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We have a project in Geelong, Australia, where the product that is bulk-stored within the building makes for an extremely dusty environment when it is unleaded.
Sprinkler protection is proposed to protect the building - but I wanted to ask the question about "excessive loading of sprinklers". What's the best option to minimize the loading on the sprinkler? NFPA 25 mentions this, of course, but our code in Australia does not mention this term but does state that the sprinklers need to be visually checked annually, and suggests that a more stringent maintenance routine be in place for these environments. The bulk product is phosphate rock and it typically used for the fertilizer manufacturing plant across the road. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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I got asked a weird question about NFPA 13 requiring sprinklers to be readily accessible.
A co-worker told me they didn't believe some sprinklers that would installed in a mechanical room we're designing would be easily accessible post-construction and asked if there were any kind of access requirements. I can't think of anything in NFPA 13 that would require every head be easily accessible in the same way that NFPA 72 requires certain fire alarm components to be readily accessible. Is there a requirement that sprinklers be accessible? Where does this stem from? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe How do I, as an AHJ, address contractor scope limitations?
Project where an installer presents plans to replace 328 sprinklers and is changing some pipes out. Many times the installer says they're only responsible for pipe from the riser - not for a hydrant flow tests. What is the best way to navigate this to be sure that there's still sufficient water available? It could be a one-for-one replacement, but what if there's significant work being done - what code basis is there to make sure than an effectively-new system can work with today's water supply? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a remodel project with XL pipe and push fit fittings. When there is a leak in the fit fitting what product or method can be used to change the pipe to schedule 10 with grooved fittings? Can XL be grooved? Is a roustabout approved for XL? There is virtually no information on the internet regarding XL except for notable failures with the material. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am running into a lot of old systems that do not have hydraulic placard and some of them are old Pipe Schedule system.
Has anyone ran into an old pipe schedule system were the fire marshal is requesting hydraulic placards and if so has anyone found a way to satisfy the requirements without surveying the entire system and running new calculations? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does an FDC have to be hydrostatically tested every five years?
Is that commonly done as part of a 5-year test? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our condo units are 23 years old. A recent inspection of the sprinklers had some rust on the exterior of the pipes near the sprinklers.
Can we wire brush these areas and spray with a rust inhibitor, or do we need to replace all those pipes? Are other inspections needed to see if any rust is inside the pipes or how thick the pipe steel remains? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe During fire pump testing, for the churn test, should the system valve (on discharge side of course) be open or closed?
I lean towards it being open, as I would rather know the weak point during a test than during an actual fire event. Here's my pro/con list to keeping the valve open: Pros (keeping valve open)
Cons (keeping it open)
Thanks in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is the proper point in a system to take the antifreeze sample?
I have taken readings at both outlets at the check valve, unfortunately a contractor is saying to take it at the most remote point. Those locations are either 25-feet in the air, or not installed at all. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Section 5.3.2.1 of NFPA 25, Gauges shall be replaced or tested every five years by comparison with a calibrated gauge.
Is it required for us to provide a sticker on the gauge to indicate it has been re-calibrated by the 3rd party, or will a sharpie inscription on the glass of the gauge be sufficient to meet this requirement? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In the introduction (Origin and Development) to the 2023 Ed. of NFPA 25, it mentions that several changes have been made to Chapter 5, "such as additional requirements to remove concealed sprinkler cover plates and inspect the sprinklers". I have scoured the text of Chapter 5, and cannot find this requirement anywhere.
Was this discussed but not implemented? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is missing a coverplate for a concealed sprinkler a deficiency in NFPA 25 that would be required to be corrected?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Hi All, Is there a code reference on the maximum amount of time allowed to close a wall PIV (or any valve for that matter)?
I have a Wall PIV that is hard and slow to turn, and takes about 30 minutes of fighting to fully close. Servicing of accessible components has not helped. I probably won't be able to get funds to repair/replace unless I can quote a code violation. I have only found a minimum amount of time, but nothing for a maximum. Thanks in advance! 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 What is the best procedure to use when testing a 3,500 gallon diesel fire pump that is equipped with a throttling/pressure governor installed on it?
My graph was well below the rated curve at 50% and 100%, but the governor seemed to disengage at 150% flow and my numbers exceeded the rated curve when we pushed this much water. I did not attempt to change the controller settings or unplug the device (if that's even possible) to disengage the forced idle at 50% or 100% but insurance isn't "buying" that the pump didn't fail. These pumps aren't more than 5 years old and are ran on a tight schedule once a week (by the way). Maintenance thinks it'll lead to faster wear and tear on the motor and I agree. All I could really do was state the facts and hope I don't have to go back out there and do the test again. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a hospital that has two "double hose valves" at the top of two different standpipes on the roof. One is on a helipad and the other is below on a different roof. Both are the most remote locations.
