What Does "Listed for Fire Protection Use" Mean?

5/11/2023

What does "listed for fire protection use" actually mean?

The Department of Defense specifications Section 21 13 13 calls for backflow preventers to be "listed for fire protection use".

From what I have found, there is no such specific listing.

Has anyone else heard of this?

Thank you for your input.

11 Comments

Dan Wilder

5/11/2023 08:18:01 am

I'm sure there will links to the UL listing standard for backflows posted however, check out the below site for all the current listed backflow assemblies, orientations, configurations...

The excel sheet is best for searching (upper right side for download).

https://fccchr.usc.edu/list.html

Glenn Berger

5/11/2023 08:19:13 am

For this particular product, I look for the UL listed symbol.

Jesse

5/11/2023 08:24:21 am

You can see if the backflow carries a UL listing

Franck

5/11/2023 08:45:26 am

In addition to the UL listing, you can also check for FM approval.
FP approved equipment are all suitable for fire protection.

Alex

5/11/2023 09:25:44 am

Confirm if the backflow carries a UL and FM approval.

Josh

5/11/2023 09:37:15 am

According to the principal I work for, it sure seems like listed for fire protection means "painted red and marked up." I always thought that was pretty funny and slightly accurate.

Brad K

5/11/2023 10:08:38 am

I tend to agree with the comment by Josh but I can also add that the UL listing will ensure the valving on the device is in accordance with NFPA 13. (Indicating type valve like an OS&Y Gate or Butterfly, Existence of a means of supervising per NFPA 13 such as a tamper switch, slow closing gear operation in nature to prevent water hammer) These are the items i tend to notice lacking in non-listed devices.

Fred walker

5/11/2023 10:03:20 am

If you look at the information on the UL web site for UL Category BAEU it specifically indicates products in this category are intended "for use in fire service system". UL has other categories for backflow preventors intended for other applications all of these backflow preventors use UL Standard 1469 for approval, so it is important to only use equipment listed for UL Category BAEU for fire service applications.

Todd E Wyatt

5/11/2023 10:34:39 am

2022 NFPA 13
3.2.3* Listed.
Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.

A.3.2.3 Listed.
The means for identifying listed equipment may vary for each organization concerned with product evaluation; some organizations do not recognize equipment as listed unless it is also labeled. The authority having jurisdiction should utilize the system employed by the listing organization to identify a listed product.

ENHANCED CONTENT
Most components that are critical to system performance must be listed. Such components include, but are not limited to, nonmetallic pipe, alarm valves, hangers, and sprinklers. However, this criterion has some exceptions. For example, steel and copper pipe as specified in Table 7.3.1.1 is not required to be listed, because it has a long-established record of acceptable performance. However, manufacturers of Schedule 40 steel pipe commonly have the pipe listed to certify compliance with the industry standards for the specific pipe referenced in Table 7.3.1.1.

Jay

5/11/2023 10:29:38 pm

Zurn Wilkins Fire Protection Series https://www.zurn.com/media-library/web_documents/pdfs/catalogs/zmktg480-30-pdf.aspx

Todd Delisle

5/26/2023 06:55:31 am

Your reference to Department of Defense specifications Section 21 13 13 I believe is the document associated with the UFGS.

Always try to be careful to state the complete identification of the document as 21 13 13 is a typical 'Master Format' designation.

It has been a while since I have worked on a DOD project so I had to do a little research to understand the UFGS; I was more accustomed to UFCs, etc. Anyhow UFGS 21 13 13 (Aug. 2020) states:

1.4.3 Regulatory Requirements
Equipment and material must be listed or approved. Listed or approved, as used in this Section, means listed, labeled or approved by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) such as UL Fire Prot Dir or FM APP GUIDE. The omission of these terms under the description of an
item or equipment described must not be construed as waiving this requirement. All listings or approvals by testing laboratories must be from an existing ANSI or UL published standard. The recommended practices stated in the manufacturer's literature or documentation are mandatory requirements.

Further in the document it states:

[Reduced-pressure principle][Double-check] valve assembly backflow preventer complying with ASSE 1013, ASSE 1015 and AWWA M14. Each check valve must have a drain. Backflow prevention assemblies must have current "Certificate of Approval from the Foundation for Cross-Connection Control
and Hydraulic Research, FCCCHR List" and be listed for fire protection use. Listing of the specific make, model, design, and size in the FCCCHR List is acceptable as the required documentation.

Noting the [brackets] are selections which are to be made when the specification in tailored/authored.

https://fccchr.usc.edu/_downloads/List/list.pdf

The documentation you need should be on this list.

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What Does "Listed for Fire Protection Use" Mean?

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