"Working Drawing" Updates You'll Want to Know

A couple weeks ago we updated the NFPA 13 shop drawing checklist with new references to the 2019 and 2022 Editions of NFPA 13.
 
With the 2022 update, the NFPA 13 Committee revamped the list of requirements for “working drawings” in the 2022 Edition. It was pretty much gutted and rewritten.
 
DOES A 2022 UPDATE CHANGE ANYTHING?
What impact does this actually have for me or my team? Who uses the 2022 Edition right now?
 
Well, perhaps no local jurisdictions have adopted the 2022 Edition yet. Perhaps that’s a few years away still.
 
But what about US Federal work, which references the latest standard edition at the time of the job posting? Or large corporate or healthcare users who might mandate adherence to the latest codes & standards?
 
Or, what if we’re just being prudent and looking to be ready to adapt when it is enforced?
 
Well, yes then, it could have an impact on your process whether you’re creating the working drawings or reviewing them.
 
Here’s the list of noteworthy changes to the working drawing list as I understand them. Please note that I’m far from a Committee member and it’s only my interpretation of the list. As this plays out in time, I’m sure plenty of gray areas will get sorted out in online discussions, informal clarifications, or code changes.​

The list of shop drawing requirements went through an entire revamp with the 2022 Edition.

 
#1 SHOW THE MEANS OF FORWARD FLOW (ADDED IN 2019)
A means of conducting a forward-flow test has long been required, but historically overlooked or was possibly achievable by flowing out of a fire department connection or main drain (for very low hazards).
 
We talked about the big change for a fixed means of forward flow that was introduced in 2019 and clarified in 2022.
 
How does this affect shop drawings?
 
Well, we now need to locate and identify the means of forward flow on the plans [NFPA 13-2019 Section 27.1.3(25) and 2022 Section 28.1.3(18)].

The location and labeling of the means of forward flow is required in the 2019 and 2022 Editions of NFPA 13.

 
#2 THE BUILDING CROSS-SECTION WAS REMOVED
If you’ve ever prepared or seen a random building cross-section on shop drawings (with no pipe or sprinklers shown), that’s because NFPA 13 had a requirement showing a full-height cross section that showed ceiling construction, protection for non-metallic pipe, and structural member information.
 
This was a constant source of review comments, which does help clarify what’s going on, but is only a single slice of a building that otherwise could be very complex.
 
In the 2022 Edition, the list goes away from the building cross section and instead requires identification and locations of major structural members [2022 28.1.3(11)], labels of Obstructed or Unobstructed where applicable [2022 28.1.3(11)], and ceiling heights labeled on the plans [2016 23.1.3(45), 2019 27.1.3(5), and 2022 28.1.3(9)].
 
From a matter of design and practicality, showing ceiling heights and structural members on the plans themselves helps us all communicate a bit better. Showing all the ceiling heights, structure, and Obstructed vs. Unobstructed with plan labels was something I incorporated a few years ago and helped me be more disciplined during design. It also beats out a single-slice section of a building that may or may not actually clarify how much of the building is being constructed.

A building section that doesn't detail sprinklers or pipe, nor is at a position or scale that effectively communicates the relationship of structure, ceilings, and coverage - doesn't do a lot of good. It may not have been the original intent of NFPA 13 anyway. The ​NFPA 13-2022 Edition removed the requirement for a whole-building cross section but added plenty of labels and requirements to the floor plans to adequately address the original reason for inclusion.

 
#3 LIGHTS, DIFFUSERS, AND OTHER CEILING FIXTURES
Many bid specifications require that lights, diffusers and other ceiling-mounted devices (fire alarm, occupancy sensors, etc) be shown on sprinkler working drawings.
 
Doing so certainly helps prove that the ceilings have been coordinated – or at least other systems considered.
 
But now that’s been codified. In the 2022 Edition, Section 28.1.3(8) requires diffusers, lights, and other ceiling fixtures or major MEP equipment just above or below the ceiling be shown on the sprinkler working plans.
 
This seems easy enough to require for a consultant – but for a sprinkler contractor, pulling in this information can be a chore – especially if the sprinkler subcontractor doesn’t get a full set of CAD plans to begin with.
 
Hopefully, with this being codified, a sprinkler contractor’s request for CAD backgrounds on this information gets a little easier to push back up the food chain.

We know lights, diffusers, and other ceiling fixtures will be on a project.
​Now we're required to have them on sprinkler installation plans.

