Who must supervise the planning of an automatic fire protection sprinkler system?

• A. The building owner
• B. The appropriately licensed RME
• C. The local fire chief
• D. An unlicensed designer

Answer: (B)

In Texas, the planning and design of automatic fire protection sprinkler systems must be supervised by a licensed professional engineer, specifically an appropriately licensed Registered Mechanical Engineer (RME). The RME is responsible for the engineering aspects—hydraulics calculations, pipe sizing, layout, water supply considerations, and ensuring the drawings meet NFPA standards and local codes. They seal or stamp the plans and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction during plan reviews and permitting. The other options aren’t valid because a building owner isn’t licensed to supervise design, the local fire chief enforces codes but does not design or seal plans, and an unlicensed designer cannot legally supervise such planning.