Mike: You need to update (that is reduce) your list. First expand
item 2 to identify the engineer needs to determine IF The water
supply is adequate. I've never understood how an AE team can provide
room for a pump and it's associated infrastructure if they don't know
one is needed until a subcontractor tells them. Now break out the
chain saw. The Third item is definitely to be thrown out. How can
the EOR identify where the remote area is unless they are drawing
lines and circles? Keep cutting and throw out item 4. The AHJ
blesses the plans and do you really want a third party slowing you
down for coordination? Although the engineering job assurance plan
has this one listed, it is a contractual thing can implement IF the
owner wants it but not a valid requirement. The exception to this
statement are when BUILDINGS are designed on a performance basis that
requires specific sprinkler criteria (that can exceed 13).
Roland
On Apr 24, 2008, at 6:15 AM, Mike Brown (TECH- GVL) wrote:
Actually, in several counties around Atlanta, the test was also
required for garden style apartments up to four stories. You would
be surprised that, at least in the beginning, a number of projects
that had full blown hydraulic calculations failed when the bucket
test showed them to be incorrect. Many times the main culprit was
a water test supplied by the water company that was faulty or not
up to date. Which brings me to my point that I have made over the
years, the "design" of sprinkler systems really involves four major
decisions by the design engineer and the rest is mostly a layout of
a system within the rules of the codes.
First Engineering Decision: What is the hazard and what
densities are required. The project must be classified as per the
fire risk. What are you protecting and how much water will it
require to achieve the fire protection objective.
Second Engineering Decision: What is the water supply and has
there been a detailed analysis and testing of the water supply?
Generally, engineers and others rely on water tests provide by
others and sometimes incorrect and out of date. Often very little
time is devoted by the engineer to insure that an adequate water
supply at the needed pressure is available. This does not mean
just throwing in a large fire pump just to be safe.
Third Engineering Decision: Where is the remote area? It is easy
to just let the designer decide but the selection of the remote
area can change the hydraulics dramatically.
Fourth Engineering Decision: Coordination and review of the plans.
The shop drawings and calculations may be checked and the
coordination with the other trades on the project. Often, the
engineer just passes these functions to a trainee or someone else
within the engineering firm. In other cases the issue is just ignored.
Too often these decisions are not given the time and effort that
they deserve.
Michael L. Brown
Manager of Technical Services
The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company, Inc.'
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.reliablesprinkler.com
(864) 843-5228
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