Fire Sprinklers

[sia101]

I worked for fire sprinkler contractor with 15 years of experience in the industry for a 30,000 sq.ft. retail store remodeling project where Tenant Owner is adding small units in the existing open building structure.
Sprinkler system has been surveyed before plan preparation and plans were approved from the AHJ for a Tenant Improvement Project.
The scope of design was adding and adjusting a few fire sprinkler head to provide proper sprinkler coverage around new full height partition walls.
After a few weeks the sprinkler contractor was issued field correction from AHJ that sprinkler system should isolate itself for individual units, meaning sprinkler system need redesign. The sprinkler contractor wanted to keep as much overhead piping materials as possible. At the same time he wanted to keep up with his sprinkler work at field. Redesign and engineering was soon completed with new branchlines, although I was able salvage most of existing main lines on plan. Second time plan was submitted and permit was issued from the AHJ.
After a few weeks, contractor was issued further field correction from AHJ that sprinkler plans should show all sprinkler heads below ceiling. Soon after I had learned the reflected ceiling plans were prepared by the project architect. The set of building plans that I had originally received from the sprinkler contractor missed out ceiling plans. Third time plans were revised and permit was issued This time with pendant sprinkler head shown to the original sprinkler plans. By this time around, project came under so much delays and a new building contractor took over the project. The sprinkler contractor that I have been working for has collected no funds at all for his guys work before the original building contractor retreated from the project. He is in a position that he can’t do anything about the previous building contractor he’s been sending his bills to, nor he can do anything about the building owner and new contractor.

As a Professional Engineer, I am very regretful that I worked for the sprinkler contractor. I wonder if I could have done anything about in collecting my bills if I had any knowledge that the project would com to this? Maybe I should have been more aggressive for the sprinkler contractor before building contractor retreat from the project?

 

[Maury]

Have you and the sprinkler contractor contacted an attorney to see if you have any lien rights against the property?

It's also possible that rrecord drawings will be required, which might give you the leverage to get paid.

 

[RDK]

Is there a labour and material payment bond in place that you can claim against?

Were the delays in the design/installation/approval of the sprinkler system partially responsible for the change in general contractor? If so do you have any exposure to being liable for the delay in the design and hence in the project overall?

If you have some liability exposure you may want to simply forget about it before you open that can of worms.

Note I said exposure not actual liability. That is, is there a potential that you may be sued or counter sued for the delay? Not necessarily sued successfully but simply being taken to court may cost you more than you may potentially collect.

If you have any liability exposure you may want to contact a lawyer to protect yourself from being sued for the delay.

Sometimes it’s better to simply kiss the fee good by then to fight it and spend more than the fees for what will amount to a coin toss to collect the fees.

Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[Ashereng]

Can the sprinkler contractor file a lien?