Question 1

What is National Fire & Security Design (NFASD)?

Accepted Answer

National Fire & Security Design, LLC (NFASD) is a professional shop drawing and engineering services firm. NFASD produces permit-ready, engineer-stamped fire alarm shop drawings, security and access control drawings, nurse call system drawings, floorplan reconstructions, and low-voltage shop drawings for commercial buildings. The company serves electrical contractors, low-voltage integrators, general contractors, and alarm companies across 24 states nationwide.

Question 2

What services does NFASD provide?

Accepted Answer

NFASD provides five core services: (1) Fire Alarm Shop Drawings — permit-ready, engineer-stamped fire alarm system drawings compliant with NFPA 72 and local AHJ requirements; (2) Security & Access Control Drawings — shop drawings for access control, CCTV, intrusion detection, and integrated security systems; (3) Nurse Call System Drawings — design drawings for nurse call and patient communication systems required in healthcare facilities; (4) Floorplan Reconstruction — accurate base floorplan drawings created to scale from existing documents, sketches with provided field measurements; (5) Engineering Services — Engineering review and PE-stamping for permit submittals.

Question 3

What is a permit-ready fire alarm shop drawing and why do I need one?

Accepted Answer

A permit-ready fire alarm shop drawing is a complete, code-compliant set of construction documents that an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) — typically a local fire marshal or building department — will accept for permit review and approval. These drawings show device placement, wiring diagrams, riser diagrams, battery calculations, and all information required by NFPA 72 and local codes. Without a permit-ready drawing set, your fire alarm permit application will be rejected, delaying your project. Electrical contractors and alarm companies need permit-ready drawings before they can legally install a fire alarm system on a commercial project.

Question 4

What is a low-voltage shop drawing?

Accepted Answer

A low-voltage shop drawing is a detailed construction document for any low-voltage electrical system in a building — including fire alarm, security and access control, nurse call, CCTV, intercom, and similar systems. These drawings show equipment layout, device locations, wiring schematics, riser diagrams, and system specifications. Low-voltage shop drawings are required by most AHJs for permit applications and are used by installers in the field to ensure the system is installed correctly and to code.

Question 5

What is fire alarm system design and how does the permit process work?

Accepted Answer

Fire alarm system design is the process of engineering a fire alarm system for a specific building — selecting and locating detectors, pull stations, notification appliances, control panels, and wiring to meet NFPA 72 and local code requirements. The permit process typically works as follows: (1) The electrical contractor or alarm company engages NFASD to produce permit-ready shop drawings; (2) NFASD creates the drawings based on the building plans and project specifications; (3) The drawings are reviewed and stamped by a licensed PE; (4) The contractor submits the stamped drawings to the local AHJ (fire marshal or building department) for permit approval; (5) Once approved, installation proceeds per the approved drawings; (6) After installation, the AHJ inspects the system against the approved drawings.

Question 6

What is access control and security system design?

Accepted Answer

Access control and security system design involves creating detailed shop drawings for electronic security systems including card readers, electric door hardware, CCTV cameras, intrusion detection sensors, and integrated security management systems. NFASD produces shop drawings that show device placement, wiring diagrams, head-end equipment layouts, and system riser diagrams. These drawings are used for permit submittals, contractor installation, and owner documentation. Security system drawings are required on most commercial, healthcare, education, and government projects.

Question 7

What is nurse call system design and where is it required?

Accepted Answer

Nurse call system design involves creating shop drawings for patient-to-staff communication systems used in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, outpatient surgery centers, and other healthcare settings. These systems allow patients to summon nursing staff and enable staff-to-staff communication. Nurse call systems are required by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) regulations, The Joint Commission standards, and state health department codes in licensed healthcare facilities. NFASD produces permit-ready nurse call shop drawings that meet NFPA 99 and facility-specific requirements.

Question 8

What is floorplan reconstruction and when is it needed?

Accepted Answer

Floorplan reconstruction is the process of creating accurate base floorplan drawings for a building when original architectural drawings are unavailable, outdated, or inaccurate. NFASD creates reconstructed floorplans from field measurements, photographs, sketches, or existing partial documents. Floorplan reconstruction is needed when working on existing buildings that predate CAD drawings, when original drawings were lost, or when a building has been significantly modified. Accurate base floorplans are required before fire alarm, security, or nurse call shop drawings can be produced.

Question 9

Which states does NFASD provide stamped drawings in?

