CHAPTER 6
Finishing the Plan
T HIS chapter deals with the items numbered #6 and #7,
which were previously mentioned in the engineer’s job
description list at the beginning of Chapter 2. By the time you
are ready to add any needed plan details and general notes to
the plan, you will have completed all of the basic engineering
necessary to lay out the system completely. In other words,
the building has been blocked out, the sprinkler system piping
laid out, pipe sized and dimensioned, and the supply header
has been detailed. The plan at this point looks much like the
drawing on page 249 labeled Figure A-6.
It is important to take your time and not rush to arrive at
this final phase of your work. As any good engineer will tell
you:
MISTAKES ARE MADE WHEN YOU’RE IN A HURRY!
This rule goes for any phase of your work, including the
task of putting the finishing touches on the plan. This plan
will be distributed to a number of parties, with your initials
on it, and any mistakes will be glaring. Any omissions will
be as obvious as a big smile with a missing tooth.
***
One component necessary for nearly every job is the site
plan, which is sometimes referred to as the plot plan. A
“key plan” is something quite different. The key plan usu-
ally references the areas noted on the particular plan in use
to a specific portion of the entire building. As examples of
these, notice the shaded areas of the building plans depicted
on Figures E-3 and E-4 (pp. 183–184). Note the column lines
and point of compass, in Figure E-4, which adds further clari-
fication.
A site plan example is shown in Figure E-6. This should
always be a scaled drawing, showing the location of the
building with reference to nearby streets and the sprinkler
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system’s water source. It is important to note on the site plan
the size of the city water main and underground feed piping
to the building. Of due importance is the notation of the fire
department connection (FDC) location and the nearby fire
hydrants. If possible, the two hydrants nearest to the fire de-
partment connection should be shown. This allows the fire
prevention bureau to note the lay distance for hoses from
the hydrants to point of building connection. As a general
rule, hydrants will be spaced approximately 300 apart in
commercial areas and 600 apart in areas zoned for residential
use.1 The site plan is also an opportunity to note separation of
contractor responsibility. For example, the Figure E-6 plan
may include a note such as “all underground piping work
shown on this plan is to be done by others.” Sometimes the
underground water feed is a fire main only, in which case
the sprinkler fitter’s union claims that work. A detail such
as the one shown in Figure D-4 might be used in such an
instance, giving dimensions with which to spot the intended
incoming water supply location.
On rare occasions and usually in larger cities, a location
plan is asked for. This gives the plan reviewer clear informa-
tion as to the whereabouts of the job-site that may be difficult
to ascertain just from the building address. Something sim-
ple will suffice, such as the example shown in Figure E-7.
Referring to this plan, note the shaded area that identifies
the building locale. The initials marked “NTS” ( jokingly re-
ferred to as “not too sure”), actually stand for “not to scale”
and should be used anytime the detail or plan shown is drawn
from rough approximation.
***
The “field check” is a necessary engineering function that
will take place just prior to stocklisting the job for fabrication
(see Chapter 7, “Stocklisting”). I guarantee that you will
learn something every time you visit a jobsite in any phase
of construction. I would also like to pass along a funda-
mental premise to bear in mind on any field check, and that is:
WHEN YOU’RE ON A JOB, TAKE YOUR TIME
AND OBSERVE!
I might add this note as well: always ask an installer to
critique your engineering skills. This he will gladly do, and
you would be wise to listen closely to what he has to say.
For one thing, it is in their best interest for engineered plan
quality to increase. If you seize the opportunity to ask the
sprinkler fitters how you can improve your work, you will
become much better at your job, believe me.
The field check is your one occasion to check to see if
field conditions are exactly as they were presupposed to be.
For example, was the water brought in to the correct loca-
tion, or even the right room? Was the steel set at the correct
elevations?2 Is the ductwork being installed where it is sup-
posed to be? Are there any visible obstructions where our
cross-main is to be installed? Should any holes be cored in
any concrete walls or floors? What is the elevation of the bot-
tom of the ductwork? Will there be any problem hanging the
pipe from building structural members? You get the idea.
