Who Designs Fire Sprinkler Systems?
The basic design of a fire sprinkler system takes place through specifications or preliminary plans. This function is app carried out by a licensed professional engineer or architect in compliance with state requirements. How does the licensed design professional carry out this function? Usually either by designation of the appropriate design standard or through a statement of independent system design criteria. It is not necessary that drawings be prepared, but only that an engineering judgment take place. Does the mere specification of a design standard constitute a design decision? Yes. If the project engineer or architect designates, “This area to be protected with a sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA 13D”, or “Light hazard sprinkler system to be provided in conformance with NFPA 13,” the basic design decisions have been made. Sprinkler systems are “pre-engineered” at the level of the National Fire Protection Association’s Committee on Automatic Sprinklers, and refer
