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Automatic Ball Drip Always Required for FDC?

6/6/2019

8 Comments

 
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?

Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
8 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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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

Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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

Reply



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  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
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    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
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    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
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