Are you looking for an exciting career in the fire protection field? Have you ever thought about becoming a fire sprinkler designer? The fire protection industry has grown considerably over the years, and with that growth comes a strong demand for talent. Contractors and suppliers are searching for professionals to fill a variety of roles, from estimators to sales professionals, designers, and everything in between. With such a high demand, there has been no better time to get into this field.

Hidden in plain sight: you’ve been in several buildings with fire sprinklers. Learn how you can make a career out of designing these systems!

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) is a premier resource for the fire protection industry. Whether you’re a professional looking to break into the industry or an employer looking to train your team, the NFSA has you covered.

One pathway to a career in fire protection is NFSA’s layout technician training for fire sprinkler designers. Read on to learn more about this field and how the NFSA can help you advance your career as a fire sprinkler designer!

What Does a Fire Sprinkler Designer Do?

A fire sprinkler designer, also known as a layout technician, is one of the several career paths in the industry. Fire sprinkler designers play a critical role that has a far-reaching effect in a fire protection project. Layout technicians employ the use of drafting software to design fire protection systems before they are installed. Governing bodies review and approve these plans, which are then used on the construction site to build the system.

While hand-drawn design plans are a thing of the past, layout technicians still value creativity and critical thinking when it comes to solving complex problems. Working with other industries like HVAC and plumbing while also ensuring that a fire sprinkler system is designed to its respective National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard is all in a day’s work for a designer.

Connecting the Dots: is Designing Homes or High-Rises Your Path?

From homes to high-rises, fire sprinkler designers do it all!

A layout technician must design for every room and space where the building codes call for fire sprinklers, making sure that sprinklers are strategically placed so they can offer the best level of protection for that building and its occupants. Projects can range from massive warehouses to complex buildings that require a lot of creative thinking to protect.

While a qualified fire sprinkler designer can design a fire protection system for any application, the contractors they work for typically bid similar projects. This means that a designer can focus more on designing what interests them, whether its massive industrial projects or elegant custom-built homes.

Layout Technicians: A Career Ripe for Freelancers and Remote Workers

With demand for layout technicians higher than it has ever been, there is no better time to break into this rewarding field. Layout technicians can choose to work for a contractor or even open their own business and design for several contractors. Freelancing is becoming increasingly common as demand for quality designers continues to grow.

NFSA’s Layout Technician Pathway is Ideal for Those Looking to Become Fire Sprinkler Designers or Employers Looking to Develop Their Team!

For over a century, the National Fire Sprinkler Association has remained committed to advancing the fire sprinkler concept. One way this takes shape is through professional development. The NFSA now offers an entire Layout Technician Pathway designed to give you everything you need to know to start your career in the exciting and growing fire protection industry.

The Layout Technician Pathway is a series of online and in-person classes designed to teach students everything they need to know in order to pass their NICET Level I and NICET Level II. Students will learn everything from the different types of systems, their applications, and the standards that govern their design.

The Layout Technician Pathway instructors will familiarize students with the terminology, software, and processes used in designing a fire protection system. Instructors will also acquaint students with NFPA standards relevant to the industry, including NFPA 13, NFPA 20, and NFPA 14—to name just a few.

Students will also apply their knowledge and gain hands-on experience by doing a mock design of a fire protection system. NFSA members receive a substantial discount on this and all our training opportunities.

For more information on the National Fire Sprinkler Association’s Layout Technician Pathway, visit here. To learn more about the National Fire Sprinkler Association’s online training opportunities, visit our Learning and Development site. The NFSA also has several in-person learning and networking events that you can access by visiting our event calendar.