An Sectional Drain, although auxiliary to a Main Drain, is not an Auxiliary Drain. An Auxiliary Drain would be like a low point drain. A Sectional Drain is like a Main Drain for a section of a system that can be isolated by a Sectional Valve.
On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 2:14 PM, Matt Mueller <m...@metrofp.com> wrote: > I had never noticed the commentary statement "Unlike the main drain, the > auxiliary drain is not intended to be flow tested.", but I do find that odd > seeing that 13.3.1.2.1 of the same edition requires "When the valve is > returned to service, a drain test (either main or sectional drain, as > appropriate) shall be conducted to determine that the valve is open" > Although for that testing, it really doesn't matter the size of the pipe > or drain, as long as there is no change from year to year, or quarter to > quarter. > > > Matthew Mueller > Metropolitan Fire Protection > 175 Gordon St > Elk Grove Village > Illinois, 60007 > P 847.758.9820 > F 847.758.9822 > C 847.602.3576 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Morey, Mike [mailto:mo...@bmwc.com] > Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 12:56 PM > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Subject: NFPA 25 and main drain tests > > We have had a question come up about main drain testing per NFPA 25: > > In the NFPA 25 2011 handbook it states: > > 13.2.4 Before opening a test or drain valve, it shall be verified that > adequate provisions have been made for drainage. > > The commentary for this item includes the phrase: > > In high-rise buildings with the sprinkler riser in the stairway, a > separate drain line is often installed that is one diameter larger than the > largest main drain valve connected to the drain line. The drain line should > not be considered a main drain connection, but should be viewed as an > auxiliary drain for each floor. Unlike the main drain, the auxiliary drain > is not intended to be flow tested. The auxiliary drain line can be used to > conduct flow tests on pressure regulating valves installed in the fire > sprinkler system and in the fire department standpipe system, and also to > test the system flow switch. > > This is followed up with the testing requirements: > > 13.2.5* Main Drain Test. A main drain test shall be conducted annually at > each water based fire protection system riser to determine whether there > has been a change in the condition of the water supply piping and control > valves. (See also 13.3.3.4.) > > Additionally this annex material is presented: > > A.13.2.5 Main drains are installed on system risers for one principal > reason: to drain water from the overhead piping after the system is shut > off. This allows the contractor or plant maintenance department to perform > work on the system or to replace nozzles after a fire or other incident > involving system operation. > > The test for standpipe systems should be done at the low-point drain for > each standpipe or the main drain test connection where the supply main > enters the building. > > NFPA 13 2010 Handbook states: > > 8.16.2.4.5 For those drains serving pressure-reducing valves, the drain, > drain connection, and all other downstream drain piping shall be sized to > permit a flow of at least the greatest system demand supplied by the > pressure-reducing valve. > > And the handbook expands with: > > Piping controlled by sectional valves represents a significant segment of > the sprinkler system. Sectional or floor control valves serve the same > function for that portion of the system as the main drain does for the > entire system. The use of express drains in high-rise nuildings is one > method of disposing of water from upper floors. Express drains or floor > drains used when the drain does not drain directly to the outside must be > capable of handling the flow and not restrict it. > > Is the NFPA 13 material meant only to apply to the full flow testing of > pressure reducing valves? We have some concern that these two standards > conflict on the idea of "express drains" when it comes to floor control > manifolds not installed on combination standpipe risers. With a dedicated > sprinkler riser is the intent to use a full flow main drain test at each > floor control valve, or only at the lowest level of the building on the > lead in? Floor control valves aren't explicitly defined but appear meet all > the requirements of a "system riser" which is defined, and is the term used > in the actual code material. > > > Mike Morey, SET, CFPS > Sprinkler Designer > BMW Constructors, Inc. > O: 317.651.0596 | C: 317.586.8111 > www.bmwc.com > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/attachments/20120209/955cf7e9/attachment.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 rgreen...@bates.ctc.edu http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/attachments/20120213/bc1fbd4c/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
