As digital technologies reshape the fire protection landscape, remote inspection and testing are emerging as essential tools for enhancing system oversight, minimizing downtime, and supporting compliance. This session explores the evolving regulatory landscape, technological enablers, and practical considerations of implementing remote inspection and testing for fire protection systems. Attendees will gain insights into applicable codes and standards (such as NFPA 25, NFPA 915, and Factory Mutual Data Sheets), benefits and limitations of remote technologies, and strategies to ensure data integrity, system reliability, and stakeholder confidence.

Mark Fessenden is a globally recognized expert in active fire protection systems, including water-based systems (automatic sprinkler, water spray fixed systems, and watermist) and special hazard systems (clean agent, CO2, wet chemical, dry chemical, and foam). For the last three decades Mark has been involved with the manufacturing of active fire protection systems. His focus has been on the development of new technologies, codes & standards, sales and business development, technical services, training, and general management.

Mark was the 2024 recipient of the NFSA Russell P. Fleming Technical Service Award, the 2021 recipient of the SFPE Harold E. Nelson Service Award and the 2017 recipient of the NFPA Industrial Fire Protection Section Fire Prevention Award. Marks has several patents in technologies related to water-based fire protection systems. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from New England Institute of Technology and an MBA from Corban University.

Mark serves as the Managing Director of the International Fire Suppression Alliance, an organization dedicated to the global promotion of the use of effective water-based fire protection systems.