I recently went to size a break tank where a strong supply nearly met the flow requirements and a pump was a given. Since you need to have a refill rate equal to 110% of the system demand, and we didn't, there wasn't any point in pursuing it.
George L. Church, Jr., CET Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. PO Box 407, Middleburg, PA 17842 877-324-ROWE 570-837-6335 fax g...@rowesprinkler.com -----Original Message----- From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Sprinkler Academy - C Bilbo Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 3:13 PM To: FORUM Subject: RE: 20 PSI Minimum The requirement is part of the Clean Water Act and has been mandated as part of Federal Law. It is adopted and enforced by every US State's EPA (or equivalent). You can draw the pressure in potable water supplies below 20 psi but then you must issue a boil order and provide evidence that the weater is not contaminated. There are some VERY hefty fines associated with non-compliance. And to Ron's point, not everyone enforces the rules so heavily...... The pressure limiting devices (PLD's) that throttle work very well for such circumstances. So Tim, if your system's calculated demand flow would draw the city water supply in the street to a pressure below 20 psi, you'll need to weigh the cost of a PLD or a tank (or find a way to get the demand flow down!) It should be recognized that the above is my opinion as a member of the NFPA, and has not been processed as a formal interpretation in accordance with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects and should therefore not be considered, nor relied upon, as the official position of the the NFPA, nor any of their technical committees. Sincerely, Cecil Bilbo Academy of Fire Sprinkler Technology Champaign, IL 217.607.0325 www.sprinkleracademy.com ce...@sprinkleracademy.com OUR STUDENTS SAVE LIVES!! > From: g...@rowesprinkler.com > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:20:48 -0500 > Subject: RE: 20 PSI Minimum > > "The surprise comes to those of us on the outside who aren't familiar with > the local rules and regulations." > > Boy, there are many of us who have learned this one the hard way, even > despite due diligence. > > > George L. Church, Jr., CET > Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. > PO Box 407, Middleburg, PA 17842 > 877-324-ROWE 570-837-6335 fax > g...@rowesprinkler.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org > [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of > craig.pr...@ch2m.com > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 2:14 PM > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Subject: RE: 20 PSI Minimum > > If the water department mandate is to not allow the municipal supply to drop > below 20 psi the FD has no choice but to comply and bring in tankers if > necessary. This was the plan for a project we had about three years ago where > this very requirement was in place. The FD knew of the water purveyor's 20 > psi requirement and had a contingency plan for areas of the municipality > where the water supply was weak. This is typically not a surprise to the FD > and the water dept. The surprise comes to those of us on the outside who > aren't familiar with the local rules and regulations. > > > Craig L. Prahl, CET > Fire Protection > CH2MHILL > Lockwood Greene > 1500 International Drive > Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 > Direct - 864.599.4102 > Fax - 864.599.8439 > CH2MHILL Extension 74102 > craig.pr...@ch2m.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org > [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of > mphe...@aerofire.com > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 12:56 PM > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Subject: RE: 20 PSI Minimum > > So in this situation, should the responding fire company stop boosting the > FDC from a hydrant at 19 PSI? None that I know would stop. > Mark at Aero > > -----Original Message----- > From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org > [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of George > Church > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 10:51 AM > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Subject: RE: 20 PSI Minimum > > Are we talking a low suction cut-off, but of the supply NOT suction to a pump? > I suppose the water co wouldn't want the pressure to go below 20, but it > flies in the face of all we stand for to have a shut-off inserted for > stopping the operation of the sprinkler system if the supply pressure is > below 20 PSI. You could save a lot of first floor lives with 20 PSI. > > > George L. Church, Jr., CET > Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. > PO Box 407, Middleburg, PA 17842 > 877-324-ROWE 570-837-6335 fax > g...@rowesprinkler.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org > [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Owen > Evans > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2012 12:34 PM > To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > Subject: Re: 20 PSI Minimum > > > > Hello Timothy, > This is the first post I've seen on 20 psi minimum. Can you give me more > details on this? > Thanks, > Owen Evans > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Timothy W Goins <tgo...@rgv.rr.com> > To: sprinklerforum <sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org> > Sent: Mon, Nov 12, 2012 9:23 am > Subject: 20 PSI Minimum > > > How are others addressing the 20 PSI minimum operating pressures of the fire > sprinkler system? Here is a quote from a spec that I have received. > > "The fire protection systems shall not be designed to operate if the > residual > > pressure of the existing water service falls to 20 psi or lower at > design flow > > requirements." > > > > Timothy W Goins > A & T Services > > > > "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of > God unto salvation to everyone that believeth;." KJV Romans 1:16 > > > > Reply to <mailto:tgo...@rgv.rr.com> mailto:tgo...@rgv.rr.com > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was > scrubbed... > URL: > <http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/atta > chments/20121112/9c2eef0f/attachment.html> > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was > scrubbed... > URL: > <http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/atta > chments/20121112/3adace85/attachment.html> > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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