- Fire sprinkler system design in autocad skin#
- Fire sprinkler system design in autocad software#
- Fire sprinkler system design in autocad professional#
- Fire sprinkler system design in autocad free#
I'm a straight autocad guy with plenty of custom lisp customization that makes a lot of chores very simple and fast. No offense to those who use it but I'll share a little of my experience.
Fire sprinkler system design in autocad software#
Now my additional two cents on the dedicated software for fire sprinklers. People you knew at the companies you worked for disperse to other companies and they tell their bosses about the great designer they used to work for then you get calls from them asking for your services and work will be plentiful. On the other hand, a good rep will mean you never have to spend a cent on advertising.
The fire protection industry is a small, close knit, community and if you're known to be a screwup you'll be eating Ramen noodles for the rest of your life if you stick with this industry. You need a reputation for good work otherwise you will not make it. THEN, start taking side jobs, then consider going out on your own. But most of all be the best that you can be and earn a reputation for quality work. Since you're new to this I would say stick to working for companies, take every opportunity on the company's dime to educate yourself, train yourself, be surrounded by people who are more knowledgeable than you, ask questions, be humble, make mistakes on their dime and learn from your mistakes - this is serious business and a simple design flaw can end you real quick when you go solo. It won't be ideal but you can make due.īut here's the gist of it. If you wanted to go on the ultra cheap you can get zwcad for around $700 I think - TSHC (the simply hydraulic calculator) for around $250, basic codes for a couple of hundred and get going for real cheap. Adjust your prices accordingly to make up for it. I did when I first started, then didn't during the majority of my design career, now I have it again due to my largest client requiring it.
Fire sprinkler system design in autocad professional#
Professional liability insurance: Around $3600 every year should you decide to use it. I purchase hard copies of the 13, 13R, 13D, 20 standards every three year cycle and select electronic versions of various codes. Here's what I've been using throughout my 20 years and which I still use to this day:īoth of those were one time purchase fees with no annual renewals.Ĭode books: Just under $500 every three years. Sure you can get a tailored program like hydracad or autosprink but you're talking big bucks (especially with autosprink with annual fees)and a large learning curve. I'm about 20 years into the design industry and have been running my own design firm for 11 years now.
Fire sprinkler system design in autocad free#
You can try out a free version of ZWcad - it's a lot like the older versions of autocad and might be just the thing you're looking for. RE: AutoCAD LT for fire sprinkler design DavidCR (Mechanical) 12 Feb 18 13:15īoy, there's some pretty scary posts here but I'll give you my few cents: Get out now, otherwise, learn more and teat this business with the sincerity and focus it requires. But if you think this is an income stream. We may not run into the burning building, God protect and bless those who do. This industry suffers because of you.Īpologies to those of us who get it. If you took your NICET, and stopped at III, you have no motivation or personal drive. Personal opinion, but if you have 3, 5, 7 years in, you don't know squat. But I have those connections, it took me 35 years to develop them, but I have them. If I haven't designed it, I'll get with the right people and figure it out. That is foolish, childish arrogance.ĭon't get me wrong, I am as arrogant as they come. His response, nothing is challenging because I've seen it all. I once asked a freelance designer, with 15 years experience, what his most challenging project was. I have the connections and experience to get through.
I've worked on projects everywhere, but there is always one that plexes me. I run into issues constantly that I've never seen. If you can't do a hydraulic calculation by hand, DON'T FREELANCE! If you can't do a fab list by hand, DON'T FREELANCE! If you do not understand the aspects of this industry, DON'T FREELANCE! If you can't handle complex projects, DON'T FREELANCE! This isn't here to supplement your pocket book.
You have the lives of people in your hands.If your system fails, buildings burn and people die. In addition for running my own design company for 16 years, seeing a "newbie" jump out there in the freelance market frightens me.įire protection is not a job.
Fire sprinkler system design in autocad skin#
I've been designing for 35 plus years, and when I see "I have not been doing this too long", my skin crawls. I usually don't post, but I cannot resist jumping into this.