Fire Protection Plans Design and Approval

There has been much change in the sprinkler laws affecting design authority and plan approval process. This section is designed to assist in the process by clarifying positions and approval procedures for plan design and approval for health care facilities which DHEC licenses. There are no new codes in this section. Some of the material has been printed here by permission but originated from other sources.

Where sprinkler protection is provided one complete set of sprinkler shop drawings shall be submitted to one of the below listed review authorities for review and approval:

  1. Local authority having jurisdiction provided they have a qualified reviewer who can demonstrate experience in Fire Protection Engineering, that does the review.
  2. South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Fire and Life Safety. (State Fire Marshal's Office)
  3. Registered Engineer who is licensed in South Carolina and can demonstrate experience in Fire Protection Engineering.
  4. The engineering/review department of the facility owner's insurance underwriter, provided they can demonstrate experience in Fire Protection Engineering.

It is required that the approval be given in letter form and that the letter state that the plans are approved.

The next few pages contain the following information: For further information contact the source of the material listed below:

  1. A list of engineers that have taken the nationally recognized exam to qualify them as Fire
  2. Protection Engineers. South Carolina does not list Registered Engineers by expertise; but the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors did furnish this list of Registered Engineers they know of who have taken the national exam known as Principles and Practices of Engineering in the discipline of Fire Protection Engineering (NCEES Book II).
  3. A copy of the Fire Sprinkler Specification Sheet furnished by the State Fire Marshal's office. This sheet is required by state law to be filled out for every sprinkler system designed. Plan Review of sprinkler shop drawings cannot progress until this sheet is filled out. If plans for a health care facility is to be sprinklered, the Fire Sprinkler Specification Sheet must be a part of the final design drawings of the building before we can approve them. Questions on this form can be directed to the Office of Fire and Life Safety-LLR (Telephone No. 803/896-9800). There is a copy of the Sprinkler Specification Sheet in this book and on the web.
  4. A copy of some articles that appeared in the April 1995 issue of The South Carolina Examiner, a publication of the South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The article is an excellent narrative on "Design and Preparation of Fire Protection Sprinkler Plans."