In 2025, fire alarm design firms are being asked to do more – with tighter timelines, evolving codes, and growing demand for error-free submittals. To stay competitive and profitable, it’s not enough to design great systems – you need visibility into how your design process performs.
Tracking the right metrics can help you identify inefficiencies, standardize quality, and scale your team’s output. Read on to learn about five metrics that top-performing design firms should prioritize this year – plus how FireCAD helps make tracking (and improving) them a little simpler.
#1. First-Pass Submittal Approval Rate
A high first-pass approval rate means your designs are clear, code-compliant, and professionally packaged – reducing delays and costly back-and-forth with AHJs. FireCAD helps improve this rate by enforcing code standards as you design, offering guided workflows, and generating clean submittals ready for AHJ review. Built-in battery and voltage drop calculators and clear riser diagrams reduce the margin for error and increase your chances of approval on the first try.
How to track it:
Log each plan review you submit, and mark whether it was approved on the first submission or required revisions. Over time, track the percentage of designs approved on the first round, and look for trends based on project type, AHJ, or designer.
#2. Average Design-to-Submittal Time
The faster you can go from kickoff to completed submittal, the more projects you can take on – and the happier your clients will be. FireCAD accelerates this workflow with an all-in-one platform built specifically for fire alarm system design. From device layout to riser generation to submittal publishing, FireCAD reduces the need to bounce between platforms or rely on time-consuming manual steps.
How to track it:
Start timing at project kickoff or first client input, and stop once the submittal package is delivered. Record this timeline per project and look for patterns: are delays happening during layout, documentation, or client review?
#3. Revisions per Project
Too many revisions can indicate issues with internal processes, coordination, or client communication. FireCAD reduces revisions by keeping your design aligned with code and your documentation export-ready from the start. Its logical design tools reduce mistakes, and its drawing outputs are field-friendly – making it easier for installers to follow your plans without calling in for clarification.
How to track it:
Track how many times each design file is revised before final approval or installation. Categorize the reasons: AHJ request, internal QC, client scope change, or field adjustment. This helps pinpoint which changes are avoidable – and which signal deeper process improvements.
#4. Field Feedback Loop Time
When installers or techs discover inconsistencies or missing info, how long does it take for the feedback to reach the design team and get resolved? FireCAD streamlines this loop by producing consistent, easy-to-follow layouts that minimize confusion in the field. And because files can be updated quickly within FireCAD, changes can be turned around fast – without restarting the entire drawing.
How to track it:
Note the date of the first field issue reported and the date of resolution. Track both how long the loop takes and how often feedback results in actual design updates. The goal is to reduce both volume and time to resolution.
#5. Design Hours Per Project Type
Understanding how much time you spend on different project types – like healthcare facilities, schools, or mixed-use buildings – can help you quote more accurately, assign the right team, and identify where templates or automation could make the biggest impact. FireCAD’s repeatable workflows, device libraries, and floorplan import tools help reduce design hours significantly for recurring job types.
How to track it:
Log total design time from start to submittal delivery, and categorize projects by type. Compare averages and look for outliers – do certain project types consistently take longer? If so, it may be time to build templates or create reusable design assets.
Build a Smarter Design Workflow with FireCAD
Metrics are only useful if you can act on them – and FireCAD helps you do just that. From submittal-ready outputs to time-saving design tools, it gives your team the visibility and control needed to grow without sacrificing quality.
And we’re just getting started.
Even more tracking features and performance insights are on the way – designed to give you deeper visibility into your design process, project timelines, and team productivity. Stay tuned for exciting updates rolling out soon.
Want to start tracking these metrics with less manual effort?
Schedule a demo to see how FireCAD can transform your design workflow in 2025.
