Before the crash, we were doing a LOT of designs for big homebuilders, many of whom were expanding to larger format attached communities, including so-called podium buildings involving standpipes, NFPA 13 and "sprinklers throughout". As such, we provided our clients with working plans and they put these projects out to the proverbial "low bidder". We saw more than a couple companies that had been feeding on a steady diet of smaller format 13R projects move up to the bigger stuff. I have a BUNCH of stories about those too.
But probably the most egregious mistake I've seen on 13D projects had to do with one of these specialized orange pipe subs, that had earned one of the mid-rise projects we designed. The homebuilder had a relatively modest 22-home single family community that he threw their way as well, also based on our approved construction documents. These homes were semi-rural, with bad water pressure. The installing contractor took our 16'x16' layouts for the four floor plans and indiscriminately blew them up, stretching everything to 20'x 20', 10' feet to the walls. There were no models, just a 22-unit super phase in one shot. The super called our office wondering why the sub was able to save 4-6 sprinklers just about every moderately sized house, and questioned why we had furnished such inefficient plans. He pooped when I explained that they would now have to add a pump to every house. They also had cleaned up our designs in the bedrooms, where the "ugly" eccentric sprinkler locations had been cleaned up and were nicely centered in both directions. Right where the boxes for future ceiling fans were to be set. 22-homes, complete R & R of the sprinkler systems. Only good news was that the sheet rock on site had been destroyed by an unseasonal heavy rainstorm the night it was delivered, so the delay had left most of the piping exposed. But that's another stupidity anecdote altogether ... Steve Leyton -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ed Vining Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 1:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Boo boos I am compiling a list of things found wrong during 13D system inspections. My favorite is the guy who drilled a pilot hole for connection to the main, but saddled the pipe without using his hole saw. His second error was failure to check for leaks. In this desert area someone noticed a clump of grass growing for no apparent reason. His shovel unraveled the mystery. The most ridiculous was the sprinkler used as the inspectors test orifice. Not a cut-off sprinkler but a complete sprinkler, including the plastic protector thingy. If you would like to share things please send them directly to me (not to the forum) When the list is complete I will send it to anyone who asks. Thanks Ed Ed Vining 4819 John Muir Rd Martinez CA 94553 925-228-8792 Cell 925-787-0465 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/attach ments/20120228/d9a41a5c/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
