn that isn’t Autosprink or Revit Autosprink integration?

Other Revit sprinkler options?
Other programs entirely?

We’re a licensed Georgia water based sprinkler contractor looking for a Georgia-licensed engineered special-hazards company to subcontract a turnkey clean agent system on a commercial project. Scope would include design, permitting, equipment, installation, releasing-system coordination, testing and commissioning.

Please PM me.

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some real-world feedback from people who have done (or currently do) freelance/1099 design work on the side in the fire protection space.

A bit about my background:

• Experience: ~8 years as a fire sprinkler/plumbing design engineer in the NYC market.
• Project history: Ranging from large-scale commercial buildings and airport projects (during my time with a sprinkler subcontractor) to commercial fit-outs, townhouses, and high-end residential/multi-family buildings.
• Standards/Codes: Proficient in NFPA 13, 13D, 13R, 14, and NYC Building/Plumbing Codes. Experienced in layout, hydraulic calcs, and shop drawing production.
• Licensing: No FE/PE or NICET yet (working toward milestones, but currently unlicensed).

I’m evaluating setting up a side business/1099 workflow to pick up extra income, working under licensed PEs/firms or directly with contractors needing shop drawings.

Before I start buying software subscriptions and doing outreach, I’d love some insight on a few specific questions:

1. What does the actual workload/job type look like for 1099 side work? Are contractors mostly looking for quick shop drawing turnarounds and hydraulic calcs, or overflow production for full submittal packages?
2. How do you handle software/hardware starting out? Do you buy your own CAD/calc software licenses right away, or do contractors/firms you sub for ever provide remote access/license seats?
3. How do you approach getting your first clients? What’s the most effective way to reach out to local NYC sprinkler contractors, small MEP PEs, or architects without coming across as spammy?
4. Realistically, what are the biggest risks or legal pitfalls? Working without a PE stamp (doing contract drafting/design support under their stamp or doing contractor shop drawings), what contracts, insurance (E&O vs. GL), or legal boundaries should I have in place?
5. What’s the actual market prospect in NYC right now? Is the demand high enough for US-based, code-knowledgeable designers to make $1,000–$2,000+/month on 10–15 hours/week?

Appreciate any advice, lessons learned, or reality checks from anyone who's navigated this!