The field check is a troubleshooting phase of the engi-
neering, a time to look for problems before they occur. This
phase is important because “engineering revisions by crisis”
is simply too costly, and can hold up the overall construction
process. You may dislike the chore of revising work that you
have already plan-engineered, but it is much cheaper than
revising the work at a later date.
***
I would also encourage you to show a detail or two on any
fire sprinkler plan.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!
This axiom applies directly to the job of sprinkler design.
For one detail example, refer to Figure E-5. The fitter will
not really be sure that the 1 1/2 vertical piece is to be in-
stalled inside the wall shown, unless this is detailed on the el-
evation. Remember, looking at a two-dimensional blueprint
in the field is not the easiest task, especially for someone
not schooled in blueprint reading. The section shown in
Figure E-8 is another good example of a plan depiction that
will save the fitter time in the field. The dimensions delin-
eated by you give the fitter exact coordinates with which to
carry out his work.
Details shown in Figures D-5 through D-8 are examples
of plan depictions that are about as detailed as you will want
to get. In certain decorative or “fussy” building areas, the
detail is utilized to get across as much specific informa-
tion as you need to deliver. In these examples, obviously,
the sidewall sprinkler positioning is critical to the job, and
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the detail conveys this message. Note the detail shown in
Figure D-3. Sprinkler feed main piping in this case needs to
be run through an existing area that is congested with some
round ductwork and an electrical cable tray. It would be next
to impossible for the installer to understand precisely what he
is supposed to do with his pile of pipe and grooved fittings,
without the benefit of this detail. Again, specific dimensions
must be provided.
Figure D-9 shows a section detail of a “double riser-
nipple,” which is often used for efficient installation in a case
where branch-lines running on either side of a cross-main
must initially be run at separate elevations. Again, the de-
tail (which need not be very fancy) gives the installer a clear
picture of intended pipe routing.3 Time is of the essence when
drawing. The detail shown in Figure D-10 is very nicely done,
but probably too fancy for our purposes. However, since the
detail is a supplement to the delineations shown on the plan,
all information that needs clarification must be detailed. In-
cidentally, all details thus far referred to in this chapter have
been “double-line” drawings. You should always draw what-
ever is most comfortable to you. But there is absolutely noth-
ing wrong with the use of “single-line” drawings, such as
that displayed in Figure D-11, or in previous examples noted
in Figures E-1 and E-2. The only idea or method not to be
compromised is that of getting your message across.
A detail may be so cluttered that it becomes necessary
to include your own reference marks. This is usually done in
instances where a lot of valving and other system components
are to be installed. Referring to Figure E-9, we can see that the
pipe dimensions shown are made clearer by this method, and
the entire picture is cleaner.4 The exactness of the engineering
is less apt to be compromised through the use of these circle
references.
***
Very often, the two-dimensional plan itself is not scaled
large enough in certain areas, to include all noted informa-
tion. When this occurs, an “enlarged plan view” is the only
means by which to show all the engineered pipe offsets and
routing changes. In both examples noted as Figures E-10
and E-11, the plan’s scale is 1/8 = 1 0 . By enlarging the
plan view to a scale of 1/4 = 1 0 , we are simply adding
space for our dimensions and notes. This method will be
utilized most often in cases where the building is already
existing (and the possibilities of long straight piping runs
are limited), or (as in Figure E-11) there is a stairwell or
some other location involved that requires valving, drains,
and/or alarm zoning. The numerous detailed notes are an
obvious necessity and simply cannot fit on the plan at the
smaller scale. Speaking of stairwells, and referring specif-
ically to the example shown in Figure E-12, the stairways
in a high-rise building are usually areas that will require
an elevation to be drawn. The dashed line in Figure E-12
refers to existing fire protection piping.5 Again, a picture is
worth a thousand words, and the numerous dimensions in
Figure E-12 will assist you in your plan engineering as much
as it will help the sprinkler fitter in installing system piping.
They establish the “starting point” benchmarks for the system
design.
The many examples and details used for reference in
this chapter are definitely not typical of the usual sprinkler
engineering project but are simply included to convey the
idea that details are a necessary plan component. A detail
such as the one depicted in Figure D-5, while simplistic, may
be just as necessary as any other.
