There will be more multi purpose systems on the market soon, along with different trades doing the installation. As Mike said earlier, some states don't have licensing requirements. Georgia regulates all systems except one and two family installations. Maybe the combination of new systems and new installers should require the bucket test to at least prove the correct flow from one or two sprinklers. If the Residential Building Code (or Plumbing Code or whatever) is modified to incorporate some type of hybrid system other than a 13D (and it appears it will), would a TIA to 13D have any affect on the Residential or Plumbing Code? Wouldn't the bucket test need to be adopted into these other codes?
Some years ago there was a small orifice residential (was it K=2.8?). I believe there was a recall on sprinklers by the manufacturer, but before the recall we installed this model in a residential complex, I believe the systems were 13D modified by the local authority, and the bucket test was required. It failed. The pre design and post installation water test were the same, so maybe the problem was in the 1-1/2" UG, we don't know. What did work was to change the sprinklers to a larger orifice residential model. We found the fix to the problem after the first two units then all the rest worked fine. I don't like the aggravation and cost of the bucket test but it does appear to provide more definitive proof if the system will work. On the above project the calculations were checked and rechecked with the small orifice sprinkler and found to be correct. Without the bucket test the sprinklers would have only flowed about half of what was required. Bobby McCullough -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Drucker Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:57 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: What is a Bucket Test? (TIA Needed) Thanks Mike, I understand the concept, however what if a) the job is installed to plan & calcs b) the job is installed to revised plans & calcs. ? What I'm getting at is the need for the bucket test if the plans and calcs demonstrate compliance. What I'm getting at is just how reliable are hydraulic calcs ? On the surface the bucket test implies that hydraulic calculations in of themselves are not to be relied on and that proof of hydraulic performance is neccesary. If that's the case how about 13R and 13 Systems ?. Its not a water supply "connection" issue since a main drain test is the accepted method to validate this. While the bucket test also performs this function, the need to measure performance in the area of operation serves no other purpose then to validate hydraulic design. If it's the installation, i.e. obstructions, pipe size, sprinkler heads we're concerned about we need to be flow testing beyond the area of operation. Lastly theres nothing in our adopted codes or standards that require a "bucket test". Frankly a contractor would well be within their right to appeal my decision to require such a test. Don't take that as I don't believe theres some validity to "bucket tests", I do, but theres nothing for me to hang my enforcement hat on and we all know how contractors insist on "show me in the code." Sincerely, John Drucker Fire Protection Subcode Official (AHJ) New Jersey Safe Buildings Save Lives ! _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
