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When installing a mechanical tee, is there a requirement to hang the drilled core/coupon/blank at the seal?
Anything from NFPA, IFC, manufacturer's listing, or just best practice? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
13 Comments
Anthony
12/15/2025 08:10:41 am
Nothing, I'm aware of from NFPA, IFC, manufacturer's listing, or just best practice. I'd say its not best practice either. It slows down production on a system that should be able to be flushed if the blank drops into the main. This might be a job site specific requirement. When hot tapping a main on a hydronic system this can be a major problem. For sprinkler? Less so.
Dan Wilder
12/15/2025 08:13:03 am
No MFG written requirement I am aware of (pretty sure this is a holdover from the older pipe fitter days and some AHJ inspection criteria) but a great way to confirm it was removed. It also handles the requirements from the AGTC as a "...control feature to ensure that all cutouts (discs) are retrieved)".
Derek
12/15/2025 08:14:15 am
There is no requirement. When I started my sprinkler fitter apprenticeship in 1998, I was told it was a courtesy to the AHJ so they knew it wasn't in the piping. It is a practice that is continued today, at least in the northeast.
Jesse
12/15/2025 08:19:37 am
No there's no requirement for this. I think this is an artifact from the days when foremen passed on generational "code-knowledge" without ever having cracked 13. 12/15/2025 08:25:58 am
Wow. The forum's been around longer than I thought!
BK
12/15/2025 08:57:02 am
It is in the contractor's certificate. Texas has adopted a similar certificate. Matthew posted a link where it was referenced previously. It defiantly portrays an effort of quality. It goes a long way with the AHJs that have been around.
D.Peoples
12/15/2025 09:18:55 am
I've been in the industry since 1985. It has always been common practice (West Coast California) to attach coupon to mech-tee.
Glenn Berger
12/15/2025 10:15:15 am
Could not find the hard requirement. The NFPA 13 "Contractor's Material and Test Certificate for Aboveground Piping" on Page 3, does require "a control feature to ensure that all cutouts (discs) are retrieved."
David (OP)
12/15/2025 10:19:44 am
I appreciate everyone's opinions and feedback. I have seen this practice as a requirement when I worked at an oil refinery when hot taps were done on the oil and gas lines. I have seen the coupons hung from sprinkler flanges on some but not all mechanical T related jobs. I had this topic come up recently which is why I posted this question because a mechanical T was used but the coupon was not hung. Other additional circumstances led to additional questions but I was just curious about this topic. Thank you.
R Hughes
12/15/2025 10:26:58 am
The cutter of the hole is either ethical or not. Hanging a cookie, which may or may not be THE cookie, is neither required nor is it any kind of proof.
Jack G
12/15/2025 11:15:07 am
Nfpa 13, 2019 + does require a control feature or procedure to account and certify that all cut out discs have been retrieved from the piping system.
Dwight Havens
12/15/2025 02:54:38 pm
Well, the responses have indicated that there is a requirement to keep track of the coupons. When I first started working for <FM> way back in the '70s, it was an expectation, with the easiest means to achieve that goal being to hang the coupon off of the mechanical tee. Why? If flushing the system, you may find the reason, or you may not if flushing through pipe with decreasing sizes. I have found coupons by flushing systems over 40 years old. Like an improperly close valve, not a good feeling finding these deficiencie which only can be explained by someone not paying atention to the potential impact to proper system operation. Leave a Reply. |
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