Per NFPA 25, for the 5-year test, I'm supposed to flow 500 gpm at the most remote then an additional 250 gpm at a different standpipe until I reach 1,000 gpm for the fully-sprinklered building. Can I just flow 500 gpm out of both double-hose valves (2 standpipes), or do I have to flow 500 gpm, then 250 gpm, then 250 gpm using three different standpipes? Thanks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When doing an annual test today for large fire pumps with a combined test header, I was told that most inspectors throttle and send water to the pitot gauges by using the butterfly valve inside the pump room and keeping the control valves wide open outside on the test header.
I disagreed with this approach, as my mentor in the industry taught me to first charge the test header and then get your pressures by opening each outside control valve individually to get your pressures. He said this is so that you don't burn up the rubber on the inside test header (normally-closed) butterfly valve. He said it happened to him in the past and then the building owner is left with a leaking test header control valve and the danger and costliness of a test header full of water. Is there a correct way (by code) to get your pitot reading off the hose monsters outside (what I mainly using) or is charging water one way or the other simply a matter of preference? I hope this makes sense. I understand some test header control valves are OS&Y but most all the outside components I come across are the test hose connections that open and close via the gate valve. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a newly-installed electric (duty) fire pump, and a back-up diesel fire pump.
Each pump has a 100% required flow capacity for the system (750 gpm each) for the building. Is it OK to run the two pumps simultaneously during testing - which would result in a 200% flow? The diesel pump is only intended to be used during power interruption/worst-case, but not with normal power online. During testing, we release water in the test line (flow meter) - the pressure went down and triggered the cut-in pressure of both the electric and diesel pump which makes it run simultaneously (electric first, then the diesel a few seconds later). Does this not have a water hammer effect on the system? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm having some confusion concerning credentials for inspection testing & maintenance (IT&M) of fire suppression systems.
Can (or is it allowed to have) a PE in Fire Protection Engineering perform inspection, testing and maintenance for a suppression system? Or, must the PE also meet NICET certificates (for NICET states) or whatever the local jurisdiction requires for certification requirements in IT&M of fire protection systems? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When doing a flow test for a 5-year on an automatic wet standpipe system in a building which has had significant additions over the years, which design pressure applies?
The original 8-story building and pump are from the early 1980's and was required to have a minimum residual 65-psi at the roof, flowing 750 gpm. Fast forward to the most recent building attachment to the existing fire pump, and the code now requires a minimum of 100-psi at 750 gpm at the roof. Would these additions be considered separate zones and therefore be tested individually at their specific design requirement, or would they all be tested at the original design requirements? The building is a healthcare facility and is inspected to NFPA 25-2011 per the Joint Commission requirements. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are time delay intervals associated with a fire pump's energy source transfer?
Is a 2-minute wait time long enough before notating an impairment when the pump doesn't start operating at peak again after shutting down the main power on an annual pump test? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am reviewing a building under construction for a client, specifically the wet sprinkler system installation.
There was a problem where the installer left caps off the pipe both on pipe being stored and pipe installed at the ceiling. My client stated concerns about debris falling into the pipe due to other trades doing work in the area and requested that the sprinkler installer perform corrective measures, they proposed using compressed air to blow out the pipe. The client wants them to provide some type of justification, industry standard or NFPA guidance that says this is an acceptable means. I looked in NFPA 13 and NFPA 25 and only found how to deal with in-service systems that have obstructions. Has anyone dealt with a similar situation or know what the industry standards are for cleaning out pipe during the construction phase? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am a Fire Protection Engineer in Victoria working in a sugar refinery where we are proposing to protect existing raw sugar and white packaging storage. The raw sugar storage has piles of unrefined sugar in the warehouse which often clogs the sprinklers (like all other equipment in the area).
My advice to the client was more strict inspections and maintenance in this area, as well as to place metal guards to try and minimize buildup around the sprinklers. The white packaging storage, although not as dirty as the raw sugar storage, has fine dust particles throughout. I'm not as concerned about this area. We are not trying to re-invent the wheel here, and I'm sure there has been many acceptable solutions to minimize building on sprinklers. What would you recommend to the client here to minimize the buildup? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is a pumper truck from the fire department required to do standpipe flow testing?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe My question is when the discussion of dirty sprinkler heads comes up I get told only lint , hair and fuss count.
What I see quite often is discoloring from what I assume oil running down the pipe to the head. I also often see the red glass turned to black or gray. Do these sprinklers need to be cleaned, and if so, how is it done? Air or vacuumed doesn’t always work. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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