Supporting Reliability-Based Decision Making

Inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) are essential to ensuring the long-term performance of water-based fire protection systems. While codes and standards clearly define ITM requirements, the data generated through these activities is often fragmented, inconsistently formatted, and difficult to use beyond basic compliance records. The NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation’s ITM Data Exchange project addresses this challenge by examining how structured, interoperable data can strengthen oversight and improve system reliability.
Across much of the built environment, ITM data remains siloed among contractors, building owners, authorities having jurisdiction, and insurers. Paper reports, proprietary software platforms, and inconsistent terminology limit the ability to:

• Identify performance trends
• Compare outcomes across portfolios or jurisdictions
• Apply risk-based inspection and enforcement strategies

As building portfolios grow larger and more complex, these limitations increasingly constrain effective oversight.
Rather than prescribing a single technology or database, the ITM Data Exchange project focuses on defining common data elements and governance principles. This approach enables different systems to communicate while respecting local workflows and regulatory structures. Similar data-standardization efforts in other industries have supported predictive maintenance, benchmarking, and more targeted regulatory action.

Improved ITM data exchange offers tangible benefits across the fire protection ecosystem:
• Authorities Having Jurisdiction: Better compliance visibility and more efficient, risk-informed inspections
• Owners and Operators: Stronger asset management, lifecycle planning, and accountability
• Insurers and Risk Professionals: Enhanced insight into system condition and performance

Collectively, these improvements support more proactive and evidence-based decision-making.

The Research Foundation’s work also highlights important considerations, including:
• Data ownership and privacy
• Cybersecurity
• Resource and infrastructure limitations

Successful adoption will require collaboration among standards bodies, regulators, industry stakeholders, and technology providers, supported by clear governance frameworks that maintain trust and data integrity.

In high-growth markets, consistent ITM data becomes a critical safeguard against performance degradation, improper system modifications, and the introduction of non-conforming components. Structured data can reveal patterns—such as recurring deficiencies or maintenance gaps—that may otherwise remain hidden.
The ITM Data Exchange project does not replace existing codes and standards. Instead, it complements them by improving how compliance and performance information is captured, shared, and used. As digital tools continue to shape fire protection practice, this work provides a practical pathway toward more transparent, consistent, and performance-driven ITM oversight.

Learn more: NFPA Fire Protection Research Foundation – ITM Data Exchange Project.