Is Pre-Action Valve Permitted to be on a Roof?

8/31/2020

Would it be permitted by code to place a pre-action valve on top of a roof of a two-story building?

It would be protected from mechanical damage, and there's no regular man movement at the roof. The roof area is warm, but there would be no covering as it currently stands. I'm looking for code requirements pertaining to this situation that would allow or disallow such an arrangement.

Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

5 Comments

Dan Wilder

8/31/2020 10:17:30 am

my thoughts and a couple conditions need to be met for this to work:

1. All portions of the system (riser in this case) needs to be in a location that is maintained above 40°F. Your indication of "warm" does not cover it. - 13-19' - 16.4.1.1

2. Mechanical damage - seems you have that covered 13-10' - 16.5

3. Listing of components - The valve is likely OK, make sure the pressure switches are all listed for outdoor applications. The compressor should also be listed for outdoor use. The releasing panel is another aspect to not be overlooked. 13-19'16.11.7.3

4. Manual override/releasing needs to be addressed as to accessibility. A discussion with the owner about the ability and process to actuate the system manually.

Even here in Metro Phoenix, other than wet systems and backflows, exterior installation of dry or preaction risers is rare.

Glenn Berger

8/31/2020 10:23:26 am

Your question did not indicate what is being protected. Is the system riser for space inside the facility at a lower elevation?

Typically being on the roof is not allowing protection from the elements. Where is the Control Panel located?

Jonathan Joseph

8/31/2020 01:29:53 pm

Dan has explained the code side. But define protection from mechanical injury/damage. My opinion without a covering, it is not enough protection. A lightning strike could occur.

Mark Harris

8/31/2020 07:48:42 pm

Agree with prior comments. Also could be high pressure fluctuations from baking in the sun or low night temperatures. .

Franck

9/1/2020 10:47:36 am

I an see another issue: accessibility.
It is normally a recommended good practice to have access to the valve, even in case of fire (as you may need to manipulate the valve).
In this situation, would the roof be accessible in case of fire within the building?

Leave a Reply.

Home
Our Cause

The Blog
The Forum

PE Exam Prep
The Toolkit
MeyerFire University

Pricing
Login
Support
Contact Us

MeyerFire.com is a startup community built to help fire protection professionals shine.
Our goal is to improve fire protection practices worldwide. We promote the industry by creating helpful tools and resources, and by bringing together industry professionals to share their expertise.

MeyerFire, LLC is a NICET Recognized Training Provider and International Code Council Preferred Education Provider.
All text, images, and media Copyright © 2016-2025 MeyerFire, LLC

We respect your privacy and personal data. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence.

Discussions are solely for the purpose of peer review and the exchange of ideas. All comments are reviewed. Comments which do not contribute, are not relevant, are spam, or are disrespectful in nature may be removed. Information presented and opinions expressed should not be relied upon as a replacement for consulting services. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a small commission for orders placed elsewhere.

Is Pre-Action Valve Permitted to be on a Roof?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES