Life Safety — NFPA 72

Fire Alarm Systems

NICET IV engineered fire alarm systems designed, installed, and inspected to code — for every occupancy type across Utah.

Overview

NICET IV Fire Alarm Design & Installation Since 2005

Powered Control Systems is a Utah fire alarm systems contractor with NICET Level IV-certified design leadership in-house — the highest NICET level for fire alarm systems. Since 2005, we've designed, installed, and serviced fire alarm systems for hospitals, hotels, schools, high-rises, warehouses, data centers, and virtually every other occupancy type across the Wasatch Front.

Our in-house engineering team, led by a NICET Level IV (Fire Alarm Systems) certified designer, produces complete, permit-ready, code-compliant construction documents without outsourcing the design. That means faster AHJ approvals, fewer RFIs, and a single point of accountability from design through final inspection.

Whether you need new construction plans, a system upgrade, annual inspection and certification, or emergency service, PCS handles it all. We maintain close working relationships with Utah fire marshals and building officials, giving your projects a smoother path through the approval process. Comparing bids? Our guide on how to choose a fire alarm contractor in Utah covers the credentials, licenses, and questions that separate qualified contractors from the rest.

Gentex white wall-mount fire alarm horn strobe
Gentex horn/strobe — PCS is one of the largest Gentex integrators in the country.

Our Capabilities

  • New construction fire alarm design and installation (all occupancy types)
  • Tenant improvement and building renovation systems
  • System replacement, upgrades, and expansions
  • NFPA 72 annual inspection and certification
  • In-house, NICET IV-designed, permit-ready drawings for AHJ submittal
  • Performance-based design for complex and non-standard occupancies
  • Design-build (single contract from engineering through final inspection)
  • Smoke control system design, installation, service, and testing
  • 24/7 emergency service and repair — local on-call technicians after hours
  • System testing: functional, acceptance, and reacceptance
  • Sprinkler waterflow/tamper supervision and interfaces with elevator recall, HVAC shutdown, and other building systems
  • Voice evacuation system integration
  • High-rise and large building system design
Why Choose PCS

The PCS Difference

NICET Level IV On Staff

NICET Level IV is the highest of NICET's four certification levels in fire alarm systems — ask any contractor what level the person designing your system holds. Level IV design leadership means more accurate designs, fewer correction notices, and smoother inspections.

In-House Engineering

We produce permit-ready drawing sets in-house — no outsourcing delays. Every design is prepared and checked by our NICET IV-led engineering team before it goes to the AHJ.

AHJ Relationships

We've worked with Utah fire marshals and building officials since 2005, so our drawing sets follow each jurisdiction's submittal requirements, which reduces review cycles.

24/7 Service

System trouble at 2 a.m.? Call (801) 576-6634 — after hours you'll reach our local on-call technicians, who can dispatch directly. Around-the-clock support for every system we install and service.

How We Work

From First Drawing to Final Sign-Off

One accountable team handles your fire alarm project end to end — for buildings in Salt Lake City, Sandy, Provo, Ogden, Draper, Orem, West Jordan, and St. George.

01

Assessment & Engineering

We evaluate your occupancy, code requirements, and existing conditions, then our in-house, NICET IV-led engineering team produces a permit-ready, NFPA 72–compliant design.

02

Permit & AHJ Submittal

We submit a complete, code-compliant submittal package for permit. More than two decades of working relationships with Utah fire marshals mean fewer RFIs and faster approvals.

03

Installation & Integration

Our technicians install to plan and integrate the system with sprinkler supervision (waterflow and tamper), elevator recall, HVAC, and voice-evacuation systems — coordinated around your build schedule.

04

Test, Certify & Monitor

We perform functional and acceptance testing, deliver your NFPA 72 certification, and can add 24/7 central-station monitoring for ongoing protection.

Proven in Utah

Fire Alarm Projects Across Utah

A sample of the buildings we've protected across the Wasatch Front and southern Utah.

Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, with red cliffs behind
Hospitality · Ivins, UT

Black Desert Resort

Fire alarm systems for Utah's largest destination resort — the AAA Four Diamond resort near St. George that brought the PGA TOUR back to Utah.

