Do you know of any specific guidelines for space around a fire pump skid to leave in a fire pump room?

I have always worked off the notion of "enough clearance to get around and work on a pump" but that is very subjective. So, I have a self-imposed 3-foot clearance around the edges of a skid. 

Is there anything more specific in generally adopted codes or standards?

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We are in a fire sprinkler retrofit and we have steel joists and decking throughout the building, with mostly masonry block walls. It's a single-story structure.

Where there are doors, however, there is wood framing above the grid ceiling.

How much wood constitutes an issue requiring fire sprinklers above the ceiling?

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I have a question about protection of sprinklers in windows specifically for a connection of a basement parking garage and a first level mall commercial space.

NFPA 101 accepts that there is a connection between both occupancies, but there must be compartmentalization of 3-hours without automatic sprinklers and 2-hours with automatic sprinklers. In this case, we have an escalator from the basement up to level 1, as shown below:

Can we consider this to be compartmentalized with glass and sprinklers on both sides of the glass?

Do the access doors have to be 1-1/2 hour, our could they not have any fire resistance if I have sprinklers on both sides?

This project is under NFPA 101 (specifically Table 6.1.14.4.1 for separation between occupancies), NFPA 5000, and NFPA 13 (9.3.5/19.4.3 for sprinkler protection of windows).

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We have a large production facility where there is an isolated small room that is remote from the sprinkler riser room. This small room houses tools and other equipment which the owner sees as valuable property and does not want it to get wet unnecessarily, especially during trip testing when they test the deluge system. 

The sprinkler system is an open-head deluge system, except for these few regular pendent sprinklers.

Are these pendent sprinklers acceptable to be installed on a deluge system?

I was under the impression that only open-head sprinklers could be used on a deluge system.

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I inherited 3 sites each with multiple sprinkler systems (2 or 3 depending) on "plant air". The problem is the compressors assigned to deliver said plant air are only robust enough to air up a single component system within 30 minutes.

During the fall, we experience drastic temperature drops at dusk that result in pressure drops across all systems simultaneously, that effectually over-task the lone compressor at each site. The compressors run until the overtemperature cut-off pops, and they've been leaking oil from the head gasket due to overheating.

I'm perfectly willing to buy a $5k compressor, but they're typically 3 phase. I'm also willing to buy 2 or 3 small compressors/riser and cap the plant air line, but in either case the greater expense is running AC power to the risers, or upgrading the current plant air circuit voltage.

A permutation of the above 2 options would be to run 2 -$700 compressors in parallel at the current plant air site to split the CFM output requirement. I would have to run a 2nd dedicated circuit to the existing compressor locations, but it's in relatively close proximity to the panel.

To do so I am assuming I would need to wire the on/off pressure switches to an air maintenance device. I need them to come on and cut off at the same time, or else one will run to failure, the pressure bleed down, then the redundant compressor will run to failure. I'm worried that modifying the new compressors will void their warranties (which I acknowledge I may have to live with).

Does anyone have a diagram and parts list for how to use 2 compressors in tandem? Any recommendations for most pragmatic fix?

​Thanks in advance.

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I'm working on a project with an overhang that has patient rooms above. The ceiling of the overhang serves as a "canopy" for ambulances, which will back in under the overhang to protect patients from the elements when unloading the ambulances.

The design and completed construction do not include any fire suppression including sprinklers.

Are sprinklers required for this canopy?

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We are sprinkler protecting a building with all I-Beams (W-type) and they are considered Obstructed Construction. The maximum beam depth is 20-inches. All my deflectors are 20" down from the deck. 

The owner now wants to put sound panels in each of the beam pockets which will take up about 85% of the space and will hang level to the finished floor but at least 9-inches up to 19-inches down from the deck because the steel slopes.

Would additional sprinklers be needed above these sound panels?

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When/why would an eccentric reducer ever be installed on a fire pump's suction side with the flat side on bottom?

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Is it permissible to consider the refill supply for a water storage tank when sizing the tank?

The supply would come in above 20 psi. Thanks in advance.

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Where exactly is a remote area for a fire sprinkler hydraulic calculation drawn with respect to interior and exterior walls?

Is the remote area boundary along the inside, centerline, or outside edge of a wall?

Also, are small wall cavities or unsprinklered shafts right in the middle of a remote area included in that remote area square-footage?

I recognize that as much as I can fine-tooth a layout this really doesn't matter much in the overall scheme - and I typically would add a sprinkler or two to a calculation if the exact location of the remote area boundary would make or break an area threshold - but I've been curious about this as I'd like to be consistent with code and what should be done.

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We have a project where the AHJ is telling us they want the waterflow alarm to be silenceable. Our understanding under NFPA 13-2019 7.7 and 28.2.3.1 is that there must be an audible alarm within 90 seconds (per NFPA 72) and must continue until the flow stops, not when the fire alarm system silences the flow.

Are we correct in that waterflow is a non-silenceable event, by code?

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A couple recently submitted questions relate to the same topic: 

(1) Extra hazard, grid pipe layout of approximately 1,800 sprinklers. What is the criteria that drives the specific number of sprinklers that will be operating together?

(2) What's the best way to determine the design area and number of sprinklers within a calculation for a parking garage?

