Tom, Here is a comment that we include on our plan review for all systems that have a fire pump. We require this drain on the suction side of the pump to test/verify in integrity of the incoming water supply.
"A main drain test connection must be installed on the suction side of the pump per NFPA-13 (2002 edition), paragraph 8.16. 4.1." rick matsuda city of dallas -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tom Duross Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 2:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Fire Pump Room Main Drain I'm looking for opinions on this. A new building I just took over ITM on has a fire pump feeding combination standpipes, fully sprinklered high-rise circa 1974. Existing 2" main drain is toast, handle broken, stem all chewed up from wrenching. I proposed we change it, use a 300# ball valve, galvy pipe; do it right. BUT, it's on the system riser off the pump discharge and I say wrong location. Even the standard still says do a main drain test when you have a fire pump (imho silly), so I do. A main drain test is to verify supply condition. I say with it where it is, we either have to drop the building to street pressure OR do a main drain with the pump running. In a case like this I always do the latter but I see others dropping the building and I think it's unnecessary and an impairment. The problem I have with doing 150-200# main drain tests is they do dump a ton of water, even with a fire hose off the 2" el and a hose monster. I feel it's overkill and unnecessary on top of a waste of time but whatever. My issue (finally) is where to properly place a main drain when you have a pump. I say on the street side bypass supply, just flow supply pressure and be done with it. Facilities guy says others dumped building and just do that. Sprinklers are tested with the pump running, last few companies shut it off and went on jockey, that's why they're gone. Looking for opinions and even second opinions (ok you're ugly too). What's the proper location? TD _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler .org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
