Do OSHA safety regulations apply to RPZ and DCDA backflow preventers?
OSHA requires 30 inches to the face off a side wall for maintenance for horizontal installations. My contention is that if the drain to the RPZ runs to that wall, you will have an obstruction and trip hazard, and it will not be accessible for maintenance. I've also installed the RPZs 4 feet above the tight pump room floors for access. It's never been a problem. Please advise. IBC says to install backflow preventers according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Our State Department of Natural Resources requires a double check on all water based sprinkler systems and an RPZ backflow when additives such as foam or antifreeze are used.
The rule is for containment. Meaning that the first available connection requires the backflow preventer. With the details shown in NFPA 13 there are examples of check valves with a drilled clapper as well as an appropriate backflow preventer in the examples shown appear to be isolation devices. NFPA 13 FIGURE 8.6.3.3 shows a backflow preventer and includes an expansion tank. If the entire building is protected by an RPZ the water department is satisfied. When approaching the antifreeze pipe arrangement FIGURE 8.6.3.3 wouldn’t a swing check without a drilled hole be equal to the backflow preventer? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an NFPA 13 commercial project.
Do you allow a domestic water tap coming from an NFPA 13 fire sprinkler riser? If it is allowed, what provisions should I be looking for when reviewing a layout with this arrangement? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am doing some work on a combined fire-fighting/domestic pump house for a small community.
A couple things look odd to me.
There seem to be two deviations from NFPA standards here: First, the jockey pump should be small , so that in case of fire it is the fire pump taking the load, and second, the starting sequence requires the jockey pump to start above the fire pump churn, the first fire pump a little lower and so on. Is there any exception for such combined domestic/fire protection systems in the NFPA line of standards? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe While doing a sprinkler inspection it was found that the main check valve for the system failed. The system was installed before backflows were mandated on sprinkler systems.
I know that a backflow preventer needs to be installed in its place, but have been unable to find any code that says it does. Anyone able to help? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When is a sleeve required (or not required) at the base of a sprinkler riser when it comes through a floor?
Is there a requirement I'm missing in NFPA 13, NFPA 24, or the plumbing code? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What methods do people use to drain a riser that is located in a basement?
We have a four-story building with the sprinkler riser in the basement. The basement consists of a small mechanical room and the rest is earth-filled. Would it be permitted to run a drain pipe up to the surface, which would drain the majority of the system until the water finds its level, and then provide a secondary 1" drain which would run to a sump pit? In this particular situation, the remaining water adds up to roughly 20 US gallons. The sump pit is 42 US gallons, and the sump pump is rated for 50 GPM. Thank you very much! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When coming out of a pump room with underground feed which then connects to an underground loop with a bullhead tee, are isolation valves required on the bullhead tee?
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