An additional plan component that may be required is
an engineer’s (or architect’s) stamp. There is, as of this
date, no actual fire protection engineer’s stamp that is either
recognized or approved on a national level. If a stamp is a
requirement, and cannot be overlooked, it will be necessary
to consult with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to
determine exactly what his requirement is.
Two details that are most often used are shown in
Figures D-12 and D-13, and both are used in cases where pen-
dent sprinkler location is to be “intentional,” with the usual
required placement to be within one inch of the geometric
center of the ceiling grid panel.6 Both configurations allow
for 360◦ flexibility for the 1 arm that supplies the 1 drop
to the sprinkler-head. Figure D-12 is typical of the situation
where drops from an existing system must be relocated for
construction remodeling. In new construction, Figure D-13 is
most widely used. This “mutual” or “return-bend” arrange-
ment, also noted in Figure 5-13.19 NFPA #13, is paramount
for the avoidance of sediment accumulation in the 1 drop.
An often overlooked requirement of NFPA #13 when using
either method can be found in Section 6-2.3.4 of the 1999
edition. This stipulates the rules governing the length of the
armover that can be installed with or without an additional
hanger. By code, an unsupported armover may not exceed
24 inches in length.
***
Finally, the last addition to the sprinkler plan will be a list-
ing of explanatory notes. This text includes some examples
(Figures E-13 through E-15) of general notes. These can in-
clude a legend of symbols as well. The notes are necessary for
thorough completion of work, and should most importantly,
convey the scope of work, design criteria used, type of mate-
rial used, building construction, and the nature of the hazard
being protected. Do not forget to include the following, if
applicable, amongst your plan notes:
r type of sprinkler-heads
r type of pipe and fittings
r type of hangers
r whether or not pendent sprinklers are to be “centered”
in ceiling tile panels
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r required hydrostatic testing
r occupancy of building
r flow test results
r hydraulic design data
r the inclusion/exclusion of tamper switches7
r NFPA #13, or other, code compliance
r items of fire protection work that are not within the
scope of the contract
r the sprinkler-head count
r typical suspended ceiling height
r which side of joist or beam to hang the cross-main
You may also wish to refer to Section 8-1.1.1 on page 137
of NFPA #13 for a complete list of standard required elements
of working plans. That list, however, is not relative to every
job that you will engineer. For example, on a small job that
consists only of the relocation of existing sprinklers, it would
take longer to engineer the project than it would to install it,
if Section 8-1.1.1 was strictly adhered to.
One final note to be made is especially relevant for be-
ginning engineers. Office personnel, and field labor manage-
ment, will be glad to look over your completed work for you.
Ask for suggestions relative to the plan’s thoroughness and
completion. This will give you a frame of reference for know-
ing when the plan is actually finished. It’s always better to
be safe than sorry, and two heads are better than one. Also,
three heads are better than two, and I promise these will be
the last worn-out cliches used in this book.
ENDNOTES
1
NFPA #24 requires that hydrants be located at least 40 away from
any structure. That rule in origin is for firefighter protection from
wall collapse. Also, a hydrant located very close to a building may
become so hot during a fire that it is actually unapproachable and
unusable by the time of fire company arrival.
2
The survey equipment you will want to bring along on a field check
will include a telescopic measuring pole, two 8 folding carpenter’s
rulers, a 50 measuring tape, a flashlight, and a hard hat. And don’t
forget the blueprints.
3
In this example, “GR.EL.” refers to a grooved elbow, “T.B.E.”
refers to pipe threaded on both ends, and “G-T” refers to pipe with
one grooved end and one threaded end.
4
The “FL-FL” reference in this example refers to a piece of piping
with companion flanges made on each end. “C.O.J.” refers to a piece
of piping that is to be “cut on job.” Since the exact elevation of the
incoming water service is uncertain or not known, the actual length
of the riser piece cannot be prefabricated.
5
In this example, “E-E” references the pipe dimension as “end-
to-end.” “F-F” refers to “finished floor.” The cL notation refers to a
“centerline” of pipe elevation.
6
The sprinklers depicted are those of the recessed pendent type
(Figure D-12) and the “phantom” or concealer type (Figure D-13).
The “BCI” reference stands for “black cast-iron.”
7
Valve electrical supervisory switches.