All: About 8 or 9 years ago, a former fire chief turned residential sprinkler advocate coined the Phrase, "The plumbers are coming!" He and I joked back then about the "Chicken Little" parable and he was predictably ridiculed and criticized - sometimes not so quietly - in some corners of the fire sprinkler community. But Pat Coughlin was right; starting with the introduction of the Wirsbo pre-engineered MP system, there has been steady movement in the cycling of 13D and the adopted Plumbing and Residential Codes toward homogenizing plumbing and residential sprinkler systems. Pat was a founder and Executive Director of both the Residential Fire Sprinkler Institute an Operation Life Safety, as well as FPC's Man of The Year in 2000, I think. Pat introduced me to the management of Wirsbo at the launch of their AquaSafe system and I have been watching the evolution of the residential market with keen interest ever since. And over the course of this period of time, with so many changes in product technologies, changes in U.L. listings, unbelievable growth in the market, adoption of new model codes, etc., there has been one rock-steady and unchanging constant. That being the institutionalized denial of these changes by many (most?) in the sprinkler industry.
Does anyone on this forum really think that we - the entire unified industry - can possibly address all of the new work that will be created if IRC adopts mandatory sprinklers for one and two family homes? Folks, there are people in our industry right now bidding tract-sized SFD's at $3-4 per s.f. AND HIGHER. Homebuilders are screaming bloody murder nationwide; between the cost of 1" meters and the apparent lack of interested bidders, they can't seem to buy residential sprinklers anywhere near the $1-2 per s.f. we've been saying for years they should pay. Our industry claims to want mandatory residential sprinkler codes but we haven't done squat about building our infrastructure, growing our human and technological resources or preparing for a wave of new business that could double the size of our industry in some markets OVERNIGHT. And because we haven't done a damned thing, the market should wait around for us to pull our heads out of the sand? No, the market is going to do what all free enterprise markets have done throughout the history of this country: it's going to follow the path of least resistance. Does anyone think that these large residential plumbing and HVAC contractors are $150 million companies by accident? Does anyone reading this think that SFD systems are so complicated that we're all really glad they made us take calculus in high school and college? Any particular reason why a 13D design has never been confused with a booster rocket? Yeah - 'cause it AIN'T. Homebuilders control a 1/3 stake in the IRC, if I'm not mistaken. The most pragmatic among them realize that if it's not this cycle, it will likely be next cycle, but sprinklers in SFD's are inevitable. So (unlike our community) they're getting their wagons into a preemptive circle. And I've got some really bad news for those who are organically opposed to the notion that anyone but a dedicated sprinkie can/should be the installer of record for a residential sprinkler system. Not only are there multi-purpose design guidelines proposed in the IRC, but I encourage everyone to check out 13D, Log #50 (Item 54) of the current residential cycle. It's a prescriptive (i.e. pipe scheduled) table design method for sprinkler systems in SFD's and the committee's vote in ROP was a resounding "accept". The tables recommended for adoption are the same ones proposed for and used to substantiate the IRC design basis, and would further harmonize the IRC, IPC and 13D. Note to self: The Plumbers are coming ... and they have dollar-signs in their eyes. Steve Leyton Protection Design & Consulting -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Drucker Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 8:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: ICC Version of 13d Case in point. Townhouse project. Developer could have gone VA construction and skipped suppression. However after discussing the options voluntarily went the suppression route. Well it was a fiasco, sprinkler contractor held up the job, from framing inspection to final inspection. Why because they just couldn't get the work done at the same pace as the other trades. I had to actually make phone calls to the sprinkler contractor pleading that they get crews out there since we were the ones that supported suppression. In the end it got done unfortunately the developer later remarked "never again". It is what it is and I'm sure there were a thousand excuses. But excuses don't cut it and frankly no one wants to hear it when the other trades are keeping up with the schedule. The reality is that fire protection has got to be affordable, efficient and timely. Yours in Life Safety, John Drucker Fire Protection Subcode Official (AHJ) Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Greenman Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 11:16 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ICC Version of 13d In Washington any plumber can install a sprinkler system as long as he has a sprinkler contractor license at the proper level for the type of work he wants to do, has a certified designer per Washington statutes in responsible charge, and has a sprinkler contractors bond. Oops, that makes him a sprinkler company also. By the time they get this far their also aware of the difference in insurance rates and then the "Do you feel lucky?" quote in the other posting kicks in. And it's usually the designer that's going to make or break the deal. We have made getting a design certificate for SFDs accessible for plumbers but but by the time they have someone on staff, and they have to have someone registered as a full-time certificate holder on staff (although you can use freelance designers you still need at least one certified employee), they pretty much have a clue. I've heard a lot of whining about the shortage of qualified designers, managers, installers, technicians, etc. and very little activity to solve the problem. Let's say mandatory sprinklering of ALL new housing makes it into the I codes next cycle. Then let's say your state adopts those codes. That means the mandate will be coming to a town near you in two years. Are all you commercial companies ready to pick up a lot of residential work. Are you guys doing mostly residential ready for the increased workload? Are we prepared at all? Do we even have a clue what this means? I'm thinking qualified plumbers may all of a sudden be the industry's best friend. On Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 7:22 AM, Steve Kowkabany <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I think it's a good idea. I know there is some frustration that the > sprinkler industry has fought so hard to make sprinklers mandatory in one > and two family homes, only to see technology and other simplifications > likely make it possible for the plumbing industry to actually install the > systems when that time comes. The PEX system manufacturers will design a > combination system for you given a home's floorplan which a licensed plumber > can install. These prescriptive rules Michael described will extend that > capability. > > If we as an industry really do want sprinklers to be mandatorily installed > in every new home, then we will probably have to live with the fact that > plumbers will be able to do it also - provided that can be done safely. It > sounds like a move in the right direction. > > Have a good weekend, > > Steve Kowkabany, P.E. > Fire Protection Engineer > Neptune Fire Protection Engineering LLC > 616 Davis Street > Neptune Beach, FL 32266 > 904-652-4200 Phone > 904-212-0868 Fax > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael > O'Brian > Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 9:19 PM > To: SprinklerFORUM > Subject: ICC Version of 13d > > > > Okay Sprinkler Guys > > > > Today at the ICC code hearings the Plumbing Committee heard RP3 and RP8. > > > > See the code change here (scroll one or two changes down to RP3) > > > > http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2007-08cycle/ProposedChanges/V2_RP1-8.pd f > > > > This is a code change which would give installation requirements for > multi-purpose piping for sprinkler systems in the body of the residential > code (a modified pipe schedule like system). RP3 passed and RP8 was denied. > Now this was the committee action and it may be debated on the final action > hearings in September. > > > > The code change only applies to multipurpose piping in one and two family > dwellings. It has many layers of built in safety. A designer would still > be allowed to utilize a 13d system and this really provides an option for > the user. > > > > I am just curious what you all think? I know as sprinkler designers we may > feel like we should not like this, but the intent is to make sprinkler > installation in homes as convenient as possible. > > > > (ps there was a floor amendment which clarified hangers and some other > issues) > > > > Michael O'Brian > > Code Savvy Consultants > > 313-618-6401 > > fax 313-557-0294 > > www.codesavvyconsultants.com > > www.inspector911.com > > > > ************************************ > > Checkout our partner website www.inspector911.com. It has free checklists, > > message boards, and lots of great information. Visit today and sign up for > the free newsletter > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman at home.... _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
