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What does a fire sprinkler designer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read

A fire sprinkler designer is in charge of designing and developing sprinkler systems to prevent or aid fire. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, utilizing feedback from customers and other experts, producing prototypes or samples, and coordinating with engineers and technicians. Furthermore, a fire sprinkler designer may design upgrades and enhancements, create testing structures, take part in installing and repairing systems, and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure the fire sprinkler systems' quality and efficiency.

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Fire sprinkler designer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real fire sprinkler designer resumes:

  • Lead the development of BIM modeling content for the architecture team as a direct report to the executive and lead architects.
  • Design of plumbing drawings, as-built drawings, site water supplies design and testing.
  • Follow all OSHA standards and laws.
  • Submit drawings for approval to AHJ.
  • Produce MEP/FP drawings via AutoCAD and Revit.
  • install fire sprinklers in commercial, and residential structures
  • Prepare plans and submittals for review by AHJ.
  • Utilize Revit, AutoCAD, and SprinkCalc software.
  • Create wiring schematics for HVAC interlock and fan shutdown.
  • Read and interpert archeticual, structural and MEP drawings.
  • Compose OSHA and ANSI approve procedures for the certification of testing personnel.
  • Coordinate with all other trades when making installation drawings by using BIM model.
  • Coordinate with other skil professionals (electricians; mechanical and HVAC installers).
  • Re-create new (MEP) and structural drawings under existing conditions for design coordination.
  • Control various fire scenes, including directing and assigning personnel to various firefighting tasks.

Fire sprinkler designer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 27% of Fire Sprinkler Designers are proficient in Fire Protection, NFPA, and Hydraulic Calculations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observational skills, Problem-solving skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Fire Sprinkler Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Fire Protection, 27%

    Originate preliminary basic design for fire protection systems concepts and consulted with engineers for approval.

  • NFPA, 12%

    Designed automatic sprinkler systems per NFPA pamphlets, State Board of Insurance, IRI, and Factory Mutual Engineering standards.

  • Hydraulic Calculations, 7%

    Performed Hydraulic calculations and detailed working drawings according to specification and contract documents.

  • BIM, 6%

    Import models and Export all coordination models from BIM.

  • Fire Sprinkler Systems, 5%

    Designed various fire sprinkler systems for residential and commercial applications.

  • HVAC, 4%

    Use architectural and structural-based external reference drawings files as backgrounds for communication, electrical, HVAC mechanical and structural revisions.

Most fire sprinkler designers use their skills in "fire protection," "nfpa," and "hydraulic calculations" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential fire sprinkler designer responsibilities here:

Observational skills. The most essential soft skill for a fire sprinkler designer to carry out their responsibilities is observational skills. This skill is important for the role because "health and safety engineers must observe and learn how operations function so that they can identify risks to people and property." Additionally, a fire sprinkler designer resume shows how their duties depend on observational skills: "utilized observational research, play 2011-2013 patterns, and market research to inform product de- velopment that inspire creativity through play. "

Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling fire sprinkler designer duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "in designing solutions for entire organizational operations, health and safety engineers must take into account processes from more than one system at the same time." According to a fire sprinkler designer resume, here's how fire sprinkler designers can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "complete hydraulic calculations, conduct code research, and consult with the architect engineering firms and vendors to find engineering solutions. "

Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of fire sprinkler designers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday fire sprinkler designer duties, as "health and safety engineers must be able to interpret federal and state regulations and their intent so that they can propose proper designs for specific work environments." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "interpret blueprints & project drawings, autodesk autocad, revit, customer communications. "

Creativity. A big part of what fire sprinkler designers do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to fire sprinkler designer responsibilities because "health and safety engineers produce designs showing potential problems and remedies for them." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical fire sprinkler designer tasks: "finalized all 3d visualization works with creative post rending. "

See the full list of fire sprinkler designer skills

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Compare different fire sprinkler designers

Fire sprinkler designer vs. Protection engineer

Protection engineers supervise the maintenance of protection equipment of an electric power distribution system to reduce interruption to service. They coordinate the repair, tests, and installation of equipment. Protection engineers study new development to determine the suitable application to the protection system. These engineers may direct computer analysis of system operating characteristics like the voltage, system stability, and load limitations. They update and maintain documentation about the backup and recovery of various environments. Also, part of their job is to create software solutions to improve decision making and laboratory efficiency.

If we compare the average fire sprinkler designer annual salary with that of a protection engineer, we find that protection engineers typically earn a $42,246 higher salary than fire sprinkler designers make annually.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between fire sprinkler designers and protection engineer. For instance, fire sprinkler designer responsibilities require skills such as "fire protection," "nicet," "nfpa," and "hydraulic calculations." Whereas a protection engineer is skilled in "scheme," "ac," "scada," and "project management." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Protection engineers tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $109,691. In contrast, fire sprinkler designers make the biggest average salary, $84,788, in the government industry.protection engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than fire sprinkler designers. In fact, protection engineers are 24.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Fire sprinkler designer vs. Risk prevention engineer

As a senior fire protection engineer, you need to study the architecture and design of the infrastructure properly so that you can suggest various methods of protecting it from fires. You need to work on the fire prevention methods of the infrastructure so that you can save thousands of lives. You need to do extensive study on fire science and engineering in a mechanical or structural course. You need to spend a lot of time between architects and interior designers so that they can provide you with much knowledge regarding the infrastructure and construction of buildings.


Also, you need to focus on engineering design and installation. You have to be aware of the various fire prevention systems such as fire alarm or sprinkler systems and be able to install the fire alarms and suppression systems in buildings. You also need to create evacuation portals and stairwells within the company. To qualify for this position, a bachelor's in fire science and engineering is a must.

Risk prevention engineer positions earn higher pay than fire sprinkler designer roles. They earn a $44,326 higher salary than fire sprinkler designers per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Fire sprinkler designers and risk prevention engineers both require similar skills like "fire protection," "nfpa," and "fire pumps" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real fire sprinkler designer resumes. While fire sprinkler designer responsibilities can utilize skills like "nicet," "hydraulic calculations," "bim," and "fire sprinkler systems," risk prevention engineers use skills like "loss prevention," "comprehensive reports," "engineering services," and "profitable growth."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Risk prevention engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than fire sprinkler designers. In fact, they're 13.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Fire sprinkler designer vs. Senior fire protection engineer

On average, senior fire protection engineers earn higher salaries than fire sprinkler designers, with a $38,904 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on fire sprinkler designers and senior fire protection engineers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "fire protection," "nfpa," and "hydraulic calculations.rdquo;

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a fire sprinkler designer is likely to be skilled in "nicet," "bim," "fire sprinkler systems," and "hvac," while a typical senior fire protection engineer is skilled in "project management," "cad," "design development," and "fire detection."

Most senior fire protection engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to fire sprinkler designers. For example, they're 20.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Fire sprinkler designer vs. Lead fire protection engineer

Lead fire protection engineers typically earn higher pay than fire sprinkler designers. On average, lead fire protection engineers earn a $32,977 higher salary per year.While both fire sprinkler designers and lead fire protection engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like fire protection, nfpa, and hvac, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A fire sprinkler designer uses "nicet," "hydraulic calculations," "bim," and "fire sprinkler systems." Lead fire protection engineers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "fire," "emergency response," "safety analysis," and "cost-effective solutions. "The average resume of lead fire protection engineers showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to fire sprinkler designers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 10.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Types of fire sprinkler designer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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