Fire Alarm..Angry building Engineer

[Lady Engineer]

I am doing a job where we are installing (2) 5 hp pumps, base board heat, and heat tracing in a Mechanical Room. Well, it appears that since we are installing equipment, that I am touching that room. The long and short of it is, the builing engineer storms out of the mechancial room when I tell them he has no FA devices. I tell him he'll need a smoke detector and he should install a strobe or speaker strobe, please tell me where your DGP is located. Well, this is a high rise building, and you know how NY DOB can be. They take FA very serious. He ran out like a kid who's lollipop was stolen.

He refuses to file the drawings, for the new FA devices. Shall I just let it ride, I'm not signing and sealing any drawings, nor are electrical drawings filed in NY. I told the owner, and his idea was, just let it ride.

What do you all think?

 

[ron]

Since you are not touching the lighting or general receptacles, I would leave the fire alarm alone.
How big is the room, is a SD needed? I think it needs to be >75 sq ft or something like that.

 

[Lady Engineer]

It's at least 200 sq. ft., and not we are not touch the lighting or receptacles. I just way let him have it, and let someone deal with it.

He was more upset I told he didn't have FA, I think.

 

[RICK NAPIER]

In NJ it would be the NJ version of the 2006 IBC 907.2.12.1

1. In each mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment or similar room which is not provided with sprinkler protection.

So the question is does the room have sprinklers?

 

[nakulak]

I guess the other (obvious) question is how far is your neck going to be out on the chopping block if something were to happen in the near future. If you think you may be held accountable for an ommission, either CYA or include the item.

 

[Lady Engineer]

In NJ it would be the NJ version of the 2006 IBC 907.2.12.1

1. In each mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment or similar room which is not provided with sprinkler protection.

So the question is does the room have sprinklers?

Well, this is a high rise, NYC building which is fully sprinkler, but needs at least a partial system. Like NJ, they are supposed to be devices in MERs. However, I might just say, hey...don't file it.

 

[gadfly56]

Well, this is a high rise, NYC building which is fully sprinkler, but needs at least a partial system. Like NJ, they are supposed to be devices in MERs. However, I might just say, hey...don't file it.

I know from experience this can be tricky. Your concern is that even though you aren't working on the fire alarm system, your awareness of the deficiency might encumber you with some responsibility in the event of a fire in the mechanical room, whether or not there was significant damage. And, as a PE (even if you aren't licensed in NY), would there be an additional "duty to act" that a lawyer might saddle you with in a civil trial?

Fundamentally, if your work doesn't involve the fire alarm system, it's not your problem. You may feel a personal desire to see the deficiency fixed and it might drive you to overstep your contractual relationship.

If we think there is a problem on a job, we'll send a letter via certified mail, return receipt requested, informing the property owner or manager of the issue. If the work falls within our scope of ability we will also provide a quote. This gives us "plausible deniability" in the event of a mishap. Not that we won't get sued, but that we limit our liability.