Florida Administrative Code › 61 - DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION › 61G15 - Board of Professional Engineers › Chapter 61G15-32 - RESPONSIBILITY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS CONCERNING THE DESIGN OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS › Section 61G15-32.004 - Design of Water Based Fire Protection Systems

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Water Based Fire Protection Systems
				include automatic sprinkler systems of wet, dry, fine water spray (mist),
				manual, and deluge valve controlled types, pumping systems, standpipes, fire
				water mains and dedicated fire protection water sources. Items to be considered
				in the design or analysis of water based fire protection systems are, as
				applicable to the particular project: water supply system, occupancy and
				classification, control, installation requirements, interoperability and
				performance requirements.
(2) The
				design specifications shall be based on the Florida Building Code, the Florida
				Fire Prevention Code, or as required by the local authority having
				jurisdiction. The Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code
				are incorporated by reference in Rule
				61G15-18.011, F.A.C.
(3) For Engineering Documents pertaining to
				Fire Protection Systems exempted by the threshold requirements for mandatory
				use of professional engineering services, the Engineer of Record shall
				determine the level of detail shown on plans for a Fire Protection system. All
				such plans shall include a disclaimer stating the Fire Protection system is
				exempt from professional engineering services and shall provide a clear
				understanding of the minimum system requirements expected to be installed by
				the contractor and permitted by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). In the
				event the Engineer of Record provides more information and direction than is
				minimally required, he or she shall be held responsible for the technical
				accuracy of the work in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and sound
				engineering principles.
(4) To
				ensure minimum design quality in Fire Protection System Engineering Documents,
				said documents shall include as a minimum the following information when
				applicable:
(a) The Point of Service for the
				fire protection water supply as defined by Section
				633.102(24),
				F.S.
(b) Applicable NFPA standard
				to be applied, or in the case where no such standard exists, the engineering
				study, judgments, and/or performance based analysis and conclusions.
(c) Classification of hazard occupancy for
				each room or area.
(d) Design
				approach, which includes system type, densities, device temperature rating, and
				spacing for each separate hazard occupancy.
(e) Characteristics of water supply to be
				used, such as main size and location, whether it is dead-end or circulating;
				and if dead-end, the distance to the nearest circulating main, as well as its
				minimum duration and reliability for the most hydraulically demanding design
				area.
(f) When private or public
				water supplies are used, the flow test data, including date and time of test,
				who conducted test or supplied information, test elevation, static gauge
				pressure at no flow, flow rate with residual gauge pressure, hydrant butt
				coefficient, and location of test in relation to the hydraulic point of
				service.
(g) Valving and alarm
				requirements to minimize potential for impairments and unrecognized flow of
				water.
(h) Microbial Induced
				Corrosion (MIC). The Engineer of Record shall make reasonable efforts to
				identify water supplies that could lead to Microbial Induced Corrosion (MIC).
				Such efforts may consist of discussions with the local water purveyor and/or
				fire official, familiarity with conditions in the local area, or laboratory
				testing of water supplies. When conditions are found that may result in MIC
				contamination of the fire protection piping, the engineer shall design
				corrective measures.
(i) Backflow
				prevention and metering specifications and details to meet local water purveyor
				requirements including maximum allowable pressure drop.
(j) Quality and performance specifications of
				all yard and interior fire protection components.
(k) For high hazard occupancy
				classifications, storage occupancies, and factory occupancies, as defined in
				Sections 307, 311, and 306, respectively, of the Florida Building Code,
				Building, and high-rise buildings, as defined in section 202 of the Florida
				Building Code, Building, a determination of whether a fire pump is required and
				if so, the specific volumetric flow and pressure rating of the pump. The
				Florida Building Code is incorporated by reference in subsection
				61G15-18.011(6),
				F.A.C.
(l) A verification of
				whether a firewater storage tank is required on site and if so, a determination
				of the size and capacity required.
(m) Owner's Certificate. In storage
				occupancies, the Owner's Information Certificate is required from the property
				owner as it clearly defines the storage configuration of the space for the
				current and future use of the property, as required by the codes and standards
				set forth in subsection
				61G15-32.002(7),
				F.A.C.