Is Any Angle Allowed for Sprinkler Pipe Fitting?

10/18/2023

Is there a set allowance on the fitting angles for sprinkler aboveground pipe?

I'm reviewing a couple of projects where I find bends similar to the example below.

The designer is using different pipe angles for reticulations. I'm wondering if there is a clause that prohibits such a use.

Appreciate your insight & feedback.

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8 Comments

Pete H

10/18/2023 06:49:27 am

Typically elbow fittings are only going to come in 90, 45, and 22 degrees.

That said, with two 90s and a nipple, if you have the elevation/clearance to move a branch line up, you can get just about any angle you want.

Branch goes into 90, 90 goes up with a short nipple into other 90. That 90 is pointed in the much slighter angle you want.

If coordination is tight or they're using larger pipe, this becomes more difficult.

For the case you have drawn, it would be screw a 90 on the welded threaded outlet on top of the main, aiming in that 15 degree angle, and then do the two 90s and a nipple to reset it back to the "perpendicular looking" orientation.

And if it is right before a sprinkler head that you see a weird angle, check if flexible head connections are in the design/calculation.

Dan Wilder

10/18/2023 07:51:25 am

11¼° elbows are available, toss in a couple flex vics and you can get another degree or so with a roll groove, cut groove gets it a little further (just remember for deflection angles shown typically need to be reduced 25-50% for design depending on size).

In the past I have also ordered the fabricator to create custom angle fittings with grooved ends in line with 13-22-Table 7.4.1 & 7.5.2.3 (Essentially welding two pipes together to create the angle needed per NFPA/ASME/ASTM/AWS requirements). I do make these longer (12" or more from center of fitting to end) to make sure the jig has enough to be accurate.

In this example, I would have just continued the branch line from the right into the main on the left and made the angle work at the outlet/90 instead of trying to add a fitting as shown. Saves 2 leak points, trying to make some odd angle work, and 3 extra pieces of material that needs to be handled by the field. If the BL had to be perfect, next option is to slide the outlet plan south, put on a 90 or 45 facing plan north/northeast, use a filler piece, and hit the BL location with another 90 or 45.

Dave

10/18/2023 01:45:56 pm

For unique angles some contractors (you know who you are) sometimes prefer custom-welded elbows (or combinations of elbows) rather than couplings and odd elbows. Either in-house fabrication or outside fab. Especially if you are hitting beam penetrations. Nothing wrong with it, it is hard to say if this designer knows what he/she is doing or if it's going to be be a nasty fitter (or lister) call, lol. Hydraulics calcs need to be considerad as well.

Ray Hardy link

10/18/2023 08:12:24 am

I suspect this is drawn in Revit or another 3D modeling tool where bends of any angle could be allowed. As all the guys have said, we are looking at 90, 45. 22-1/2 & 11-1/4 degree fittings, or 2 elbows to get whatever angle you like and 3 to get under stairs. I see so much that FP engineers don't do the drawings who would be fully aware of this. Pre-fabricated fittings are costly and cut & shut on site is completely out of the question for me.

R Jackson link

10/18/2023 09:19:22 am

I foresee this happening a lot in the very near future unless more training is done before anyone does any drawings. Like I was told many years ago, "It always works on paper."

Anthony

10/18/2023 08:19:39 am

Revit allows you to 'create' fittings to make odd angles work that don't have a solid relationship with reality. So I would guess this is an instance of inexperience?

As Dan says you definitely can have pipe welded at odd angles. I have used rolled pipe previously where I couldn't use swing joints for aesthetic reasons. Note that these are the once every few year options that are expensive and atypical.

So to answer your question it's not out of code compliance. It is not a best practice in design.

David Kendrick

10/18/2023 08:26:53 am

Short answer is if you can purchase it from a manufacturer that follows industry standards outlined in the NFPA fire protection documents you can use the fittings.
The challenge with using anything beyond 90's and 45's is communicating the use of formulas to the mechanics installing the piping.
You'll spend much more on figuring it out than using more commonly used fittings.

Glenn Berger

10/18/2023 09:42:08 am

Basically agree with all above comments. I have spoken to the CADD (or now VDDS) group at work. Just because the program can detail items to .0000001 inch, that is not going to happen in the field. Engineers and Engineering Technicians need to push back on these updated computer generated designs.

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Is Any Angle Allowed for Sprinkler Pipe Fitting?

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