SprinklerDesigner2
Mechanical
- Nov 30, 2006
- 1,251
Found in GrassRoots Volume XXIII Number 10 published by the National Fire Sprinkler Association.
In a letter last month to the Illinois Fire Marshal NICET announced a "new concern", and stated that a NICET III technician should not be allowed to prepare sprinkler system layout documents. Instead all system layout documents should be prepared under the direct supervision and control of a NICET Level IV, a professional engineer, or a regiistered architect."
The NFSA is opposed to this change as unwarranted citing many states require a NICET III or IV to be a license holder.
Personally I disagree with the NFSA on this and agree with NICET's concerns.
Thirty years ago, this is back when I started designing, NFPA #13 was a little over 100 pages long (today the handbook is well over 1,000 pages) and we had upright, pendent and sidewall heads. Pipe was sized pipe schedule with little regard for water supply available.
Today this has all changed with hundreds of different sprinkler heads to consider along with quick response sprinklers, ESFR. extended coverage and all sorts of residential sprinklers. The days of pipe schedule are long gone with everything being calculated today. I haven't counted but I would imagine we have an available selection of several hundred, maybe even 300 or more, different kinds of sprinklers with all sorts of applications.
NICET III's are required to have but 5 years experience and this simply isn't enough anymore in my view. It was fine 30 years ago but not now.
To obtain a NICET IV it takes a minimum 10 years experience and after 31 years it seems I am still learning something new everyday.
I would also like to see NICET coupled with at least a two year engineering technician degree.
Anyway, if you got that NICET III you may want to think about taking another test.
In a letter last month to the Illinois Fire Marshal NICET announced a "new concern", and stated that a NICET III technician should not be allowed to prepare sprinkler system layout documents. Instead all system layout documents should be prepared under the direct supervision and control of a NICET Level IV, a professional engineer, or a regiistered architect."
The NFSA is opposed to this change as unwarranted citing many states require a NICET III or IV to be a license holder.
Personally I disagree with the NFSA on this and agree with NICET's concerns.
Thirty years ago, this is back when I started designing, NFPA #13 was a little over 100 pages long (today the handbook is well over 1,000 pages) and we had upright, pendent and sidewall heads. Pipe was sized pipe schedule with little regard for water supply available.
Today this has all changed with hundreds of different sprinkler heads to consider along with quick response sprinklers, ESFR. extended coverage and all sorts of residential sprinklers. The days of pipe schedule are long gone with everything being calculated today. I haven't counted but I would imagine we have an available selection of several hundred, maybe even 300 or more, different kinds of sprinklers with all sorts of applications.
NICET III's are required to have but 5 years experience and this simply isn't enough anymore in my view. It was fine 30 years ago but not now.
To obtain a NICET IV it takes a minimum 10 years experience and after 31 years it seems I am still learning something new everyday.
I would also like to see NICET coupled with at least a two year engineering technician degree.
Anyway, if you got that NICET III you may want to think about taking another test.
