autosprink or hydra exp. help

[dirtyolive]

i have worked for a company doing fire sprinkler inspections for 11 years i recently got my NICET level 1 for design and very close to level 2.
my co. can only offer me limited exp. plus all they do is hand drawings, i have exp. with autocad and want to go full ahead into design but need help with getting some autosprink or hydracad.
any info would help.
my ultimate goal is to design on my own in the near future.

 

[TravisMack]

What kind of help are you asking for? AutoSprink is an awesome program and allows you to be very productive. You will need the 1 week basic training class to use it effectively.

HydraCAD is as close to an industry standard drawing package as I think there is. It has a backbone of AutoCAD. It is a very good program.

I prefer AutoSprink to HydraCAD. I have been using AS for about 4-5 years and HC about 15 years.

I am a freelance designer and keep both depending on what the customer wants.

If you have specific questions, I would be happy to help.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

 

[dirtyolive]

i want to eventually do what you do.
my company cant offer me any exp. so i need to somehow get some hands on.
i work for a small co. that will never have autosprink,
i want to design and layout to be my future yet im stuck.

 

[dirtyolive]

it makes no sense for me to learn to hand draw when the future is in cad.
but how can i cant some exp. with some of those programs?
i

 

[Cidona]

It would seem to get experience with either of those products you would have to be willing to change to a company that does use these programs or convience your existing company to make the investment. Given where the economy is, you'd have to concider long and hard before uprooting from a company that you've been at for 11 years. In fact it seems that with the reduction of construction, the inspections and testing areana is a pretty good place to be.
There is a lot to be said for learning from scrath -manual drafting, some basic calculations by hand is a worthwhile exercise though you would definitly want to get some sort of hydrauilc calculation program if you are going to be doing anything of size. If nothing else learning to do things will allow you to to fully appreciate the programs when you do get to play with those. It will also allow you to have a better understanding of what the program is doing.
ACAD is a good start. Even if your company is drawing by hand it would seem they have to have ACAD on hand to be able to recieve drawings from clients. If so, try expand the company's usage of CAD. Gain layout experience with the layout process and impimenting the standards, coordination. Those skills are ones you take with you regardless of what program you are using. Without those skills no program will provide satisfactory results.

 

[TravisMack]

Exactly. I started just about 20 years ago when AutoCAD was starting to be introduced in my area. I was required to draw on the board for the first 2 years. I think that was an invaluable experience. I was also req'd to calculate jobs by hand for the first 6 months. This has allowed me an understanding of calculations and how systems are effected by changing pipe sizes more so than those I know who were not req'd to do hand calcs.

If you are really serious, then you could offer to buy the program at your own expense, and go to the training course at your own expense. This would allow you to be able to use the program at your work to gain experience.

Unfortunately, with the way things are right now, I would probably just sit tight and wait it out for a year. In that time frame, you could take an autoCAD class at the local community college or something like that to help learn AutoCAD.

Good luck and hang in there.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

 

[dirtyolive]

i agree, and i have been doing hand calcs and drawings for around 8 months. it just feels like cad or autosprink is the way to go, ive worked with autocad in the past designing greenhouses and i really enjoyed it.
i have given much thought into purchashing autosprink.
is it possibe to earn extra income?how and when?
i am not in a rush however i dont want to do something to soon or wait to long.
thank you for answering, yor advice is very helpful and needed.

 

[TravisMack]

One of the fire sprinkler design programs is the way to go. With either, you could be as much as 10-20X more productive than hand drawing / calculating.

Yes, you can earn extra income by taking jobs doing shop drawings on the side. But, it may put you in a conflict of interest position with your current employer. I would very heavily caution against it. You also need contacts in the industry to find the work.

Truthfully, I would just sit tight for the next year or two and see what happens with the construction industry in general. This is not necessarily the best time to jump out. But, if you are the eternal optimist, this could be a good time because lots of guys are getting laid off and companies still need some one to do shop drawings for them. So, there are less guys in the offices that are able to do the work.

Lastly, it sounds like you only have about 8 months of design experience. I would not even think of going out on my own with less than 10 years of experience. I believe you need 10 years to get your NICET IV. I would use that as the benchmark of experience level for going out on your own to produce shop drawings for others. Others may disagree and say you need more or less experience, but everyone has their own opinion.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

 

[dirtyolive]

thanks for the help guys.
it was very helpful.
looks like ill be asking alot of questions for a few years so hang in there.ill be back.