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November 3, 2025
If you are working on a project where the United Facilities Criteria (UFC) is applicable, there’s a good chance you will run into the Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE) role. This individual holds various responsibilities for your project that directly impact fire and life safety compliance and successful acceptance. Explore the QFPE’s role in UFC projects and how they fit in with your project timeline.
On Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal construction projects, fire protection engineering is a mission-critical discipline with lives, assets, and national security on the line. Whether the job is a new aircraft hangar, an office building, barracks for our soldiers, or a renovation of a vehicle maintenance shop, the UFC lays out specific requirements for fire protection design, review, and testing.
At the center of those requirements is the QFPE.
The QFPE ensures that fire protection systems are properly designed, installed, and tested to UFC standards and that they work as intended when it matters most. But while the UFC outlines broad requirements, the reality on the ground is often far more complex. Each military branch, base, and contracting officer may interpret or enforce those requirements differently. Contractors may engage a QFPE too late or misunderstand the scope of what’s required. The result? Delays, added costs, and in some cases, rework.
A Qualified Fire Protection Engineer is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) with a minimum of five years of experience in fire protection. The UFC allows the QFPE to be licensed in any U.S. state. Site-specific state licensure is not typically required unless the contracting documents say otherwise.
In many projects, different QFPEs may be engaged for specific systems:
However, the UFC encourages — and many contractors prefer — to have one QFPE oversee all fire protection disciplines on a project. This unified approach reduces coordination gaps and eliminates the “who’s responsible for this?” problem when systems overlap.
A QFPE is required under UFC 3-600-01, Fire Protection Engineering for Facilities, for major DoD-related construction and renovation projects. The UFC applicability isn’t universal, so understanding the boundaries is critical before you bid or propose on a project. It is also important to note that different specific requirements for a project might be found in a project specification, but the default requirements would be in UFC 3-600-1. The UFC system provides a standardized framework for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of military facilities, integrating and referencing other key codes and standards, such as NFPA and IBC. This ensures that all UFC projects maintain consistency while remaining compliant with widely recognized industry best practices.
The UFC requirements generally apply to:
These requirements extend to work on bases, depots, shipyards, training facilities, and administrative offices and many more facility types, whether it’s a new construction or renovation.
A QFPE can be brought into a project under a variety of contractual arrangements. The path often depends on the project delivery method and where in the timeline the need for QFPE services is recognized.
Typical QFPE clients include:
It is important to check the requirements and specifications for a specific project to see if the QFPE must be hired by a certain entity. Sometimes, a subcontractor can not be responsible for contracting the QFPE. In all cases, the earlier the QFPE is brought in, the smoother the project will run.
While every project is unique, a typical QFPE scope includes the following phases.
If involved early, the QFPE will most likely attend a kickoff meeting and/or preliminary inspection with the project team. This is the ideal time to:
On design-build projects, the QFPE usually reviews designs developed by the general contractor’s design team. On design-bid-build projects, the QFPE may be the designer of record and later transition to a construction oversight role.
*The UFC 3-600-1 does allow for the QFPE to be the designer of record as well.
For major projects, UFC requires fire protection design analysis and life safety plans. Reviews often occur at each phase of the design stage. Depending on the branch, sealed and/or stamped submittals may be required.
Even if brought in post-design, the QFPE reviews drawings against UFC and project specs to confirm compliance and flag any deficiencies. If the QFPE is the designer of record, they would not be reviewing the drawings they prepared.
This step covers contractor-prepared shop drawing submittals for systems such as:
At this time, the QFPE has several responsibilities:
There are also a few stamping nuances, and each project might have different requirements. It is important to read the specifications for the job carefully and understand what is required.
Once shop drawings are approved and installation is underway, the QFPE’s role shifts to construction administration. During this time, they verify that the work in the field matches the approved design, UFC requirements, and project specifications. This means being on-site to observe key milestones and system installations firsthand.
Depending on the project size and scope, construction administration may involve a single visit or multiple trips spread over several months (or even years, as UFC project schedules can extend well beyond initial estimates).
Site visits may include:
Because travel can be a significant cost, it’s critical to define the number of required site visits. Some projects require multiple visits; others only one. Always confirm with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) or Contracting Officer early.
The pre-final inspection is one of the most critical milestones in a UFC fire protection project. This is the QFPE’s opportunity to run through a full acceptance test in the absence of the government, catching any deficiencies before they can cause delays or failures at the final stage.
During the pre-final inspection, the QFPE:
Skipping or minimizing this step is risky. Without a proper pre-final inspection, minor but critical errors can slip through to the official test. At this point, a failed inspection means additional mobilization costs, rework, and potential project delays. In fact, most branches will require a pre-final acceptance letter prior to scheduling the government-witnessed final acceptance test. The QFPE prepares this letter, documenting that the system has passed the pre-final inspection and is ready for a final.
Conducted with the AHJ present, the final acceptance test verifies that all deficiencies have been corrected and systems operate as intended.
Here are a few best practices to ensure optimal results:
Knowing the most common pitfalls and how to prevent them helps keep your project on track.
Pro Tip: Document everything, from pre-test checklists to audibility readings. A clear paper trail protects all parties and speeds resolution.
The QFPE ensures fire protection systems are designed, installed, and tested to perform under the most critical conditions. While UFC provides the framework, real-world success depends on clear communication, early engagement, and attention to detail at every stage.
If you’re navigating a UFC project — whether in early design or facing an upcoming final acceptance test — partner with one of our fire protection engineers to ensure QFPE mission success.
Performance Based Fire has QFPEs on staff who are ready to ensure your fire protection system performs optimally at all times. Contact us today to discuss your project needs.
