What are the three main considerations that determine the required standpipe system installation? The building height above or below the level of fire department access, whether a fire sprinkler system is installed, the use and occupancy of the building.
(2) Every building six (6) stories or more in height shall be provided with not less than one operable standpipe. Such standpipes shall be installed when the progress of construction is not more than 50 feet in height above grade.
NFPA 14 provides requirements for the installation of standpipes and hose systems to ensure that systems will work as intended to deliver adequate and reliable water supplies in a fire emergency.
As an inspector utilizing NFPA 1, Fire Code, you need to know three things about standpipes when determining if a building and system is compliant with the Code: (1) Where are standpipes required, (2) What type of system is required and (3) Has the system been properly inspected, tested, and maintained.
NFPA 14 Standpipe Requirements
Hydraulic Calculations: Systems must be designed to ensure adequate water flow and pressure. NFPA 14 provides detailed requirements for calculations. Pipe Sizes and Materials: Standpipes must be constructed from materials capable of handling high pressure and water flow.
It takes into account factors such as pipe length, pipe diameter, and friction loss. By using the CPM, engineers can determine the discharge pressure needed to pump water through the standpipe system. The Hazen-Williams Formula is another method used to determine the discharge pressure for fire pumping operations.
The minimum residual pressure required for a Class I system is 100 psi (6.9 bar) from the hydraulically most remote 2 ½ in. (65 mm) hose connection with a flow rate of 500 gpm (1893 L/min), through the two most remote 2 ½ in. (65 mm) hose connections.
The trap and fixture drain for an automatic clothes washer standpipe shall be not less than 2 inches (51 mm) in diameter. The fixture drain for the standpipe serving an auto- matic clothes washer shall connect to a 3-inch (76 mm) or larger diameter fixture branch or stack.
Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems
The industry benchmark for design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems, NFPA 13 addresses sprinkler system design approaches, system installation, and component options to prevent fire deaths and property loss.
Minimum flow for additional standpipes shall be 250 gpm per standpipe for floor areas less than or equal to 80,000 square feet. For a building with at least 80,000 square feet per floor, 500 gpm is required for the second standpipe and 250 gpm for the third standpipe, if required for a nonsprinklered building.
A standpipe or riser is a type of rigid water piping which is built into multi-story buildings in a vertical position, or into bridges in a horizontal position, to which fire hoses can be connected, allowing manual application of water to the fire.
The minimum pressure while flowing the required standpipe flow (500 GPM from the hydraulically most remote standpipe and 250 GPM from each additional standpipe, up to a maximum of 1000 GPM for a fully sprinklered building) shall be 100 psi at any valve outlet while flowing 250 GPM through each valve.
Class I systems are designed for use by fire departments with 2½” hose connections. Class II systems are designed for use by trained personnel or fire departments with 1½” hose connections. Class III systems are designed for use by trained personnel or fire departments with both 1½” and 2½” hose connections.
The Fire Sprinkler Code, 2022 (NFPA 13, 2022) is a code produced by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This document provides the foundation for many state and city codes. The NFPA 13, 2022 combined with local jurisdiction amendments form the state codes.
There are three common types of pressure-regulating devices, including pressure-restricting valves, pressure-reducing valves and pressure-relief valves. Each valve type has different uses and means of operation.
FDCs are typically located on the outside of the property they protect, but can sometimes be completely separated from the building altogether. Such FDCs are known as freestanding or sidewalk FDCs. In any case, NFPA 13 requires FDCs to be located on the street side of the property (if possible).
Class I standpipes shall be installed in existing buildings with occupied floors located more than 50 feet (15 240 mm) above or below the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
We allow licensed commercial customers to remove water from standpipes for building, road cleaning, graffiti removal or landscaping work. To use a standpipe on our network, you must have a licence, and hire a metered standpipe from our service provider, Aquam.
[F] 905.4 Location of Class I Standpipe Hose Connections
In every required interior exit stairway, a hose connection shall be provided for each story above and below grade plane. Hose connections shall be located at the main floor landing unless otherwise approved by the fire code official.
Class III Systems shall provide [1-1/2″ (38 mm)] hose stations to supply water for use by trained building occupants and [2-1/2″ (64 mm)] hose connections to supply a larger volume of water for use by fire departments and those trained in handling heavy water streams.
This overall pressure difference across the pipe is related to a number of factors: Friction between the fluid and the wall of the pipe. Friction between adjacent layers of the fluid itself. Friction loss as the fluid passes through any pipe fittings, bends, valves, or components.
Pressure test for hoses after 5 years of installation, and every 3 years after the initial 5 year period. A comprehensive backflow preventer test. Control valves and pressure-reducing valves. A full system flow test.
The standpipe test is one of the simplest tests for measuring the water absorption characteristics of concrete. A vertical tube is bonded onto the horizontal concrete surface to be tested. The tube is then filled up with water to a certain level and then allowed to be absorbed into the concrete.