The State of Illinois passed into law, as part of the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, that a fire suppression technical submission is required for every building permit that requires a fire suppression system. The legislation (225 ILCS 325/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 5201) is as follows:

“A building permit for a building that requires a fire suppression system shall not be issued without the submission of a technical submission prepared and sealed by a licensed design professional. Fire protection system layout documents do not require an engineering seal if prepared by a technician who holds a valid NICET level 3 or 4 certification in fire protection technology, automatic sprinkler system layout. An authority having jurisdiction may not accept fire protection system layout documents in lieu of technical submissions. Fire protection system layout documents may be submitted as supporting documents to supplement technical submissions. However, in the event the fire protection system layout documents materially alter the technical submissions, the authority having jurisdiction shall return both the fire protection layout documents and technical submissions to the licensed design professional for review.”

Based on the legislation, and the Codes and Standards committee’s recommended criteria (attached), structures that require a fire suppression system shall submit a fire suppression technical submission as part of the building plan review. The technical submission is to address the applicable codes, pertinent requirements to the fire service, sprinkler systems, fire pumps, standpipes, small hose connections, hazard classifications and their design criteria. Fire sprinkler shop drawings produced by the contractor are not suitable to serve as the technical submission.

Please see one example form below.

Technical Submittal Example