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Lee County Fire Marshal’s Association |
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Knowledge and Integrity |
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ARTICLE NUMBER: AS 2000-04
SUBJECT: Hydrostatic Testing of Underground Fire Lines
OBJECTIVE: Coordinate Fl Statute, NFPA 24
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 24(1992), FS 633.021(16)
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 2000
BACKGROUND: Clarification Requested during the January 2000 Lee county Fire Marshal’s Codes & Standards Meeting.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: 1. Test conducted from the designated point of service, including the backflow prevention device, to the above ground riser connection after flushing operations.
2. Trench is backfilled between joints.
3. Pipeline is filled with water in a manner to remove all air.
4. Pressure is applied in 50 psi increments. Joints and fittings will be visually examined by the owners representative and the contractor at each 50 psi interval.
5. Attain 200 psi on the entire system for a period not less than 2 hrs. An alternate test method described in A8-9.3.1 may be utilized.
6. This test will be witnessed by a representative of the property owner and the results will be witnessed by the Authority having Jurisdiction.
7. A copy of the test results (Pass/Fail) will be provided to the contractor upon completion of the test.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: AS 2000-02
SUBJECT: Inspection of Underground Fire Lines
OBJECTIVE: Coordinate NFPA 24, NFPA 13 & FL Statute
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 24(1992), NFPA 13(1994), FS 633.021(16)
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 2000
BACKGROUND: Clarification request made during the January 2000 Lee County Fire Marshal’s Codes & Standards Meeting.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: 1. The inspection starts at the point of service as designated on the approved plan.
2. NFPA 13 system pipe must be listed for fire protection service. In NFPA 13R & 13D systems, U/G pipe is specified per local plumbing code (normally blazemaster CPVC or Schedule 80 PVC).
3. Depth of cover is indicated on the plan. Minimum depth 2 ½’ from the top of the pipe to the finished grade, 3’ under driveways, 4’ under railroad tracks.
4. Pipe joints, restraints, fittings and thrust blocks installed per details on plan.
5. All bolted joint accessories, rods, nuts, bolts, washers, clamps and other restraining devices (excluding thrust blocks) have been cleaned and thoroughly coated with a bituminous or other acceptable corrosion retarding material AFTER INSTALLATION.
6. Transition from underground to above ground piping is metallic and protected
7. Fire Department Connection is located on the street side of the building per plan and is located so that hose lines can be readily attached.
8. A copy of the “U” Form shall be provided to the inspector prior to inspection.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: EG-S 1999-01
SUBJECT: Interior Stairs in Apartment Buildings (multifamily, condos, etc)
OBJECTIVE: Clarify stair requirements within living units of apartment buildings.
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 18-2.1 New Apartment Buildings, NFPA 21-2 One & Two Family Dwellings and SBC 1007.3.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 18, 1999
BACKGROUND: There has been confusion about where fire district jurisdiction ends and what code is applied.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Both the Building Code and Fire Life Safety Code have stair requirements for the interior of living units. The differences have been evaluated as detailed below.
The differences are;
1. Riser height; 8” maximum risers with 9 ” minimum treads (Life Safety Code) vs. 7 ¾ ” maximum risers with 9 ” minimum treads (Building Code)
2. The Building Code also further requires that the sum of two risers and one tread, exclusive of nosing, may not be less than 24” or greater than 25”.
A conflict does not exist. The procedure is to comply with both the Building and Fire Code. This means the maximum permitted riser height of 8” in the Life Safety Code is limited to 7 ¾”. Related Topic(s)
See - Handrails and guards See – Landings
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: FA 2000-02A
SUBJECT: Damp or Wet Location
OBJECTIVE: To clarify what is an “outdoor area”, a damp, or wet location by code.
CODE REFERENCES: NFPA 70: Article 1, & NFPA 72:1-5.5 (c) (96 edition)
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 15, 2000 (updated 7/7/2000)
BACKGROUND: Questions are still being asked concerning damp and wet locations. Is a device installed in a parking garage a damp or wet location? Is a device on a screened porch or covered walkway considered a damp or wet location?
POLICY/PROCEDURE: Outdoor areas are areas that are not under roof and enclosed by walls. In South Florida all outdoor areas are exposed to high humidity and high temperatures the equipment must be listed to perform in humid conditions in accordance with NFPA 72 (1-5.5 c) 1996 edition. The issue of damp, dry and wet are discussed in the National Electric Code. These conditions may occur inside or outside. The parking garage and the screen porch are both considered “damp locations”.
The following definitions from the National Electric Code determine Damp, Dry or Wet locations.
NFPA 70 The National Electric Code, Article 100 Definitions
Damp Location: Partially protected locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and like locations, and interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, and some cold-storage warehouses.
Dry Location: A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be temporarily subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a building under construction.
Wet Location: Installations underground or in concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth, and locations subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas, and locations exposed to weather and unprotected.
The issue of humidity exposure is addressed in NFPA 72 (1-5.5 c) 1996 edition. The equipment must perform under the following conditions. “(c) At a relative humidity of 85 percent and an ambient temperature of 86ºF. ”
ATTACHMENTS: (see FA 99-02, FA 99-03, FA 99-04, FA 99-05, FA 99-06, FA 99-07)
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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ARTICLE NUMBER: AS 2000-01
SUBJECT: Plan Review of Underground Fire Lines
OBJECTIVE: Coordinate NFPA 24, 13 & Florida Statute
CODE REFERENCE: NFPA 24(1992), FS 633.021(16), NFPA 13(1994)
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 2000
BACKGROUND: Clarification request made during the January 2000 Lee County Fire Marshal’s Codes & Standards Meeting.
POLICY/PROCEDURE: A site layout plan drawn to scale, approved by the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) for each new underground fire line shall include:
1. The size and location of all water supplies, indicating the type and depth of existing pipe.
2. The size, type and burial depth of new pipe. Details to include a metallic transition from plastic underground piping to the above ground piping and riser protection, and methods of restraint (megalugs, thrust blocks, or both).
3. The size, type and location of valves (pit or indicating), meters, regulators, check valves, and hydrants (with outlet specifications)
4. The location of hose houses and equipment, if any.
5. Indicate sprinkler risers, standpipe risers and monitor nozzles (if any) to be supplied with the system.
6. The location of the fire department connection to be street side of building, including a detail drawing. Wording stating, “FDC supplied by others” or similar language is not sufficient.
7. Point-of-service must be indicated by the engineer who sealed the plans (50 or more heads), or by the contractor who designed the plans (49 or fewer heads). Point-of-service is defined as the point where the water supply is used exclusively for the fire sprinkler system. Florida Statute requires that a fire sprinkler contractor or a type V underground contractor install pipe from this point.
8. Indicate on the plans the results of the flow test, GPM, static and residual pressures of the water supply.
9. Method of control valve supervision ( electric, chained) needs to be noted.
* This is a non-binding interpretation or position. Check with the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. *
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Policy And Procedure Manual |