Recently we had a 3 building 4 story lightweight wood trussed constructed 55 + complex built with combination sprinkler/standpipe. Currently an old foundry turned furniture warehouse building constructed of heavy timber with masonary being converted into luxury apartments with combination sprinkler/standpipe.
Question, what are your opinions, experiences with the combination?
This is directly from Harvel's website just to show that I am not pulling your leg.
Maintenance
Maintenance shall be in accordance with the Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water Based Sprinkler Systems as defined by NFPA 25.
Limitations
CPVC systems are intended for use at a maximum working pressure of 175 psi and ambient temperature of 150F.
CPVC systems shall employ sprinkler heads having a maximum temperature rating of 225F or lower, regardless of type.
CPVC products shall be installed in wet pipe systems only.
Air or compressed gas shall never be used for pressure testing. CPVC sprinkler systems shall be hydrostatically tested for 2 hours at 200 psi, or 50 psi in excess of the maximum working pressure when the maximum working pressure exceeds 150 psi. Lines shall be slowly filled with water and the air bled from the highest and farthest sprinkler heads before test pressure is applied.
Only Teflon tape or a thread sealant specifically approved for use with Harvel CPVC Fire Sprinkler Products shall be used in making threaded connections.
Where freeze protection is required, only glycerin based anti-freeze solutions shall be used and installed in accordance with NFPA 13. Do not use glycol base anti-freeze solutions or contaminated glycerin solutions.
CPVC is not approved for use in combustible concealed spaces where sprinklers are required to protect these areas as defined by NFPA 13, unless certain specific application sprinklers are installed per their listing. Refer to Harvel’s current Installation Instructions for additional information.
CPVC sprinkler piping may be installed in a plenum space adjacent to, but not over, openings in the ceiling such as open ventilation grills, and require the use of schedule 80 fittings for use on 1-1/2” and larger pipe sizes. Refer to Installation Instructions for additional detail.
Minimum protection when installed “concealed” shall consist of: 3/8” gypsum wallboard or drywall, suspended membrane ceiling panels weighing not less than .35 pounds per square foot, or 1/2” plywood soffits. Minimum protection for NFPA 13R and 13D systems may consist of 1/2” plywood.
Harvel BlazeMaster pipe is Listed for use in exposed applications with certain limitations. When installed without protection, “exposed” pipe is to be installed beneath smooth, flat, horizontal ceiling construction. Exposed categories include: standard coverage and residential pendent and sidewall sprinkler applications, light hazard extended coverage and residential sprinkler pendent and sidewall sprinkler applications, use in unfinished basements with exposed solid wood joists, light hazard upright quick response sprinklers, and system risers (in 13R & 13D occupancies). Refer to Harvel’s installation instructions for specific sprinkler head temperature ratings and spacing requirements. The product must be installed in strict accordance with NFPA 13, 13D, 13R and Harvel’s current CPVC Fire Sprinkler Piping Products Installation Instructions (HFS-3).
Harvel CPVC Fire Sprinkler Products must be installed in accordance with Harvel’s current installation instructions (HFS-3).
Working pressure means the pressure that the system is in service at, which will depend on the incoming water supply and whether or not there is a fire pump installed in the building. I am going to assume that there probably is a pump due to the size of the building.
the system installed here is by Tyco. The system is wet in climate controlled areas. The attics are glycol, in black iron. The heads that protect the balconies, bank drive thru and breeze way are dry. The dry pipes are factory set. They ar 18" long with a one way air valve connected to the interior pvc.
Tyco,Harvel,Blazemaster CPVC pipe is all made to the same specifications. The point I was trying to make is that they should have been tested @ 200lbs for two hours per NFPA standards. If you take a close look at most of the devices used in a fire protection system their specifications show a working pressure of 175psi.
If the system was designed correctly and installed per the drawings you should have adequate pressure at the furthest hose valve even if you are flowing the calculated amount of heads. Especially if there is a pump involved.