GSA Fire Protection Engineering and Life Safety Responsibilities:

• Provide a safe and healthful workplace;
• Limit federal government losses; and
• Provide uninterrupted performance of essential services

There are Four Program Objectives:

1. Provide consistently implemented cost-effective fire protection nationwide.
2. Manage personal and facility safety risks (fire, injuries, etc.) in our inventory.
3. Increase GSA’s fire protection engineering leadership role nationally in the public and private sectors to assure use of industry best practices and optimizing the use of taxpayer resources.
4. Increase customer satisfaction, maximize the value of our assets, and increase income for the Federal Building Fund.

Two Primary Areas of Responsibility:

• Responsibilities for design- and construction-related activities, including the development of codes and standards used by GSA to achieve best valve protection.
• Responsibilities for the operations and maintenance activities for GSA buildings to provide best valve maintenance.

Design and Construction Responsibilities:

• Represent the fiscal interests for GSA on issues concerning codes and standards.
• Achieve an acceptable level of safety by developing and consulting on GSA’s fire protection engineering policy and practices related to new construction and building renovation projects.
• Develop Fire Protection research initiatives to minimize safety risks and to ensure state-of-the-art, cost-effective fire protection and life safety features in our buildings.
• Liaison with public- and private-sector associations  (e.g., AIA, BOMA, Federal Fire Forum, etc.) to  address similar code and safety issues that impact all parties to achieve an acceptable level of safety at best value.
• Provide technical advice to project manager teams involved in new construction and renovation projects to manage risk appropriately.
• Ensure that consistent and appropriate fire protection requirements are included in all design guides and related policies to support mission continuity, etc.
• Develop and promote GSA policy, business practices, guides and regulations to positively affect GSA building construction and renovation projects.
• Develop a “knowledge center” for codes and standards to maximize limited resources.

Operations and Maintenance Responsibilities:

• Ensure a safe and healthful workplace by identifying, prioritizing and mitigating building risks.
• Serve as the fire protection engineering consultant on fire protection matters related to operations and maintenance.
• Ensure fire protection approaches are consistent with GSA requirements.
• Develop and consult on governmentwide policy and regulations related to fire protection and operations and maintenance activities to ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Develop management databases used to determine investment requirements and potential operating profitability, based upon a building’s fire protection needs.
• Support agencies developing safety awareness programs and help them comply with legal requirements.
• Address the general and specific objectives for protection of employees, property, and mission from the affects of fire.
• Review, assess, and recommend risk-based solutions for unique hazardous or potentially hazardous situations.
• Ensure that operation and maintenance criteria and guidance is current, and regularly communicate with regional staff and management to ascertain needs.