Automatic Ball Drip Always Required for FDC?

6/6/2019

On recent inspections I've seen many installations where an automatic ball drip is not provided anywhere on the pipe connection between the fire department connection and the check valve that serves the fire department connection. Is there an exception I'm missing or isn't that automatic ball drip always required?

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9 Comments

Dan

6/6/2019 10:08:52 am

Refer to NFPA 13, A.8.17.2.6. It is required in areas subject to freezing. In areas not subject to freezing, where water would be trapped between the FDC check valve and the system, an auxiliary drain is needed.

Scott McCormick

6/6/2019 11:58:13 am

I am in a Local Enforcing Agency and was told by a sprinkler contractor that an Storz FDC doesn't need a ball-drip because its only needed on an FDC with a clapper, i do disagree because if the check valve doesn't hold the Storz FDC pipe could have water in it. My other comment is how contractor have put the ball-drip at the check valve when the check valve is not at the lowest point.

David Kendrick link

6/7/2019 09:08:56 am

Removing a Storz connection under pressure could be hazardous to the mechanic/fireperson.

Storz connections are not UL listed for fire protection use (or at least they weren't some time ago) for that reason.

While they are the trend and useful for the firefighters the design doesn't meet the original intent of the threaded FD connection.

Frank Herrick

6/7/2019 10:22:37 am

FDC ball drip is always required, regardless of Stortz or NH connection.

The purpose of the ball drip is to show the the FDC check valve isn't leaking, which will subject the FDC to being useless in the winter.

Question: Can ball drips be mounter in a horizontal position?

Yours truly, Capt. Frank J. Herrick

David Kendrick link

6/7/2019 10:49:03 am

As far as the question, personally I think it would depend on the ball drips design and manufacturers intent.
This not to avoid the question it is to address the particular installation and the devices intent.

For us the one's we use have to be in the horizontal position for the ball to move to the center of the housing and allow water to pass. Under pressure the ball is moved to cover the ball drip's outlet opening.

Jrob

6/7/2019 12:19:49 pm

I dont think I've ever seen a ball drip that you can install in the vertical position. I suppose if it was spring loaded it would work, but never seen one.

Pierre Lemieux

7/14/2020 06:23:13 pm

Most ball check models are required to be installed in the horizontal position (not all). You will usually see a 1/2" street elbow installed on the inlet side of the check making the ball check operate in a horizontal position.
A horizontal ball check will not work properly if installed in the vertical position.

Brian Cook

1/18/2021 07:36:30 am

“Yes” That is what makes them work properly, if they were installed in a Vertical position the ball would go to the bottom and block the flow

Jack G

6/12/2023 09:23:52 pm

A spring loaded ball drip can mount either vertical or horizontally. A normal plunger type, horizontally.
Another quandry is when nfpa required testing thru the siamese connection, i ve discovered when the check valve was in the basement and siamese at street level, the head pressure of water in that pipe was enough to close the ball so it wouldnt drain, without doing it manually, and not automatically.
It varies with manufacturer, but i use a 7 ft drop, as a cut off. Anyting more i add a drain valve along with the ball drip.

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Automatic Ball Drip Always Required for FDC?

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