Astra Tower, Utah's tallest building, in downtown Salt Lake City
High-Rise Residential · Salt Lake City, UT

Astra Tower

Fire alarm systems for Utah's tallest building — a 40-story, roughly 450-foot LEED Gold tower with 377 residences in downtown Salt Lake City.

Secure federal data center corridor (representative image)
Aerospace, Defense & Federal · Utah

Defense & Federal Facilities

Fire alarm systems for major aerospace and defense contractors and federal data centers in Utah — secure, mission-critical sites with strict access and documentation requirements.

Plus hundreds of completed projects statewide — schools, apartments, warehouses, hospitals, offices, data centers, and defense facilities.

See all Utah projects
Manufacturers

Platforms We Design, Install & Service

The fire alarm and notification manufacturers we design, install, and service. PCS is factory-certified and trained on Mircom; Potter, Silent Knight, Fire-Lite and Gentex are open, non-proprietary lines.

Mircom · Factory-Certified Potter Silent Knight Fire-Lite Alarms Gentex Autocall · Authorized Partner
The People Behind the Work

Utah's NICET IV-Led Fire Alarm Team

Nelson Powers, VP and Director of Operations at Powered Control Systems

Nelson Powers

VP & Director of Operations
NICET Level IV · Fire Alarm Systems · Cert #153541

Nelson leads PCS operations from design through installation, testing, and service, and holds NICET Level IV — the highest level of certification NICET awards.

Verify certification at NICET
Gary Powers, founder of Powered Control Systems

Gary Powers

Founder
Serving Utah since 2005

Gary founded Powered Control Systems in Draper, Utah, in 2005 and built its reputation for engineered, code-compliant life safety systems across Utah.

NICET Level IV Certified
Serving Utah since 2005
Hundreds of projects completed statewide
Utah DOPL Contractor License #6154362-6501 · Verify
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

NFPA 72 is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — the primary standard governing fire alarm system design, installation, and testing in the United States. Whether your building requires a fire alarm depends on the occupancy type, size, and local code adoption. PCS can assess your facility and advise on exactly what's required under Utah's adopted codes.

NFPA 72 requires annual inspection and testing for most fire alarm systems, with some devices — such as waterflow switches — tested semi-annually, and smoke detector sensitivity verified on its own schedule. PCS provides annual inspection programs that keep your system code-compliant and your certification current.

Yes — this is one of our core strengths. With NICET Level IV-certified design leadership in-house, PCS produces complete, permit-ready fire alarm designs for new construction projects of any size and complexity. We can also provide design-build services where we handle everything from engineering through final inspection under one contract.

A conventional system divides a building into zones, where each zone triggers a general alarm. An addressable system identifies the exact device that triggered the alarm, down to the specific detector or pull station. Addressable systems are more expensive but provide far more information for emergency responders and are required or strongly recommended for larger and more complex occupancies.

Yes. PCS services and inspects fire alarm systems regardless of who originally installed them. We can assess, repair, upgrade, and certify virtually any fire alarm system from any manufacturer.

Fire alarm system cost depends on the building's size and occupancy type, the number of devices required by NFPA 72, whether the system is addressable or conventional, and whether it's new construction or a retrofit of an occupied building. Rather than a one-size-fits-all price, PCS provides a detailed, itemized quote after assessing your facility and plans.

A routine annual inspection typically takes a few hours to a day depending on device count. For new installations, timing depends on project size, how complete the architectural drawings are, and coordination with other trades — a small tenant improvement can move quickly, while a high-rise or hospital takes more back-and-forth, coordinated around your construction schedule. PCS sets a schedule at kickoff and keeps the AHJ submittal moving, and because our engineering and installation are both in-house, there's no waiting on an outside designer.

Related Services

Smoke Control SystemsFire Alarm MonitoringFire Extinguisher ServicesMass NotificationERRCS / DAS

Ready to Get Started? Let's Talk.

Call us or fill out our project form — we respond within one business day.

Request a Quote (801) 576-6634