

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. 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. 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.
