2026 Q1 12-Week Design Course - Jan 26-Apr 17, 2026
Type: 12-Week Design Course
Instructor: Cecil Bilbo
$8000.00
Academy Orientation: Wed, Jan 7, 2026 10am-noon PST
AutoSPRINK Meet & Greet: Fri, Jan 9, 2026 10:30-11:30am PST
10 AM - 3 PM Central Time
You can have a productive designer in 12 weeks. Graduates of the course will be able to lay out sprinklers and piping, and then calculate and stocklist an entire sprinkler system. And they will be able to do it using YOUR software.
Upon completion, your new employee will have the equivalent of one year of experience (depending on the student, maybe more).
This is an intense, accelerated course. Much like a Summer Semester in College. It will require students to use an entire 8-hour day to complete course work This will include lectures, lab time, and homework.
This program is completely ONLINE. Lectures and Lab Time are conducted LIVE for 4 to 5 hours a day, five days a week.
The live online format means:
- No travel costs
- No time away from family
- Attend classes from anywhere
- Daily interaction with the instructors
- Real training from the best teachers in the industry
Potential designers can be recruited in your area. They can then take the course in your office, or anywhere you think would be most beneficial.
We look forward to seeing you or your recruit in class!
Cost
The course is $8000.00.
Option: Pay in Installments
$3000 up front
$3000 before week 4
$2000 before week 7
Requirements
For this program, you will need to have the following:
- A computer that is preloaded with the software your company uses for design work.
- A camera and a microphone that can be used with your computer for classes.
- A copy of the NFPA 13 standard.
- A copy of the NFSA's Design Textbook, Layout, Detail and Calculation of Fire Sprinkler Systems (3rd Edition)
Registration
Syllabus
Each of the SST classes are one week of instruction and learning.
ACADEMY 12-WEEK ACCELERATED DESIGN COURSERemember this is an intense training course. Much like College Summer Classes, they are accelerated and demand entire days of training, lab and homework!
Fire Sprinkler Designer Curriculum
WEEK ONE (SST 101)
Introductions and Expectations
Our Industry
Codes and Standards
Types of Systems and Sprinklers
Materials and Components
Hazards and Use Groups
WEEK TWO (SST 102)
Plans, Blueprints, and Specs
Sprinkler Location and Position
Coverage Areas for Pendent, Upright and Sidewall
Spacing Pendent and Uprights
WEEK THREE (SST 104)
Small Room Rule Spacing Sidewalls
Spacing EC’s
Obstruction Rules
Project #1
Sprinkler and Piping Layout
System Risers
WEEK FOUR (SST 103)
Intro to First Project 02-05 AutoSPRINK (or USER Software, HydraCAD & SprinkCAD)
Design Software
Water Supplies
Calc Lessons 1-4
WEEK FIVE (SST 105)
Calc Lessons 5-9
Manual Calc Example
Calc Project #1 Manually
Project meetings, files, forms and RFI’s
Project Submittals
Project Submittals Review
WEEK SIX (SST 106)
Software Calc’s 20th 16-17 AutoSPRINK (or User Software)
Pipes, Fittings and Cut Lengths
Numbering Mains and Branchlines
Stocklisting by Hand
Listing Mains and Branchlines
Listing Loose Materials
WEEK SEVEN (SST 107)
Software Stocklisting 24,25 & 26 AutoSPRINK (or USER Software)
Project #2 Layout, Calc and Submittal
Dry Systems
Installation Plans
WEEK EIGHT (SST 108)
Residential Sprinklers
CPVC Pipe and fittings
CPVC Fab Exercise
Concealed Spaces
Other Special Situations
Project #3
WEEK NINE (SST 109)
Project #4 Layout, Calc, and Submit
Project #5, Layout and Calc
Complicated Remote Areas
WEEK TEN (SST 110)
Standpipes
Combined Standpipe and Sprinkler System
Standpipe Project
Final Review and Exams