New construction and retrofit fire sprinkler systems installed by licensed, NFPA 13-certified technicians. Schedule-driven. First-pass inspection record. 35+ years across the Southeast.
Call Now — (931) 360-5262KJ Fire Protection has been installing NFPA 13 fire sprinkler systems for over 35 years across Middle Tennessee and the Southeast. From ground-up commercial construction to occupied building retrofits, our installation crews bring technical depth and schedule reliability that general contractors depend on to keep projects moving.
We don't just put pipe in the ceiling — we manage the complete installation scope: design coordination, AHJ submittal management, phased rough-in aligned with your construction schedule, acceptance testing, and documentation turnover. Fire protection stays off your RFI list when you work with KJ.
NFPA 13 provides two primary methods for determining sprinkler system design: the density/area method and the room design method. Selecting the right method for each space affects both cost and code compliance.
The most widely used design approach. The designer selects a design density (gpm/sq ft) appropriate to the occupancy hazard classification and a design area (sq ft) over which that density must be delivered. Hydraulic calculations verify that the water supply can meet the demand. Design parameters range from 0.10 gpm/sq ft over 1,500 sq ft for Light Hazard occupancies to 0.30–0.60 gpm/sq ft over 2,500 sq ft for Extra Hazard.
Used in spaces where the room geometry contains the fire — typically smaller compartmented rooms. The design area is the room itself (or adjacent communicating rooms), and all sprinklers within the design area are calculated simultaneously. This method is commonly applied in healthcare, hotel, and office occupancies with individual room layouts.
NFPA 13 permits both Schedule 10 (thin-wall) and Schedule 40 (standard) steel pipe for fire sprinkler systems, subject to specific restrictions. Selecting the appropriate pipe schedule affects material cost, installation speed, and long-term corrosion risk.
NFPA 13 Section 9 establishes comprehensive hanger requirements for fire sprinkler piping. Proper hanger installation is one of the most closely reviewed elements at AHJ rough-in inspection — and one of the most common sources of inspection failures for less experienced contractors.
NFPA 13 Chapter 8 establishes obstruction rules that govern sprinkler placement relative to beams, columns, light fixtures, HVAC diffusers, and other ceiling obstructions. Violating these rules at rough-in creates costly field corrections — and, more importantly, can compromise fire suppression effectiveness.
Before a system is placed in service and before AHJ final inspection, NFPA 13 Section 22 requires a formal acceptance test. The test sequence includes:
AHJ inspections for fire sprinkler installations typically occur in two phases: rough-in inspection (before ceiling close-in) and final inspection (after system completion and acceptance test). In some jurisdictions, an underground inspection is also required before the lead-in connection is buried.
KJ Fire Protection prepares thoroughly for every inspection. Our foremen know what each AHJ looks for — hanger spacing, head placement, pipe labeling, valve accessibility, Inspector's Test Connection accessibility, and documentation completeness. We have a strong first-pass record across jurisdictions throughout the Southeast, and that track record protects your project schedule.
Retrofit installations in occupied facilities require a disciplined approach to impairment management, trade coordination, and phasing. KJ Fire Protection has extensive experience planning and executing retrofit work in hospitals, hotels, occupied office buildings, and multi-family properties — facilities where disruption must be minimized and impairments must be managed per NFPA 25 Chapter 15.
For occupied retrofits, we develop a detailed phasing plan with the GC, prepare written impairment notices per NFPA 25, arrange fire watch coverage during impairments, and restore systems to service at the end of each work shift where required by building operations.
We use both, determined by the project-specific design requirements. Schedule 10 is commonly used for wet pipe system branch lines where permitted — it's lighter, faster to install, and less expensive. Schedule 40 is used where required by NFPA 13, including dry pipe and pre-action systems where corrosion resistance is critical. We specify and install per the approved design documents and NFPA 13 requirements — never cutting corners on pipe specification.
This is exactly why hydraulic calcs must happen early in design. If the available water supply falls short of the system's hydraulic demand, the design team has several options: upsize supply piping, reduce the design area (if code permits), increase the water storage tank capacity, or add a fire pump. A fire pump adds significant cost and complexity — it must be designed per NFPA 20, has its own equipment room requirements, and requires separate permitting. Discovering this need late in the project is expensive. We flag supply inadequacy at the earliest opportunity.
Head selection is governed by the approved design documents and must use only UL-listed heads for the specific application. Key selection parameters include: K-factor (flow coefficient, which affects coverage area and hydraulic demand), response type (standard response vs. quick response — QR is required in Light Hazard occupancies per NFPA 13 Section 8.3), temperature rating (must be appropriate to the maximum anticipated ceiling temperature), and orientation (upright, pendant, sidewall, concealed). In healthcare and upscale hospitality where aesthetics matter, concealed heads require a cover plate trim that must be specified and ordered in advance — late changes to head specifications are a common source of delay.
NFPA 13 Section 22.1.1 requires a Contractor's Material and Test Certificate to be prepared and submitted to the property owner and AHJ upon completion. The certificate documents that the installation has been made in accordance with NFPA 13 and that all required acceptance tests have been performed and passed. It's a legal document — the AHJ will require it as part of final inspection, and it's part of the O&M package turned over to the building owner.
On projects with BIM coordination requirements, we participate in the MEP coordination process using our shop drawings and model files. We identify and resolve sprinkler conflicts with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems in the model before field installation begins. Proactive BIM coordination is far less expensive than field conflicts — cutting and re-routing installed pipe is one of the most avoidable costs in fire protection work.
We provide complete as-built drawings (marked up from the approved construction documents), the Contractor's Material and Test Certificate, UL listing information for all installed equipment, manufacturer O&M manuals for all trim and alarm components, and any special inspection documentation required by the project specifications. Complete and accurate turnover documentation is a professional obligation — and it protects the building owner during future ITM service and any insurance-related inspections.
Yes. Healthcare is one of our most experience-intensive project types. Occupied healthcare installations require detailed Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM) plans, compliance with NFPA 101 for impairment management, coordination with the facility's Safety Officer, and often after-hours work windows. We have the experience and process discipline to execute in these environments without creating compliance risk for the facility.
Yes. KJ Fire Protection self-performs fire sprinkler installation with our own licensed crews. We don't broker work to unlicensed subs. This matters for quality control, schedule accountability, and license compliance — you always know who's doing the work and it's always our licensed personnel.
Key technical references for contractors and project teams on fire sprinkler installation:
The complete installation standard — design methods, pipe specifications, hanger requirements, obstruction rules, special occupancies, and acceptance testing. All KJ Fire Protection installations are performed to NFPA 13 requirements.
When water supply is inadequate and a fire pump is required, NFPA 20 governs pump selection, installation, and acceptance testing. Understanding fire pump requirements is essential for any project team evaluating supply adequacy early in design.
IBC Chapter 9 establishes fire protection system requirements by occupancy and building type. IBC Section 903 governs sprinkler system requirements; Section 905 covers standpipes; Section 907 governs fire alarm systems. Essential reference for project architects and GCs establishing fire protection scope.
Tennessee law requires fire sprinkler contractors to hold a current State Fire Marshal license. This page includes license verification, application requirements, and continuing education information.
OSHA's requirements for automatic sprinkler systems in general industry. Covers design, installation, maintenance, and testing requirements applicable to commercial and industrial workplaces.
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