Greetings -
Working on a problem currently - here's the synopsis of it: Building built in 1998-1999 with sprinklers throughout. FDC is located in the front at the street approximately 25 feet from actual building. FD responds to a fire and supports the FDC (125 PSI) when they notice red muddy water percolating up through the ground between the building and FDC. They cease supplying the FDC and the interior crews save the day. Now comes the diagnosis and repair work - Excavate the entire FDC line and it appears to be ductile iron pipe (4") and runs from the check valve inside the foundation wall straight out of the building for 24 feet and then has its first fitting to connect to the FDC base. No couplings or fittings otherwise in the line. The FDC check valve is a Victaulic and is marked 250 PSI Ductile Iron which further supports my belief the piping is DI. The wet system piping is ordinary Sch 10 grooved. Does DI come in 24 foot lengths normally ? Upon cleaning the pipe numerous holes from pins to thumb sized are found along a four foot section of the piping. Repairs are being prepared but I'm curious about the use and selection of DI for a dry - empty FDC line into the building. Also wondering if such deterioration is plausible in just 12 years or so. The fill in this section of pipe is a red clay and not the cleanest fill (rocks) around but these holes don't appear to be physical impact damage. Any thoughts - on the DI or better yet another pipe material for the installation to prevent future problems in 12 years. I was thinking it should be galvanized pipe and wrapped in heavy plastic prior to burial and using clean sand around the pipe but I'm not a designer either. Thanks- Dave P. A firefighter with just enough knowledge to be dangerous _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
