How to Coordinate System Standards with an Architect?

MeyerFire University | FX104.03

By Joe Meyer, PE

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RESOURCES

FX110 SERIES

RESOURCES

NOTES

• Notes Page [PDF]

OTHER REFERENCES

• MeyerFire - Sprinkler - NFPA 13, 13R, 13D (2020)
• MeyerFire - Sprinkler - NFPA 13R, 13D Code Impacts (2021)

FX110 SERIES

1. Why Coordinate with an Architect?
2. How to Coordinate System Requirements with an Architect?
3. How to Coordinate System Standards with an Architect?
4. How to Coordinate System Types with an Architect?
5. How to Coordinate Insurance Requirements?
6. When to Consider Solutions Above Code?
7. How to Coordinate Space for Equipment?

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TRANSCRIPT

How do we coordinate the NFPA 13 vs 13R vs 13D discussion with an architect? 

So, one quick caveat here is when I say architect, this could really be an architect, or it could actually be a code consultant. I find that in a lot of residential projects, the architect is acting as the code analyst. So, they often assume that role. But sometimes when we get into complex or challenging projects, there'll be a code consultant in addition to the architect that are two separate people. 

So full disclaimer, there's a wide variety of expertise in this area. Some architects who cover assisted living or residential projects are very familiar with this conversation. 

Other architects will tell me they have no idea what I'm talking about. 

And then just like engineers, I find that there's a third group of people that initially just dismiss me all together until they realize I'm actually trying to help the project sail a little bit smoother. 

So, the first question that I want to coordinate with the architect is simply to ask, have we used any code benefits that are specific to an NFPA 13 fully sprinkled building? 

I asked this first because if the architect says that they need an NFPA 13 system in order to get the means of egress to work or the building area to work, or the building height to work, then we got our answer and we can move on. 

If the architect is using code allowances for an NFPA 13 system, then we have to provide an NFPA 13 system for those areas. 

That may seem very obvious, but I see this issue come up all the time. A code summary might say one thing, the fire protection plan says another thing. And somehow the specifications don't match either of those. 

Again, here, if the architect says they need a 13 system to make the building work, then we have our answer. NFPA 13 of the three versions of the standard is the most stringent and the most conservative, we can always use an NFPA 13 system. 

But let's say from a code standpoint that we don't have to use an NFP13 system. So, what do we do to take this on? 

Well, first we would do our own code research and we write our own code path. I like to think of this as my own justification from start to finish looking at big picture what building code even applies all the way down to the exact requirement. I do this for code summaries or what I do kind of in the weeds code research, and I can save it to that project, also save a copy for myself in the future so that when I need to go through that code exercise here, here's the justification for it. That's what I mean by code path. 

So, I start out with our applicable building code, then I go to section 903.2 if we're under the IBC just as an example, go down to our occupancy type and note the requirements and where our project would fall. 

Here, it's important that we're on the same page with the architect. Things like building size and occupancy type can be pretty, I'll say tricky depending upon our building and how it's being occupied. A small boarding house is a little bit different than a duplex apartment building, which is different than a single-family home, which is different than a home that's being used for nursing care with just a few occupants. 

This is also a great time if the architect is looking for it to provide a little bit of and education for the owner on what the differences are between these different sprinkler system approaches. And, you know, what they're more interested in is what will it mean for our building? Does NFPA 13R not require an attic sprinkler system, whereas an NFPA 13 system would? 

If that’s the case, does the owner understand that a fire could spread in parts of the attic and result in a major loss with the building? Does the architect understand that if we don't have a sprinkler system in the attic, that their draft topping requirements may become more intense? 

Those are higher level education points that we as a consultant, if we understand the differences in the systems really well, that we can help educate them and help the building owner make the best decision for them. 

To help with this topic, we at MeyerFire built an NFPA 13, 13R and 13D summary of differences in a cheat sheet. We love cheat sheets. It's helpful here for architects to see at a quick glance what the differences are between the standards. And again, help the building owner make a decision on how they want to approach their building. 

Again, the building code only requires a certain level of protection. This is the code minimum. The code minimum is not necessarily what the building owner always wants. 

If an NFPA 13 system is not required and an NFPA 13D or 13R is allowed by code, then we would want to take our code path and the information we gathered, get that in front of the architect so that the project team can decide how to best approach the project overall. 

These decisions on whether to use 13R or 13D or 13, they're not made in isolation. We shouldn't live in our silo just with blinders on and not pay attention to the other disciplines that are going on around us. We really need a collaborative approach. That's what a good project team does. And that's the value that we provide as a consultant is working together collaboratively. The building owner should understand the difference between each of these approaches and that they do offer different levels of fire safety for the building. 

So how do we approach the discussion of NFPA 13 vs. 13R vs. 13D with the architect? 

Well, for me, I would first ask if any code allowances were used that would require an NFPA 13 system. If we get a yes answer there, then we're done. If not, we then develop a quick code path that shows what standard is required by code. We bundle that information with the differences between 13, 13R and 13D and get that in front of the architect so that the building owner can make an informed decision on how they wanna approach the project. 

I'm Joe Meyer, this is MeyerFire University.