RedVector RV-4904

Fire Safety Design: Egress & Extinguishing Systems

Fire Safety Design: Egress & Extinguishing Systems

4 hrs. Online Course

Level: Intermediate

Item#: RV-4904

SME: Nancy Armitage

This course has been discontinued.

Understanding fire is the first step toward designing features to prevent and protect against it. We cannot eliminate the potential for fire, but we can achieve a high level of fire safety by applying fundamental life safety principles during building planning, design, and operation.

This 4-hour interactive online course focuses on two important life safety protection features- means of egress and extinguishing systems- in the context of two of the leading codes used in the U.S. today: the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®) Life Safety Code, and the International Code Council (ICC) International Fire Code.

There is a test at the end of each section of this course.


Vector Solutions has a long history of providing industry-specific content for its customers. While this course and its content remain accurate and functional within our systems, the look and feel may not match our more modern offerings.
Course Objectives

The goal of this course is to provide an overview of basic fire safety design considerations affecting:

  • Number and capacity of means of egress in an occupied space
  • Selection of fire extinguishing systems

After completing this course, you should be able to:

  • Describe characteristics of fire and common flammable substances
  • Identify major codes and regulations that affect fire safety design
  • Discuss fundamental life safety principles and their application to means of egress
  • Complete simple calculations of occupant load and exit capacity
  • Explain the difference between passive and active fire protection
  • Describe classes of fire, extinguishing agents, and fire safety symbols
  • Describe types of installed and portable extinguishing systems

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SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Nancy Armitage
Nancy Armitage Photo
For 28 years, Nancy Armitage has worked as a technical writer, technical editor, trainer, and course content developer in the software, engineering, and construction industries.

She has researched, edited, and developed courses in the areas of writing improvement for engineers and administrators, and toxic substance safety and remediation.

She has written newspaper feature stories, advertising copy, proposals, grant applications, magazine articles, newsletters, technical report sections, public information literature, and software user manuals.

Ms. Armitage has edited and managed document production for software requirements and detailed design reports; technical papers; and water, wastewater, solid waste, and transportation master plans, design reports, construction specifications, construction permit applications, operation and maintenance manuals, rate studies, environmental audit reports, Applications for Development Approval for Developments of Regional Impact (ADAs/DRIs), and environmental impact statements (EISs).
State Licenses
AK - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AK - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
AL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AL - Engineer (General - ,)
AR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
AR - Engineer (General - ,)
CO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
CT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DC - Engineer (General - CE21800018)
DE - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
DE - Engineer (General - ,)
FL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
FL - Building Code Administrator (General - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Contractor, Certified (Workplace Safety - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Contractor, Palm Beach County (General, Workplace Safety - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Contractor, Pinellas County (General, Workplace Safety - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Contractor, Registered (Workplace Safety - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Engineer (General - 274)
Accreditation: FBPE Approved Provider 33
FL - Examiner (General - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Fire Protection System Contractor (Class I, II & III) (General - FP6140)
FL - Fire Protection System Contractor (Class IV) (General - FP6140)
FL - Fire Protection System Contractor (Class V) (Fire Protection Approved (Dual License) - FP6140)
FL - Inspector (General - 0008146)
Accreditation: FL DBPR Approved Provider 0001771
FL - Interior Designer (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
GA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
GA - Contractor, Columbia County (General)
GA - Contractor, Residential and General (General)
GA - Engineer (General - ,)
HI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IA - Engineer (General - ,)
ID - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
ID - Engineer (General - ,)
IL - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IL - Engineer, Professional (General - ,)
IL - Engineer, Structural (General - ,)
IN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
IN - Engineer (General - Board Approved - CE21800018)
KS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KS - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
KY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
KY - Engineer (General - ,)
LA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
LA - Contractor, Residential (General)
LA - Engineer (Life Safety Code - ,)
MA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MD - Engineer (General - ,)
MD - Land Surveyor (General)
ME - Engineer (General - ,)
MI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MI - Contractor, Residential Builder and M & A (General, Safety)
MI - Engineer (General - ,)
MN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MN - Engineer (General - ,)
MO - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MO - Engineer (General - ,)
MS - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MS - Engineer (General - ,)
MT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
MT - Engineer (General - ,)
NC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NC - Engineer (General - ,)
ND - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
NE - Architect (General, Health, Safety & Welfare)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.40 CEUs for this program
NE - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.40 CEUs for this program
NH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NH - Engineer (General - ,)
NH - Home Inspector (General)
NJ - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)
NM - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NM - Engineer (General - ,)
NV - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NV - Engineer (General - ,)
NY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
NY - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.4 CEU for this program.
OH - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OH - Engineer (General - ,)
OK - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OK - Engineer (General - ,)
OR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
OR - Contractor, Commercial (General)
OR - Engineer (General - ,)
PA - Code Official,Certified (UCC) (General)
PA - Engineer (General - ,)
PR - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
PR - Engineer (General - ,)
RI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SC - Engineer (General - ,)
SD - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
SD - Engineer (Technical - ,)
TN - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TN - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare - ,)
TX - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
TX - Engineer (General - ,)
TX - Interior Designer (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
UT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
UT - Engineer (General - ,)
VA - Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VA - Engineer (General - ,)
VA - Official, Permit Technician, Inspector, and Plans Examiner (General - 0008146)
VT - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
VT - Engineer (General - ,)
WA - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WI - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WI - Engineer (General - ,)
WV - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WV - Engineer (General - ,)
WY - Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
WY - Engineer (General - ,)
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General - ,)
American Hospital Association - AHA - Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) (General)
American Institute of Architects - AIA - Architects (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
BOMI International - RPA, FMA and/or SMA (General)
Building Operator Certification - BOC - Certification (General)
Canada - Alberta Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Alberta Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - British Columbia Architect (AIBC) (Core - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - British Columbia Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Manitoba Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Manitoba Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - New Brunswick Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - New Brunswick Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Northwest Territories and Nunavut Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Northwest Territory Architect / Restricted Practitioner (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Ontario Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Ontario Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Prince Edward Island Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Prince Edward Island Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Quebec Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Quebec Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Saskatchewan Architect (General - RV482-2025)
Accreditation: AIA Registered Provider J315
Canada - Saskatchewan Engineer (General - ,)
Canada - Yukon Engineer (General - ,)
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General - ,)