This article is part two of a three-part series:
- Click here to read part two
- Click here to read part three
Introduction
When a fire erupts in a building, fire sprinkler systems activate to help keep the assets and occupants of the building safe and give them time to evacuate, if needed. These systems are a crucial component of fire safety, so having a skilled professional design them is key.
Various codes and standards mandate these systems in various facilities throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world, making the need for designers ever-growing. As long as there are buildings being built, there will be a need for fire sprinkler designers.
Fire Protection Engineering
Fire protection engineering is a unique field in that fire, by nature, is unpredictable and volatile, as opposed to the more static subjects of other engineering disciplines. This field encompasses both fire prevention and fire protection, with several sub-disciplines, including:
- Fire suppression/fire sprinkler
- Fire alarm
- Egress/life safety
- Smoke control
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Sprinklers work by cutting off two of the four essential elements that a fire needs to sustain itself (oxygen, heat, fuel, and the chain reaction of the first three). Fire sprinklers discharge water, which lowers the heat and helps to cut off the oxygen supply. In order for sprinklers to apply the needed amount of water to a fire, the sprinklers must be part of a system that has been designed efficiently. These systems must adhere to all applicable codes and standards, local requirements, and client requests.
Fire Sprinkler Designer Skills and Background
Fire sprinkler design is intriguing and rewarding. It allows the designer to be creative in their approach when choosing from various allowed methods and techniques to use in their designs. A fire sprinkler designer designs components of fire sprinkler systems, such as fire pump rooms or risers, as well as entire fire sprinkler systems that fit the varying needs of clients and locations.
Education
Typically, a fire sprinkler designer needs to have a degree in engineering. Aspiring designers can start with an associate degree in drafting or building design, or a bachelor’s degree in fire protection engineering. Other related fields, such as mechanical and chemical engineering, are also acceptable if they have some emphasis on fire protection-related courses, like fire science, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.Candidates with field installation experience, but no formal degree, can be considered for a designer position as well.
Key Skills
Fire Behavior Understanding
Understanding fire behavior helps a designer more efficiently lay out a system. For example, if the designer places sprinklers in an area where obstacles will obstruct the spray, they cannot adequately smother a fire. This will allow the fire to spread to a dry, unprotected area. However, an informed designer would know that fire follows the path of least resistance and seeks out additional fuel to sustain itself, and thus would place sprinklers that would protect the facility.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Software Experience
Designers use CAD software to lay out a system and perform the necessary calculations. Some software allows for 3D coordination with other disciplines, which helps to eliminate conflicts in installation later on.
General Construction Knowledge
Knowledge of construction methods allow the designers to understand where other disciplines will place their equipment and, therefore, allow them to place the sprinkler heads more efficiently. This also helps in understanding construction timelines and the build order.
Attention to Detail
A fire sprinkler designer must pay attention to the small things in order to troubleshoot problems throughout the design process. This is especially important as fire protection systems are tied to life safety, and mistakes can cost lives or property.
Code Awareness
Sprinkler designs must comply with any relevant codes and standards, such as
- NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems
- NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems
- NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems
- NFPA 20: Standard for the Installation of Stationary Fire Pumps
- International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC)
- Local requirements and locally adopted codes
Interdisciplinary Understanding
Through the process of designing the fire sprinkler system, the designer will utilize elements from many other fields of design and engineering, including:
- Electrical: The sprinkler designer must be able to design a system that can integrate with the fire alarm system. They must also coordinate the power supply requirements with electrical designers/engineers when the system requires a fire pump.
- Mechanical/Piping: Suppression designers need to be aware of the piping and mechanical components in their systems that may potentially interfere with mechanical and plumbing plans.
- Fluid Dynamics/Hydraulics: The designer must utilize knowledge of fluid dynamics and hydraulics when performing hydraulic calculations on the system. They can add, remove, or resize components based on their friction loss in these calculations.
- Structural: The designer needs to understand structural elements of buildings’ construction. They will use this when routing the system, as some architectural elements present unique challenges, such as not being able to be covered or hidden, and the designer is only allowed to hang piping from certain points on certain structural members. In instances where post-tension slabs are used (e.g., parking garages), piping can only penetrate the structure at certain points. The designer must coordinate with a structural engineer to ensure all routing/hanging complies with the rating of the structural elements and onsite conditions.
- Civil: The designer must possess a basic understanding of civil engineering for things like soil classifications (how ground motion is amplified) to determine the need for and layout of seismic bracing, determining fire hydrant placement, the layout of underground pipe, and thrust block calculations.
Become a Designer at Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC)!
If you are interested in becoming a fire suppression designer, you can join our TEC team and develop fire sprinkler systems for various clients across the country.
About the Author
Jacob Ford, Discipline Team Leader, Fire Suppression Design
Jacob Ford is the Team Lead for Telgian Engineering & Consulting’s Fire Sprinkler Design Team. He started his career as an apprentice pipefitter, then moved into a designer role shortly after college, and has been in the industry for nearly 20 years. Jacob has worked on projects ranging from aircraft hangars, hospitals, gamma knife facilities, clean rooms, large data centers, sports training facilities, and more. He is a demonstrated leader in the fire protection field.