Fire Protection Survey Procedure A Methodical Survey Approach to Designing an Automatic Fire Sprinkler System for an Existing Building or Structure Title Slide

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Introduction In the course of our jobs as fire protection engineers, fire sprinkler designers, and fire service officials, we are often asked to perform a survey of an existing building or facility This presentation highlights some of the key points that a fire protection designer may find helpful in performing a survey for the ultimate goal of designing an automatic fire sprinkler system Scope of the discussion & presentation 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Objectives Get Your Bearings Survey Building Details Layout The System Determine The General Building Layout Develop A System Design Strategy Field Check The Drawing Bring Proper Survey Equipment Draw The Building Inspect The System Installation Slide to Introduce the Nine Discussion Objectives 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Get Your Bearings Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Get Your Bearings Obtain some basic information that will be required on your plans by applicable local, state, and national fire and building codes Official name of the building Obtain “True North” and “Building North” directions Exposure locations Mailing address & phone number of the building owner, tenant, or the owner’s representative Slide to address items that should be done in an effort to obtain basic information pertaining to the visited site 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Determine The General Building Layout Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Determine The General Building Layout If possible, preplan a rough sketch of the building by the information you obtain from the point of contact at the building or facility prior to your survey This will save time when the detailed measurements are taken Point of contact should meet/greet and showcase the area to be surveyed and remain available for the duration of the survey Request a complete set of plans for the building if they exist Regardless of the date or completeness of the drawings Preplanning is a tremendous benefit to any surveyor 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Bring Proper Survey Equipment Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Bring Proper Survey Equipment Two 8-foot folding rules A 50-foot tape measure with hook Two or more clamps Pipe diameter measurement gauge Telescoping elevation measurement pole Flashlight Proper survey tools will affect the ease and thoroughness of the survey 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Bring Proper Survey Equipment (Continued) A string at least 50-feet long with a weight on one end A feet-and-inch adding device or electronic calculator Survey clothing, including PPE Hard hat, safety glasses, goggles, ear protection, long sleeves, steel-toed boots, raincoat Proper survey tools will affect the ease and thoroughness of the survey 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Fractional Rule 7 1/2” 8 5/8” 1’ - 0 5/16” Knowing how to read a fractional tape measure is critical to the survey 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Survey Building Details Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Survey Building Details Develop survey strategy Layout of the centerlines of structural elements Building columns, structural beams A “building skeleton from which all other measurements can be taken” Measure walls using the column centerlines as a point of reference Identify all concealed or inaccessible spaces Combustible construction? A methodical approach to the building survey will increase the ease and accuracy of the survey 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Develop A System Design Strategy Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Develop A System Design Strategy #1 - Determine the most logical system arrangement Gridded, Looped, or Tree system #2 - Building Elevations Determine a survey reference elevation Lowest, flattest, and most reliable elevation The proper design strategy will yield accurate results 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Develop A System Design Strategy (Continued) #3 - Ceiling Measurements Count the number of standardized tiles from wall to wall (2’x2’, 2’x4’, etc.) Measure the remaining end tiles Important!!! – Verify ceiling dimensions with room dimensions to confirm accuracy of your measurements & replace tiles without damage Once above the existing ceiling, determine a “line-of-sight” to help with your design The proper design strategy will yield accurate results 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Develop A System Design Strategy (Continued) #4 - Water Supply Information Survey the “point of tie-in” where an existing fire protection pipe supplies your system Measurements related to the building skeleton and chosen reference elevation Precise measurement of the tie-in pipe is vital to the accuracy of your design The proper design strategy will yield accurate results 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Draw The Building Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Draw The Building Return to your office and begin the layout of the building and the fire protection system Compile a list of items that were missed in your survey Areas of conflict with other disciplines should be clearly noted to allow for easier clarification on your return trip to the jobsite Begin the basic layout of the automatic fire sprinkler system in an effort to identify a list of items missed and any potential conflicts 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Layout The System Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Layout The System Once the building and rough layout of the system have been drawn, you can now begin the computerized design of the automatic fire sprinkler system Note: It is acceptable to bypass the rough layout of the system on paper and go directly to the computer for the development of your design However, many fire protection designers find it more productive to bypass drawing the design on paper first! Begin the computerized design phase or draw the design by hand with a paper and pencil 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Field Check The Drawing Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Field Check The Drawing Do not fail to “field check” your drawing and design BEFORE attempting to install any equipment or material Start at the point of connection and move through the building re-checking your design and verifying your dimensions and elevations Once completed, you are now ready to perform the hydraulic calculations for the proposed system design It is critical that the drawing/design is field verified before any equipment or materials are installed 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Inspect The System After Installation Transitional Slide to Signify New Discussion Objective 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Inspect The System Installation Visit the jobsite during or after installation Should be done by all fire protection designers, but is extremely valuable to the beginning designer Visualization on paper to actual completion of the system in the real world Check the installation of the system during or after the system installation 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Questions??? Slide to open the floor up for questions and final comments 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure

Fire Protection Survey Procedure Acknowledgements This presentation and discussion is based upon the book: Design of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems By Robert M. Gagnon, P.E., SET Reference slide 9/18/2018 Fire Protection Survey Procedure