July 2004 - Pre-planning the Installation of a Fire Sprinkler System
One of changes in the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems that often goes unnoticed or enforced is the requirement of a building owner or their authorized representative to submit certain data to their sprinkler contractor/installer prior to the design of the fire sprinkler system.
The new section in NFPA 13 is as follows:
"4.3 Owner's Certificate.
The owner(s) of a building or structure where the fire sprinkler system is going to be installed or their authorized agent shall provide the sprinkler systems installer with the following information prior to the layout and detailing of the fire sprinkler system:
(1) Intended use of the building including the materials within the building and the maximum height of any storage
(2) A preliminary plan of the building or structure along with the design concepts necessary to perform the layout and detail for the fire sprinkler system
(3) Any special knowledge of the water supply including known environmental conditions that might be responsible for microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)"
The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has developed a form to compile this information (see excerpt below).