Must NFPA 13R Backflow Valves be Supervised?

1/15/2019

A small, wood-structure apartment complex is getting an NFPA 13R fire sprinkler system. Based on hydraulic calculations, the incoming water service only needs to be 2-inch, and the backflow can be as small as 1-1/2-inch.

Many backflow preventers with indicating butterfly valves don't get down to the 1-1/2-inch size - rather many of the small backflows only have ball valves which I'm not sure can actually be supervised.

Are the valves on a backflow preventer for an NFPA 13R system required to be supervised? Is there ever a case where the backflows can use ball valves on an NFPA 13R system?

Posted anonymously by a member for discussion. Discuss this | Subscribe

5 Comments

TJ Jones III

1/15/2019 10:14:30 am

NFPA 13 R (2010 Edition) 6.8.2 says yes you need to have the valves supervised or "Valves that are locked open". The Ames 2000 B-FP makes a 1" supervised BFP.

sean

1/15/2019 11:31:49 am

the building code (IBC) requires electronic supervision

Mike

1/15/2019 03:24:37 pm

Could you give the chapter references

Thanks

sean

1/15/2019 03:30:27 pm

2018 IBC/IFC

903.4 Sprinkler system supervision and alarms. Valves
controlling the water supply for automatic sprinkler systems,
pumps, tanks, water levels and temperatures, critical air pressures
and waterflow switches on all sprinkler systems shall be
electrically supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit.

It has said electrically for a few revision cycles. Note there are some exemptions but for NFPA 13R only 3 may apply and it is an atypical installation

3/.Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance
with NFPA 13R where a common supply main is
used to supply both domestic water and the automatic
sprinkler system, and a separate shutoff valve
for the automatic sprinkler system is not provided.

Hope that helps

Mike

1/15/2019 08:00:43 pm

I don't want to sound like a know it all. Locks are allowed for 13R - family homes - to keep the costs of a fire sprinkler system low. Cost is the major argument by developers against sprinkler systems.

Free Signup

Subscribe and learn something new each day:

Community

Thank You to Our Top
August 2020 Contributors!

1. SK
2. Near Engineer
3. NinaB
4. Brenton
5. Mike

6. Sean
7. Dan Wilder
8. Tim D.
9. Rob B.
10. Jonathan

Your Post

SUBMIT A QUESTION

The Toolkit

Sprinkler Designer or Engineer?

Get all of our tools, including the Sprinkler Database, Friction Loss Calculator, Fire Pump Analyzer and more:

FREE 30-DAY TRIAL

GET THE TOOLKIT

Filters

Exam Prep

2020 PE Prep Guide
(Available Now!)

PE Prep Series
(Available Now!)

2020 PE Prep Series
Current Leaderboard
(Click to enlarge)

PE Problems

Visit July-October for daily Fire Protection PE Exam sample questions.

Solutions are posted the day after posting.

Comment with your solutions, questions or clarifications.

Please note that questions posted are unofficial and in accordance with NCEES rules are intended to be similar to actual exam questions, not actual exam questions themselves.

RSS Feed

Home - About - Blog - Contact - Exam Prep - Store

Copyright © 2020 MeyerFire, LLC
The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author shown 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. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a commission for orders placed elsewhere.