ABSTRACT
T HE design engineering of a fire sprinkler system shopdrawing was briefly discussed in the previous chapter. The novice engineer will be able to rely on the expertise of the architect’s consulting engineer and the fire protection professional who sold the system installation contract, to insure that the specified design criteria for the sprinkler system are valid. As the beginner progresses in practice and experience, and his knowledge of codes becomes more complete, a subtle inherent responsibility will become evident. That is, he will be expected to be more and more aware of certain “red flags,” or clues, that will give him definite indications when prescribed design criteria, or specified system layout, is probably insufficient. One example of a “red flag” would be a job consisting of a tall warehouse, and the intention of the owner to pile the warehouse stored commodities quite high. There are systems in service today, designed in accordance with NFPA #13 ordinary hazard requirements, that protect products stored in racks to heights exceeding 20 ′. Such systems may be quite easily overwhelmed by a fire in this scenario. The fact is that any building containing any commodity piled to an elevation in excess of twelve feet is outside the scope of your typical light, ordinary, or extra hazard commodity classifications.13
