The Design & Fabrication Process Of Electric Conduits For Fire & Life Safety Systems

Many people don't realize that it takes an entire team to transform a sheet of metal into a usable object. If you are in charge of the installation of fire and life safety systems in buildings, you know the importance of quality work when it comes to the construction of electric conduits. 

The conduits need to be fireproof in order for the entire system to work properly in the event of a fire. In this article, you will learn the responsibilities of the team members who are necessary to design and create electric conduits for fire and life safety systems. 

Metal architect

A metal architectural designer is responsible for drawing the designs of the electrical conduits. He or she needs to have measurements of the areas involved in the building where the conduits will be placed. 

Structural engineer

A structural engineer will take the designs from the metal architect and determine the various metal components and materials that will be used during the metal fabrication and construction processes. He or she is responsible for the structural integrity of the electric conduits as well as for the building itself. For example, The structural engineer determines where fireproof caulking will go around the metal conduits to restrict the movement of fire and smoke. 

Steel detailer

A steel detailer takes the designs and requirements from the architect and engineer and uses that information to develop detailed drawings that the sheet metal cutter will use. These detailed drawings are created in a computer-aided design program and printed out on blueprint paper. The detailer also shows exactly where soldering joints are required in the electrical conduits. 

Sheet metal cutter 

The cutter is the individual who is responsible for cutting the sheet metal to the exact measurements that are detailed in the blueprint. He or she uses powerful tools to cut through the appropriate types of sheet metal as required by the structural engineer for fire safety. Precise measurements of the pieces from the metal sheets are necessary for the next step in the process. 

Sheet metal fabricator

The fabricator is the person who takes the various flat pieces of metal and bends and folds them into the shape necessary for electrical conduits based on the design laid out on the blueprint. He or she solders the various pieces together to form the completed components using the appropriate soldering agent based on the fire safety requirements given by the structural engineer and detailed in the blueprint. Contact a local outlet, such as J&E Metal Fabricators, for further information.


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