I am just wondering if anyone a architect on TFP?
I’m not, but I have an aunt and uncle who are. Does that count? :lol:
I guess in a way I’m sort of a “sprinkler architect”.
Yes And Yes
I am planning on becoming a architect and fire alarm installer and designer
And would like to know some roles that a architect undertakes
One thing I know for sure is that they have to coordinate with several trades. With my job, I’m often calling and emailing architects on various jobs to coordinate my sprinkler work with architectural features in the building, or utilities belonging to other trades. So I imagine as an architect, you would have to know your project inside and out and you would not only be designing structures yourself, but you would be in contact with engineers, electricians, plumbers, fire suppression, etc.
You named a couple of different jobs there.
An architect, while having to take a lot of fire codes into consideration, doesn’t actually have a part in the fire alarm. The fire codes have all kinds of things in them architects have to follow, how many stairwells they need, how wide they have to be, how wide corridors have to be, how many fire exits are needed for a particular occupancy, fire walls, etc… so while there is a lot involved, none actually involves touching the fire alarm system itself.
Next comes the fire protection engineer or an electrical engineer. They take the floor plans from the architect and layout where fire alarm devices will go, largely depending on occupancy and if there is a sprinkler system or not. They put on paper where to put the fire alarm strobes, smoke detectors, etc. This step is often skipped and put onto the designer, but an EE will have to sign off on it after the designer is done.
The designer actually designs the system. Addresses everything, figures out the circuits, does the NAC calculations, places power supplies, lays out the panels and does the battery calcs. Sometimes they lay out the devices too. All of this goes back up to an EE to be signed off on, then submitted to the AHJ for approval. (I think FireFly basically does the equivalent of this for sprinkler systems).
The installer then takes what the designer has done and puts the system physically into the building. Hangs devices on the wall, runs the wire, does the terminations. A fire alarm technicians comes in after this and programs/commissions the system. Sometimes the installer and tech are the same person, depends on the outfit.
All of the above coordinate with whoever is in line before them. The EE/FPE works with the architect, the designer works with the EE/FPE, and the installers/techs work with the designers. The EE/Designer/Tech are all responsible for verifying the system is to code and to recommend or make changes as necessary to meet code.
Well,
Very admirable, but as Chris+s said, you named a lot, “I am planning on becoming a architect and fire alarm installer and designer”.
Although I would recommend the order of: Installer, Designer, Architect and truly be committed to the discipline of engineering and math for the next umpteen years as a starter.
I installed my first fire alarm in 1980 as a young tech, then figured I needed more knowledge, so finished my electronic engineering degree in 1984, became NICET certified, then fire alarm company management, then certified state fire inspector & arson investigator, which lead to starting my second degree in 2008 in fire science engineering and management, as well as university campus fire inspector for the past 15 plus years. So the process is ever evolving, that is you do not stop learning, and is a very rewarding venture, go for it.
Paul