New sprinkler systems · design · plan submittal · installation
Your address picks the plan reviewer
Orange County has no single fire department. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), a joint powers authority, covers 23 cities and all unincorporated areas, and in those places its Community Risk Reduction department reviews plans, inspects construction and enforces the fire code.
Other cities run their own departments. Anaheim, Brea, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange and Placentia are among them. Garden Grove and Santa Ana now belong to OCFA.
In Anaheim, fire construction permits and plan review go through Anaheim Fire & Rescue's Community Risk Reduction Division, and submittals are made on the city's GoPost online portal. Building on the Disneyland Resort? Its own fire department's engineers review sprinkler submittals against NFPA, FM, Disney standards and the California Fire Code.
We confirm the reviewer before drawing.
The water supply sets the pipe sizes
A sprinkler system is designed around the water that actually reaches the building. Hydraulic calculations use flow and pressure readings from a nearby hydrant, and in Orange County that flow test has to be coordinated with your local retail water purveyor.
Which one? It varies. The Municipal Water District of Orange County wholesales to about 27 retail agencies, while Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana run their own water utilities. We check on the first visit.
How an installation runs
- Site walk. We look at the building's use, ceilings, storage and existing water service.
- Flow test. Arranged with your water purveyor.
- Design. Hydraulic calculations are sized to the flow test results and to the code edition and local amendments your city has adopted for your permit date.
- Submittal. Plans go to OCFA, your city's fire department or the resort fire department.
- Installation. Hedrick Fire Protection crews install pipe, heads, risers and valves. Hedrick holds California C-16 fire protection and C-10 electrical contractor licenses and is licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based systems.
- Acceptance. The system is tested and inspected with the reviewing agency before it goes live.
Plan for service after sign-off
Acceptance starts the system's service life. NFPA 25 calls for quarterly and annual inspections, plus a 5-year internal pipe assessment and gauge replacement or testing. California's Title 19 adds a 5-year service and certification by a State Fire Marshal licensed contractor.
We handle that through fire sprinkler service in Orange County. Sites with private hydrants also need annual fire hydrant testing, and our page on fire alarm systems in Orange County covers detection and notification.
Building in a specific city?
See fire sprinkler installation in Anaheim, fire sprinkler installation in Irvine or fire sprinkler installation in Huntington Beach, or visit the Orange County fire protection hub for every service we provide here.
Sprinkler installation questions
Who reviews sprinkler plans in my city?
It depends on the city. OCFA handles its 23 member cities and the unincorporated areas, while cities with their own departments, such as Anaheim, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, review their own.
Why do you need a flow test before design?
Pipe sizes come from the water supply. The test is scheduled with your retail water agency.
Which code edition applies to my project?
Ask the fire marshal. Cities adopt the California building and fire codes with their own local amendments, so confirm the edition and amendments in force on your permit date.
Send the address, the building's use and any drawings you have. Call (949) 558-2201 or email socal@1profire.com