Does Each Building Need Own Isolation Valve?

8/9/2024

If I have a fire tap that services multiple buildings, is it required to have a service valve outside the building on each line?

Does each building need to be capable of being isolated in case of service needs without interrupting others?

As it is, if one building needs work done to the #1 valve on the backflow then the other buildings will have to lose water during repair.

Thanks in advance.

Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

11 Comments

Chad

8/9/2024 07:34:05 am

I cannot imagine an insurance company would allow one shutoff for multiple buildings, unless it was a small out building like a small shed or similar. Nor I as an AHJ would under the guise of a reasonable degree of safety.

2019 NFPA 24 requires a valve, it does not say it wont affect other buildings but I would interpret it as that its for just one buildings based on 6.6

6.2 Connections to Water Supplies.
6.2.1 A valve in accordance with Section 6.1 shall be installed
in each pipeline from each water supply.

6.6 Sectional Valves.
6.6.1* Sectional valves shall be provided at appropriate locations
within piping sections such that the number of fire
protection connections between sectional valves does not
exceed six.
6.6.2 A sectional valve shall be provided at the following locations:
(1) On each bank of a river, pond, or lake where a main
crosses water
(2) Outside the building foundation(s) where a main or a
section of a main is installed under a building

Glenn Berger

8/9/2024 08:11:17 am

The word used in the question is "required." No where in the question is the building size or configuration is mentioned.

In general I do agree with Chad's statements.

Franck

8/9/2024 08:47:51 am

I will speak from the loss prevention side for Insurance companies (my job), not from standard or building code.

As indicated above, if you are speaking of 3 low value small buildings, no problem for one valve for all of them.
If you are speaking of high value buildings (in terms of money or critical aspects), it makes sense to have multiple systems with multiple valves.
No insurance company will be happy with an impairment on several buildings because you need maintenance/repair on one of them.
If you have 4 buildings, it means four more chances to have all buildings impacted at the same time.
So not a desirable situation.

Jesse

8/9/2024 09:03:14 am

Agree with Franck. I worked in loss control for a long time. If these buildings have any substantive value, the insurer won't like impairing all at the same time.

Pete H

8/9/2024 09:17:49 am

Agree with Chad, Franck, Glenn, and Jesse.

It doesn't seem to be required by code.... but it does seem to be a really good idea.

Especially if these buildings are insured in any capacity.

Matthew

8/9/2024 09:41:49 am

I'm not entirely clear on the site water distribution layout based on the description, but just to expand on Chad's comment, NFPA 24 (2019) section 6.1.1 outlines the requirements for control valves on water supplies. There are multiple acceptable configurations - some involving exterior valves and others interior to the building.

6.1 Valves.

6.1.1
All valves controlling connections to water supplies and to supply pipes to water-based fire protection systems shall be listed indicating valves, except as permitted by 6.1.1.3 and 6.1.1.4.

6.1.1.1
A listed underground gate valve equipped with a listed indicator post shall be permitted.

6.1.1.2
A listed water control valve assembly with a position indication connected to a remote supervisory station shall be permitted.

6.1.1.3*
A listed, nonindicating valve, such as an underground gate valve, including a T-wrench, shall be permitted to be installed in a roadway box when acceptable to the AHJ.

6.1.1.3.1
For new installations, where more than one nonindicating underground gate valve is installed in a water system, all underground gate valves shall be of the same opening direction.

6.1.1.4*
A new connection to a municipal water supply shall be permitted to utilize a nonlisted, nonindicating valve, including a T-wrench as part of a tapping assembly.

6.1.1.4.1
For new installations, where more than one nonindicating underground gate valve is installed in a water system, all underground gate valves shall be of the same opening direction.

Matthew

8/9/2024 09:45:08 am

I actually grabbed the wrong reference in my previous post. NFPA 24 (2019) 6.2.9 was the section I was intending to share:

6.2.9
All connections to private fire service mains for fire protection systems shall be arranged in accordance with one of the following so that they can be isolated:

(1)* A post indicator valve installed not less than 40 ft (12 m) from the building

(a) For buildings less than 40 ft (12 m) in height, a post indicator valve shall be permitted to be installed closer than 40 ft (12 m) but at least as far from the building as the height of the wall facing the post indicator valve.

(2) A wall post indicator valve

(3) An indicating valve in a pit, installed in accordance with Section 6.4

(4)* A backflow preventer with at least one indicating valve not less than 40 ft (12 m) from the building

(a) For buildings less than 40 ft (12 m) in height, a backflow preventer with at least one indicating valve shall be permitted to be installed closer than 40 ft (12 m) but at least as far from the building as the height of the wall facing the backflow preventer.

(5)* A nonindicating valve, such as an underground gate valve with an approved roadway box, complete with T-wrench, located not less than 40 ft (12 m) from the building

(a) For buildings less than 40 ft (12 m) in height, a nonindicating valve, such as an underground gate valve with an approved roadway box, complete with T-wrench, shall be permitted to be installed closer than 40 ft (12 m) but at least as far from the building as the height of the wall facing the non-indicating valve.

(6) Control valves installed in a fire-rated room accessible from the exterior

(7) Control valves in a fire-rated stair enclosure accessible from the exterior as permitted by the AHJ

Jack G

8/9/2024 11:06:27 am

In the 3 states i work in a separate service is required for each address by city/ state/ county.

Jack G

8/9/2024 01:41:21 pm

Also, buildings with multiple condos or townhomes, apartments are permitted to have one entry to the building, but then it is broken up to the multiple addresses with their own water meter, bfp, and individual supplies to each unit.

Jimmy

8/12/2024 05:17:23 am

This question should have been addressed during the permitting process and installation.
If you are working on an existing system or a new one, it is wise to ask the AHJ.

Because when the/a system needs to be shut down by the fire dept. you can bet the valve locations will be addressed then.

Typically, each building or floor should have its own control valve.
This is common practice and common sense.

Redouane

8/14/2024 12:04:57 pm

Agree with Chad

Does Each Building Need Own Isolation Valve?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES