Remote Inspector's Test Need Auxiliary Drain?

2/28/2025

I have a dry pipe system in which all test connections have an auxiliary drain except one. That one test connection is the farthest and highest connection, which is then piped down to ground level.

At ground level, the test valve is in a heated room and drains out through the wall. That pipe was filled with water (we don't know why) right to the top of the attic, froze, and burst an elbow.

Should this test connection have had an auxiliary drain where the maintenance person checking for condensate and all other test connections likely would have found the filled test connection?

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7 Comments

Glenn Berger

2/28/2025 08:07:03 am

You do not need an auxiliary drain at this location. The inspector's test station can be the drain connection. It appears that when the test valve was used that proper procedures were not followed to void the system piping of water.

2/28/2025 08:13:55 am

If the connection is piped in a way that traps water or is not pitched per code requirements, it should be reconfigured to ensure the water is not trapped in an unconditioned space after use.

Dan Wilder

2/28/2025 08:17:20 am

Short answer - Yes, but it would have been based on forethought or experience and not just following the book.

So, this is one of those great examples of book smarts vs street smarts with a little hindsight mixed in. Would it have helped, that could be argued both ways depending on the maintenance schedule but as (at least how it's described) there were no other freeze issues, sounds like the owner was doing their part. On the flip side, this setup opens up the owner to potential false tripping of the dry pipe valve using only one valve to purge water.

In NFPA, this would fall under both the remote inspector's test, heating of the valve, and trapped water including combining sections for this application. I cannot find a specific section requiring a setup that would prevent this (Remote Inspector's Test piping, Aux Drain Piping, Trapped Water Capacity)

13-19'
16.10.4.9 - Distance of pipe (yes this is for Main Drains, but is easy to apply across all conditions)
16.14.2.2 - Only indicates needing a valve & plug
16.10.5.3.5 - Trapped water exceeding 5 gallons (I'm assuming this is less) where 2 valves are used.
16.10.6.6 - Drain pipes shall be arranged to avoid exposing any of the water-filled portion of the sprinkler system to freezing conditions. (this assumes proper maintenance is being performed).

Robert Hughes

2/28/2025 08:30:02 am

It should have had a drum drip insailled.

Casey Milhorn

2/28/2025 08:44:29 am

If I am tracking what you are saying, it appears as if the full trip test (or water delivery test) was performed using this test connection. That or a ton of condensation happening here due to the change from conditioned space to unconditioned space. Either way, as Robert mentioned, a drum drip and a good maintenance schedule by the owner would have solved this. If the other test connections are arranged in the same manner, I would add drum drips as well on those, and educate the owner on how to maintain those properly (or offer your services to come exercise those on a regular schedule).

Jack G

2/28/2025 09:18:09 am

The trapped water probably would. be less than 5 gallons so the drum drip is technically not required.
It sounds like its in a perfect spot ( heated room ).
What i d do is drop to a tee, the inspectors test goes horizontally, and i d instsllbs drum drip on the bottom.
AGF makes a model that signals when the " drip " is full to alert maitainance.
Being a heated room for the location is ideal, but should not give you security ( false security actualy-- the drop portion above the heat could still freeze if the water reached that height. )

Joe C

2/28/2025 09:37:52 am

The remote inspector's test connection should have been a Drum Drip type. But it seems that the drop was never drained at all.

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Remote Inspector's Test Need Auxiliary Drain?

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