 
#4 PLACARD INFORMATION
Hydraulic Data Nameplate information has long been required to be shown on the working drawings, but now the hose demand, method of calculation, and total flow and pressure have been added to the list.
 
This comes from the 2022 Edition, 28.1.3(23c).
 
#5 OWNER’S CERTIFICATE INFORMATION
NFPA 13 has long required that a signed Owner’s Certificate to be submitted with working drawings (1999 8-1.1.2, 2022 14.1.4, 2007-10 22.1.4, 2013-16 Section 23.1.4, 2019 Section 27.1.1.1(4), 2022 Section 28.1.4).
 
Now, with the 2022 Edition, required information from the owner’s certificate is required to be shown on the plans [2022 28.1.3(14)]. This includes storage materials, storage heights, water supply information, and whether seismic bracing is required. This is discussed in more detail in 2022 Edition Section 4.2.

The Owner's Information Certificate has been a requirement to be included with working drawings, but now the required information from it is also required to be shown on plans, starting with the 2022 Edition.

 
#6 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR EACH SPACE
The 2022 Edition clarifies that design criteria for each room or space be shown on the plans, including hazard classification everywhere, and commodity classification, storage type, configuration, height, and packaging for storage areas [2022 Section 28.1.3(15)].
 
That’s often critical yet hard-to-find information for plan review. This clarification puts some teeth to requiring that information be shown on plans.
 
#7 FLEXIBLE DROP INFORMATION
The 2022 Edition introduces requirements to indicate corresponding k-factor, length, manufacturer, maximum number of bends, minimum bend radius, and model for flexible drops when they’re used [2022 Section 28.1.3(17b)].
 
While many designers already indicated at least some of this, having the maximum number of bends and minimum bend radius on the plans could go a long way in helping on-site inspection make sure that the install actually adheres to the design intent. Not a terrible idea.
 
#8 MORE SEISMIC DETAIL
The 2022 Edition requires more detail on several seismic bracing components.
 
These include design angle categories, flexible coupling locations, locations of seismic components, maximum spacing, penetration clearances, and zones of influence all to be shown on the plans [2022 Edition Section 28.1.3(22)].
 
IMPACT FOR PLAN REVIEWERS
The “working drawing” revamp in the 2022 Edition shakes up an area of the code that hasn’t changed much in some time.
 
For plan reviewers, this is a welcome relief.
 
Many of the updates and additions are simply requiring pockets of information that a plan reviewer needs to know for proper review, but is really difficult to surmise if they’re outside of the design development process.
 
Having teeth to require that commodities and storage arrangements and Obstructed & Unobstructed be identified on the plan will go a long way in checking due diligence has been done in key areas.
 
IMPACT TO DESIGNERS
For designers? This could be a tall ask.
 
There’s some major adjustment here. For designers who traditionally have been very thorough in plan preparation and documenting each step of the process, this will be more of a matter of simply sharing some of that documentation.
 
For designers that may not have gone into this level of depth – there’s certainly going to need to be more time dedicated to the process. More time to ask the owner for input. More time to ask for more complete backgrounds for coordination. More time to document, label, and identify details on plans.
 
It’ll take more time.
 
If designers already feel crunched by design time budgets, then it’ll be be an adjustment for everyone.
 
IMPACT TO ESTIMATORS
For estimators? When the 2022 Edition (or later) gets enforced, plan on designers needing some additional time to take this on.
 
Time adds for design will be greatest for buildings with storage, seismic projects, or jurisdictions who provide thorough review. There’s plenty of teeth to the the updated list, so it’s less of a “well these things are technically supposed to be provided in the spec” and instead “NFPA 13 requires this to be shown.” Less room to maneuver, in other words.
 
TAKEAWAYS
Personally, I like these changes. They allow for clearer communication of intent, which is the point of drawings in the first place.
 
It’ll allow designers to be more thorough in their process. While that might sound contradictory (why would a designer want to be pushed to be more thorough?), many good designers lament that the pace and expectation for flying through design is too fast.
 
Having NFPA 13 be the backbone of what needs to be submitted gives designers a tangible justification to do a more thorough (better) job. The NFPA 13 requirements can play the part of the villian, not the designer who’s trying to do things at a depth that they feel is needed.
 
Hope you enjoyed the recap here, and that you have a great rest of your week. Keep up the good work.

- Joe