What Does a Fire Equipment Technician Do?
A fire alarm alone isn't likely to save a building if its detectors are dirty and its batteries dead, but if a fire starts at night, a well-kept system can be what wakes the occupants and calls the fire department. Fire equipment technicians keep systems in that state, testing and repairing alarms, sprinklers and extinguishers in campuses, hospitals and offices.
Also known as: Lead Fire Equipment Technician
Fire Equipment Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a fire equipment technician include:
- Inspect and tag portable fire extinguishers; recharge or replace any unit that fails.
- Test fire alarm panels, smoke detectors, pull stations and horn strobes on a set schedule.
- Run flow tests on sprinkler systems and check valves, gauges and fire department connections.
- Service kitchen hood suppression systems, including the heat-sensitive links that trigger them.
- Troubleshoot ground faults, trouble signals and false alarms, and trace them to the faulty device.
- Coordinate system shutdowns with occupants and arrange a fire watch patrol while systems are down.
- Keep inspection records and deficiency reports ready for the fire marshal or insurance inspectors.
- Replace emergency lights and exit signs that fail their monthly or annual tests.
- Program new devices into addressable panels such as Notifier, Simplex or Edwards systems.
- Train building staff on extinguisher use and on what to do when the panel shows trouble.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a fire equipment technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- NICET certification in fire alarm systems, or progress toward it
- State fire equipment license where required
- Working knowledge of NFPA codes for alarms, sprinklers and extinguishers
- Low-voltage wiring and meter use
- Familiarity with Notifier, Simplex and Edwards panels
- Careful record keeping for inspections
- Comfort on ladders, lifts and in ceiling spaces
- Calm, clear talk with occupants during alarms
Education and Training
A license is required in many states before you test or service fire systems on your own, and alarm employers often expect NICET certification too. Getting hired takes only a high school diploma. The real training comes over several months beside an experienced technician. Low-voltage wiring experience speeds things up.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,820 - $73,690 per year, with a median of $60,070.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers.
According to BLS, employment of security and fire alarm systems installers, the group that covers fire equipment technicians, is projected to grow about 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. The group should see about 8,500 openings a year, according to the same projections. Inspection and testing work tends to hold up in slow years, given that fire codes require it whatever the economy is doing.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Security and fire alarm systems installers.