Thanks for all of the input. If I were writing code I would strongly encourage the use of outside PIVs. In the cold parts of the world, it gives easier access to control the water line to the sprinklers inside the building, without having to dig through snow or chip away ice.
I like the idea of preferring these valves to be a building height away from the outside wall, then scale it back where it is impractical to do that. I may just have to propose that for NFPA 13. The other frustration with the case I citied is that the city enforcing this rule just recently changed their code. They used to allow no outside PIV as long as there was an indicating valve indoors within a certain distance from an exterior door. Now they've decided it's worth the added expense, elbows, and general confusion to rout a lead-in main 200 ft. out of it way just to meet the 40 ft. requirement. I believe it is time for me to write a courteous letter of disagreement to their codes office (along with a recommendation for improvement). Mark A. Sornsin, PE Fire Protection Engineer Ulteig Engineers, Inc. Fargo, ND 701.280.8591 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 1:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: PIV 40ft from Building There are plenty of water districts out there that do their own street work up to face of, or back of curb. We work regularly with at least one that REQUIRES a second in-line valve at the termination. Not a blow-off, not a cap or plug, but a valve. So once you extend into the property and build a backflow (exterior, above grade here in sunny SoCal), you get FOUR control valve at the exterior of a system. As for the 40 foot distance, I'm only speculating, but there are plenty of FD's out there that consider the building height and make that the minimum distance. We see that throughout the Southwest, especially with tilt-up buildings. In case of wall failure, they want the step-down point out of harm's way ... Steve Leyton Protection Design & Consulting _______________________________________________ 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)
