AHJ Interpretation - FP Quals.pdf

USACE BALTIMORE DISTRICT

FIRE PROTECTION CENTER OF EXPERTISE

MEMO FOR: CENAB-EN and CENAB-CO

THRU: CENAB-EN FP-RCX

RE:

DATE:

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) Interpretation: Professional Roles, Responsibilities, and Qualifications for Fire Protection Engineering Designers (AE and In-House), Contractors, QC Representatives, and QA Representatives for Projects Executed by CENAB

2/11/2025

1. BACKGROUND: There are conflicting and confusing guidelines in UFC and UFGS governing roles, responsibilities, and qualifications of personnel involved in the design, construction, and oversight of fire protection and life safety (FP/LS) systems on DoD Projects. Army-specific guidance in both UFCs and UFGSs compounds this problem. The primary point of confusion concerns the term Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE), which appears throughout UFC 3-600-01 as well as many Division 21 and 28 UFGS specifications sections. The many responsibilities assigned to the QFPE extend from planning through the design phase to construction, and these could not be executed by one person or office for both practical and ethical reasons. CENAB FP-RCX has discussed these various issues with USACE-HQ and CENAB-CO-QM and intends to submit Criteria Change Requests (CCRs) in hopes of resolving the issues. Currently we have 77 individual CCRs drafted that span across 8 UFGS sections and 1 UFC; though it is likely that this list will grow before we submit. In our preliminary discussions with CENAB-HQ they were receptive to the intent behind our CCRs, but they made no promises as to the likelihood of their approval and adoption given the diverse opinions in the tri-service committee. CENAB-HQ advised us to, in the meantime, establish a process that works well for our District and to document it with AHJ Approval. This memo documents the process agreed to by CENAB-EN FP-RCX and the CENAB-CO-QM Fire Protection Engineer; and approved by the CENAB AHJ (i.e. the Chief of EN Division, Baltimore District, USACE).

2. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: CENAB will avoid use of the term Qualified Fire Protection Engineer (QFPE) in contract documents; instead, CENAB will define individual roles and responsibilities for project personnel related to FP/LS systems according to Table 1 (for Design-Bid-Build Projects) and Table 2 (for Design-Build Projects).

Consult with the CENAB Fire Protection RCX for guidance on projects using acquisition strategies other than the above.

3. QUALIFICATIONS: CENAB establishes minimum qualifications for FP/LS personnel in Table 3.

4. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS: All AE Scope of Services, Request for Proposals, Performance Work Statements, and Contract Documents should be edited according to the guidelines in this memorandum. Contact Mitch Burns at mitchell.j.burns@usace.army.mil with any questions related to these requirements.

Respectfully, MARY P. FOUTZ, P.E.

Authority Having Jurisdiction Chief, Engineering Division Baltimore District, USACE mailto:mitchell.j.burns@usace.army.mil

TABLE 1: ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FIRE PROTECTION PERSONNEL (DESIGN-BID-BUILD)

ROLE ABBR. RESPONSIBILITIES

PLANNING PHASE DESIGN PHASE CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Fire Protection Designer of Record (A-E or In- House Staff)

FPDOR Involvement Optional but Strongly Recommended for the following FP/LS Planning Activities:

• Determine water supply available

• Estimate Fire Flow (site hydrants)

• Estimate demand for FP systems

• Assist w/ Fire Access layout

• Confirm building height, size, # of stories, and siting/separation

• Ensure planning/programming includes costs for FP/LS systems, fire pump(s), water storage, etc.

FP/LS Design Activities:

• Building Code Analysis & Plans

• Life Safety Code Analysis & Plans

• Design of FP/LS Systems (fire alarm, mass notification, fire suppression, first responder radio repeater system, etc.)

• Water Supply Analysis

• Multi-discipline coordination of all building features/elements related to FP/LS (compartmentation, exits, site features including fire access and building separation, etc.)

• Review/Approval of all submittals on FP/LS Systems marked SD-02, 03, 05, 06, and 07

• Responding to all RFIs related to FP/LS Systems

• Witnessing final acceptance testing of all FP/LS Systems

Fire Protection Quality Control Specialist (Prime Contractor)

FPQC N/A N/A • Affix Review Stamp to all submittals on FP/LS Systems marked SD-02, 03, 05, and 06 prior to submission to Government. A Review Stamp certifies that the submittal meets all contractual requirements and is not a PE stamp or seal.

