What Pressure to Use for Standpipe Flow Testing?

12/7/2021

When doing a flow test for a 5-year on an automatic wet standpipe system in a building which has had significant additions over the years, which design pressure applies?

The original 8-story building and pump are from the early 1980's and was required to have a minimum residual 65-psi at the roof, flowing 750 gpm.

Fast forward to the most recent building attachment to the existing fire pump, and the code now requires a minimum of 100-psi at 750 gpm at the roof.

Would these additions be considered separate zones and therefore be tested individually at their specific design requirement, or would they all be tested at the original design requirements?

The building is a healthcare facility and is inspected to NFPA 25-2011 per the Joint Commission requirements.

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7 Comments

Alex

12/7/2021 08:08:57 am

Hi,

There is a lot more that needs to be provided to give a true answer. Was the original building meant to be a healthcare facility? If the occupancy classification has changed over the years, this can spark greater code requirements.

Additions themselves can also spark great code requirements as your occupancy load increases.

I would highly recommend hiring a code consultant in your area to take a closer look at the building and its past to provide you the current codes the building should conform to.

Thanks,
Alex

Glenn Berger

12/7/2021 08:13:46 am

Concur with the response provided by Alex above.

Additional information that is required -

Is the additional a fire-rated separate building or just an expansion of the existing facility?

Does your jurisdiction allow for conformance with the original code or does it required compliance with the current codes?

Anthony

12/7/2021 08:19:19 am

Systems are tested to see if they operate as designed.

Building code, IBC/State code will determine if any particular component needs to be updated. In that case the portion of the system that was upgraded will need be tested at that new bench mark.

HOWEVER NFPA 14 2016 ed 5.4.1.3 allows you to omit the need to upgrade a standpipe system and meet the water supply requirements of 7.8 and 7.10 (2016 ed) if there is an existing 4'' stand pipe and the water supply can support an NFPA 13 sprinkler system.

Which means I think mean you do not have to test that stand pipe to 100psi and 250 gpm if that was not the design criteria at the time of construction.

12/7/2021 09:44:44 am

In the state of Illinois, it doesn't matter what the codes say, it only matters what Joint Commision and IL Department of Public Health says, concerning nursing homes and hospitals. (Unless you are lucky enough to talk them into seeing it your way.)

sean

12/31/2021 06:36:09 pm

you still have to follow local laws IFC etc.

Jay

12/9/2021 07:44:57 am

2011 NFPA 25 requires the standpipe to be tested at the pressure and flow of its original design and installation. I would consider these to be different zones for testing purposes.
I am not aware of any NFPA 14 design (or BOCA/IFC) that requires 750 gpm at the roof. Is this an amendment?

sean

12/9/2021 01:19:42 pm

I would see the latest drawings, if those include provide calcs to the existing areas at 100 psi that applies everywhere if no new design cals were done for the existing they only need to meet the original design of 65 psi

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What Pressure to Use for Standpipe Flow Testing?

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