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I have a project with cloud ceilings that are 80 sqft clouds with a 2-foot separation around each cloud. I have no intention of omitting the sprinklers above the clouds. I plan to locate sprinklers in each cloud, considering them obstructions greater than four feet.

Do I need to space the sprinklers in the clouds to just cover beneath the cloud?

Just want to confirm that spacing doesn't need to be across the cloud ceiling when sprinklers are in different clouds. Thanks in advance.

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We have a project where transformers are located on the periphery within a building's ground floor. There are 14 transformers within a single room. The life safety consultant has recommended for us to provide deluge system protection.

Is it required to provide a deluge valve for each transformer, or combine three or four transformers per valve?

Also, how should sprinkler flow demand - is it calculated by each nozzle, or should we consider the entire transformer area for protection? Under NFPA 15 we have assumed 0.25 gpm/sqft (or 10.1 lmin/sqm).

​Thanks in advance.

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I have a project where there are multiple cloud ceilings with minimal gaps in-between. The clouds are 3'-6" wide, and the gaps between them are approximately 3-inches. Below is an image of the reflected ceiling plan.

Are sprinklers required below these cloud ceilings? Thanks in advance.

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I have a project where the fire pump room is located on a third floor level.

Are there any specific requirements regarding the location of a fire pump? Is this location acceptable?

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What design options do I have with a fire sprinkler design to address protection underneath a 45-degree pitched roof?

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By code, does the check valve on the discharge side of a fire pump, or jockey pump, need to maintain any specific distance from the pump itself?

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We are designing a residential building that will have a manual wet standpipe in a fully-sprinklered building. The building itself is less than 75-feet high.

I need to calculate the wet manual standpipe but would like to check my approach. 

Do I need to calculate the remote standpipe at the two most remote hose valves at 100 psi, 250 gpm each, plus one more hose valve closer to the source at 250 gpm all the way back from a supply at the fire truck?

​Thanks in advance for any feedback.

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We have an existing building were the highest occupied floor is less than 30'-0 above fire vehicle access. This building is being renovated.

Part of the renovation involves the construction of a new building to be connect to the existing building. The new building is higher than 30'-0 above fire vehicle access. The exit stairwells in the new building need a standpipe system.

Does the existing building need a standpipe system since it is connected even though the existing building stairways and floors are not higher than 30'-0 above fire vehicle access?​

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Are there any drawbacks of testing a diesel-engine fire pump on a main header where other diesel pumps are connected to, instead of a test header?

This is happening in my plant because the test header is is large enough that it would require frequent throttling of test header discharge gate valves for each pump, which has started to wear out and not hold pressure.

Also, what is the minimum flow requirement for weekly diesel pump testing considering the test header doesn't hold? Do we need to run 0%, 100%, and 150% flow test each week?

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Can a split-case fire pump be used with a suction that is below negative 1.5 psi of pressure (below 1.0m)?

Would this be acceptable under NFPA 20?

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We have an account that failed the five year FDC hydrostatic test. The Fire Department Connection is a remote, freestanding FDC. The Fire Marshal is claiming that there is no leakage, however, will not give a pass or fail. 

NFPA 25 (2017) and others reference hydrostatic tests.

6.3.2.1  hydrostatic test 200 psi for 2 hrs or at 50 psi in excess of the maximum pressure where maximum pressure is in excess of 150 psi every five years. (manual standpipe systems and semi-automatic dry standpipe systems, including piping in the FDC)

Annex  6.3.2.1* that mentions a minimum leakage existing under test pressure.

Section 13.8.5 FDC five year hydrostatic testing shall be tested at 150 psi for 2 hrs. There is no mention of minimal leakage allowed.

What is this allowable leakage?

NFPA 24 (2010) Private Fire Mains & Their Appurtenances Section 10.10.2.2.1 requires 200 psi or 50 psi in excess of the system working pressure whichever is greater and maintain that pressure at +/-5 psi for 2 hrs.

Is that my allowable leakage, so that if we lose less than 5 psi or gain no more than 5 psi for 2-hours, that we pass? Wasn't sure if the existing 5-year hydrostatic for underground has leakage that is measured differently from an inside hydrostatic test.
 
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I understand that based on most Plumbing Code requirements that black steel pipe is not permitted on the upstream side of a backflow preventer. If pipe is provided between a flange and the backflow, it should be galvanized.

Do fittings, such as an elbow off the flange, need to also be galvanized?

I'm familiar with the Victaulic orange painted cast-iron grooved fittings (Firelock series) as well as ductile iron flanged fittings that seem to be commonly off of a stub-in flange, but I'm wondering if these need anything special like a painted or galvanized finish?

Thanks in advance - really appreciate the community and expertise here.

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As part of acceptance testing for a fire pump we test the installed pump net pressures at various flows (churn, 100%, 150%) and compare that against the factory certified curve for that specific fire pump. 

For these tests, what is the pass/fail threshold?

What would fail this test, and how far off could the installed pump be to fail this test?

As I understand it, the installed fire pump cannot differ from the factory certified curve more than the error in the measurement equipment (the allowed error in gauges, typically 1% of the gauge reading). I'm not sure if that's the proper way to go about it, but was curious if there's a better pass/fail mark I should be looking for with these tests.

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