• Preparation of all submittals containing certificates, QC documentation, and any other FP/LS submittal marked

SD-07

• Review and provide feedback on any RFI related to FP/LS prior to routing to the FPDOR/Government

• Assist in development of QC Plan for all FP/LS Systems

• Participate in 3-Phase Inspection of FP/LS Systems

• Construction surveillance of FP/LS Systems including periodic inspections, pre-final inspections, witnessing and documentation of all pre-final functional and final acceptance testing

• Documentation of activities in daily QC reports

FP/LS System Designer (Subcontractor)

N/A N/A N/A • Preparation of all submittals marked SD-02, 03, and 05 for the relevant specification section for submittal to the FPDOR/Government. Affix professional engineer stamp or NICET stamp (see Table 3) to submittal.

• Supervision of Installer(s)

• Conduct pre-final testing and final acceptance testing.

TABLE 2: ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FIRE PROTECTION PERSONNEL (DESIGN-BUILD)

ROLE ABBR. RESPONSIBILITIES

PLANNING PHASE PREPARATION OF RFP DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION PHASE

RFP Preparer (A-E or In-House Staff)

N/A Involvement Optional but Strongly Recommended for the following FP/LS Planning Activities:

• Determine water supply available

• Estimate Fire Flow (site hydrants)

• Estimate demand for FP systems

• Assist w/ Fire Access layout

• Confirm building height, size, # of stories, and siting/separation

• Ensure planning/programming includes costs for FP/LS systems, fire pump(s), water storage, etc.

Development of the RFP

• Development of the RFP including all sections related to FP/LS 35% Concept Design (for D-B Projects requiring this deliverable)

• All tasks listed under ‘FP/LS Design Activities’ developed to the Concept Design level

Design Phase:

• Compliance Reviews of all design deliverables

• Responding to RFIs related to the FP/LS Systems from the

FPDOR

Fire Protection Designer of Record (A-E hired by Prime Contractor)

FPDOR N/A N/A FP/LS Design Activities:

• Building Code Analysis & Plans

• Life Safety Code Analysis & Plans

• Design of FP/LS Systems (fire alarm, mass notification, fire suppression, first responder radio repeater system, etc.)

• Water Supply Analysis

• Multi-discipline coordination of all building features/elements related to FP/LS (compartmentation, exits, site features including fire access and building separation, etc.)

Construction Phase:

• Review/Approval of all submittals on FP/LS Systems marked SD-02, 03, 05, 06, and 07

• Responding to all RFIs related to FP/LS Systems

• Witnessing final acceptance testing of all FP/LS Systems

Fire Protection Quality Control Specialist (Prime Contractor)

FPQC N/A N/A • See Table 1

FP/LS System Designer (Subcontractor)

N/A N/A N/A • See Table 1

TABLE 3: MINIMUM PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR FIRE PROTECTION PERSONNEL

ROLE ABBR. QUALIFICATIONS

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RFP Preparer (In-House Staff)

N/A Subject to approval by the DFPE (CENAB FP RCX)

RFP Preparer (A-E)

N/A Registered Professional Engineer who has passed the fire protection engineering examination administered by NCEES

5 years

Fire Protection Designer of Record (A-E hired by Prime Contractor)

FPDOR Registered Professional Engineer who has passed the fire protection engineering examination administered by NCEES

5 years

Fire Protection Quality Control Specialist (Prime Contractor)

FPQC Registered Professional Engineer who has passed the fire protection engineering examination administered by NCEES

5 years

FP/LS System Designer (Fire Sprinkler Subcontractor)

N/A Certification in Water-Based Systems Layout - NICET III* 2 years*

FP/LS System Designer (Fire Alarm Subcontractor)

N/A Certification in Fire Alarm Systems - NICET III* 2 years*

FP/LS System Designer (Subcontractor for Special Hazards System, e.g. Clean Agent, Inert Gas, AFFF, HEF, etc.)

N/A Certification in Special Hazards Systems - NICET III* 2 years*

* Unless otherwise instructed by the DFPE (CENAB FP RCX), who reserves the right to increase the minimum qualifications level to NICET IV or FPE based on the size or complexity of the system