r/firePE

I'm a licensed Fire Protection Engineer with about 10 years of experience in consulting. While I've enjoyed the technical side of the work, I'm starting to feel burned out by the nature of consulting.

I'm looking for a more structured, predictable role with a better work-life balance while still using my engineering background.

For anyone who has made the move out of consulting, I'd love to hear:

• What type of role did you move into?
• Are you happier with the change?
• Did you take a pay cut?
• What skills transferred well?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's made a similar transition. Thanks.

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Hi there. I own and operate a Fire Systems company in Colorado. We are fully insured and licensed by the state.

We need a NICET 3/4 or PE as an RME for Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Regional Building Department to get their suppression contractor license. We would compensate you and ensure that all insurance and other applicable licenses are fully maintained.

Already passed the General Plan Prep exam, have the Hydraulics & Water Supply Planning exam coming up. I’d like to take a course just to brush up on calculations and was looking for info from anyone who has taken the NTC or Firetech training.

What are your thoughts if you have or have you used an alternative source that you found beneficial in passing the test?

The NTC is $195 and the Firetech is $369, not trying to be cheap but more $$$ doesn’t always mean better. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

hey everyone, as a junior fire protection designer, i'm always on the lookout for tools or resources that can simplify our work and help with fire code compliance. whether it's software for designing systems, apps for quick code lookups, or even templates for submittals, id love to hear what tools you find indispensable. what has made your life easier in this field any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Do any of you carry personal liability insurance, whether you work for yourself, a consultant, or a contractor? I will have my FPE license very soon, and am wondering if I should get my own insurance, above and beyond the company's insurance? (contractor). How would you recommend going about getting a good provider?

https://preview.redd.it/m8b24xt1i59h1.png?width=861&format=png&auto=webp&s=18aa839ec858700afd164c6ca6f1c558e5d6830e

I am an estimator who's just starting and I currently encounter a project that requries a seismic seperation assembly. I just want to ask on how such material is quoted? Are there suppliers who quote this as a whole? or is it okay to quote them seperately?

Thank you for those who can answer <3

Trying to comprehend this code that's under "Hose Stream Allowance," and comparing it to a circumstance.
It reads:

"19.1.6.1 Systems with Multiple Hazard Classifications.
For systems with multiple hazard classifications, the hose stream allowance and water supply duration shall be in accordance with one of the following:

(1) The water supply requirements for the highest hazard classification within the system shall be used.

(2) The water supply requirements for each individual hazard classification shall be used in the calculations for the design area for that hazard.

* (3) for systems with multiple hazard classifications where the higher classification only lies within single rooms less than or equal to 400 ft2 in Area with no such room as adjacent, the water supply requirements for the principal occupancy shall be used for the remainder of the system."

Let's say I am calculating my design area as light hazard.
4 rooms in that area are Ordinary hazard, yet the remainder/majority of the design area is light hazard. The heads in the OH rooms are set to the right spacing and calculated for 0.15 density. OH rooms are surrounded with full height walls to deck, and do not follow criteria for #3 in the above code because 2 of them are adjacent. (Light hazard areas have drop ceilings, separated from everything else) I also do not want to go with #1 as I do not want to calculate the entire design area with OH density, (again, only the heads in OH rooms are set at that density).

I'm understanding that I will go with #2 in the above code.
Should this light hazard calculated design area have a 250 gpm hose stream allowance, or simply show as 100 gpm?

If my example made no sense, please ask specific questions for context!

- 5pm-
arrived home, noticed strong burning plastic smell in the hallways in our apartment floor. No alarms going off, no visible smoke.

-7pm-
Came back from dinner, smell in hall had intensified significantly. Made me cough and my lungs hurt a bit. Still no alarms. Smelled a bit metallic almost? Eyes a bit irritated. Still fine inside apartment doors

- reported to building manager

- Manager says:
“because no fire alarm went off and no switch was tripped he deemed it a non threat.”
No one was sent out to physically assess, no one was called to have a look- he said he’d come by tomorrow.

Is the lack of alarms being triggered enough to conclude there is no risk or active threat?

When I was on call at large scale resorts, I was always trained to assess hazard and ensure safety of guests before deeming it a non-issue or an escalating hazard.

It concerns me a bit that he did nothing - but maybe there is more to it and the lack of alarms is really concrete?

My mind just wonders what would occur in this scenario if alarms in a residents apartment were tampered with and there was an active fire.

It kinda seemed to me like this guy couldn’t be fucked to come out, but then again I have not burned yet so maybe I’m wrong.

Hi all, I designing an attic dry system for an existing building that we believe was built in the 70s. The existing system was not installed when it was originally built but needs replaced because the sch.7 lightwall pipe was threaded and installed through and it leaks like crazy. To install the new system we are having to create new penetrations through the firewalls and my question are the firewalls necessary anymore? From my experience they were needed to omit a sprinkler system and not required when one was installed. We don’t plan on removing them, we are only trying to keep the owner and us from having to reseal and fix any holes that we may put in them.