Accepted Answer

NFASD provides permit-ready, engineer-stamped shop drawings in 24 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington DC, and West Virginia. If your state is not listed, contact NFASD directly — coverage is expanding.

Question 10

What types of buildings and projects does NFASD work on?

Accepted Answer

NFASD produces shop drawings for a wide range of commercial building types including: healthcare facilities (hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, outpatient clinics); educational facilities (K-12 schools, colleges, universities); commercial office buildings; retail and mixed-use developments; multifamily residential (apartments, condominiums); industrial and warehouse facilities; government and municipal buildings; hotels and hospitality; and religious facilities. NFASD works on both new construction and renovation/retrofit projects of all sizes.

Question 11

How long does it take to get a permit-ready drawing set?

Accepted Answer

Turnaround time depends on project size and complexity. NFASD is known for fast turnaround — many projects are completed within a few business days. Contact Tom at 941-268-7163 or JW at 941-730-0935 to discuss your specific project timeline. Providing complete project information (building plans, specifications, and any redlined markups) at the start of the project helps ensure the fastest possible turnaround.

Question 12

What codes and standards do NFASD drawings comply with?

Accepted Answer

NFASD drawings are designed to comply with all applicable codes and standards including: NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code) for fire alarm systems; NFPA 70 / NEC (National Electrical Code) for electrical wiring; IBC (International Building Code) for building construction requirements; NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) for occupancy and egress requirements; NFPA 99 (Health Care Facilities Code) for healthcare projects; local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) amendments and requirements specific to each state and municipality. NFASD stays current with code cycles and ensures drawings reflect the edition adopted by the local jurisdiction.

Question 13

Who hires NFASD?

Accepted Answer

NFASD primarily serves the B2B market — companies that install or manage fire alarm and low-voltage systems. Typical clients include: licensed electrical contractors who need permit-ready drawings before they can pull a fire alarm permit; low-voltage integrators and security system companies that need shop drawings for access control, CCTV, and nurse call projects; general contractors who need to coordinate fire alarm and low-voltage systems as part of a larger construction project; fire alarm companies and alarm dealers who need engineering support and PE-stamped drawings for commercial projects.

Question 14

How do I get a quote or start a project with NFASD?

Accepted Answer

Getting a quote is straightforward. Call Tom at 941-268-7163 or JW at 941-730-0935 to discuss your project. You can also submit a quote request online at nfasd.com/contact. To get the most accurate quote, have your building plans (PDFs), project specifications, and any redlined drawings ready to share. NFASD will review your documents and provide a fast turnaround quote. Once approved, the project moves into production immediately.

Question 15

What is a redlined PDF and how do I send it to NFASD?

Accepted Answer

A redlined PDF is an architectural or engineering drawing that has been marked up (typically in red) by the contractor or designer to show where fire alarm devices, security equipment, or other low-voltage components should be located. Redlined PDFs are the most common way contractors communicate device placement to NFASD. You can email your redlined PDFs directly to NFASD or use the file upload process described on the contact page at nfasd.com/contact. NFASD uses your redlines as the basis for producing the final permit-ready shop drawings.

Question 16

What is the difference between fire alarm design drawings and fire alarm shop drawings?

Accepted Answer

Fire alarm design drawings (also called contract documents or specification drawings) are produced by the architect or engineer of record as part of the overall building design package. They show the general intent of the fire alarm system. Fire alarm shop drawings are produced by the installing contractor or a specialty firm like NFASD and show the specific equipment, exact device locations, wiring methods, and installation details that will actually be used on the project. Shop drawings must be submitted to and approved by the AHJ before installation can begin. NFASD specializes in producing the shop drawings — the permit-ready, contractor-level documents.

Question 17

What is an AHJ and why does it matter for fire alarm permitting?

Accepted Answer

AHJ stands for Authority Having Jurisdiction — the organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or their designated representative. For fire alarm systems, the AHJ is typically the local fire marshal, fire prevention bureau, or building department. The AHJ reviews and approves fire alarm shop drawings before issuing a permit, and conducts the final inspection after installation. AHJ requirements vary by jurisdiction — some require PE-stamped drawings, others have specific local amendments to NFPA 72. NFASD is experienced with AHJ requirements across all 24 states it serves.

Fire Alarm & Low-Voltage Design Facts & FAQ

About NFASD — Quick Facts

Systems We Are Proficient With

States Where NFASD Provides Engineer-Stamped Shop Drawings

Frequently Asked Questions