Probably semantics, but if the water supply has improved enough that a 
calculation now works, then it is no longer a “pipe schedule” system. It is now 
a “hydraulically calculated” system. So you could throw that 20 psi stipulation 
out the window.

I doubt you’ll have a working calculation where you can’t get 20 psi to the 
elevation of the sprinklers, but I’m just saying.

-Kyle M


From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Reed A. Roisum, SET
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2017 12:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Pipe Schedule System

Ron,

I guess I’m probably a rare bird as I work for an engineering firm but am NICET 
certified.  Typically, when I write reports they are reviewed and signed by a 
PE in my company.

Correct, occupancy hasn’t changed.  I did a lot of playing with the calc and it 
for sure isn’t going to work with the city water supply.  I am planning on 
performing a new flow test because the last one is a few years old and there 
has been some underground main work in the area where I might gain a couple of 
pounds.  But, even if the water supply has improved, with the stipulation about 
having to have 20 psi at the elevation of the highest sprinkler in a pipe 
schedule system, that a fire pump is the only option.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Reed



Reed A. Roisum, SET | Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. | Senior Fire Protection 
Designer | Fargo, ND | direct: 701.552.9903 | mobile: 701.388.1352 | 
KFIengineers.com<http://secure-web.cisco.com/1HcQZMCHpNKmgzCvOU7e0obfrRqMBS-1OZ_eRTpg50q5NSJ6Zdi52rpQRbVH9Ab2ZG_Ps95aEwg4zd-1zQQZp9d03qc85ecgLIT3nmPwIUQht5cFwMM2a7EjXf1LqYb0Mt4oH3LseP_UuFhTrQFr3XQ_K-QzAFg1AT9ehEz8Knm2gE1sFVxcGTofTsp2w1p9QxzDcEEQY_ROLM9d8ZKoM6cx3RxvxSq9BRrfs_z0Gsvk2Xymz233OWRocoZ0OEG4JHfgyFlbNcr_0r8hn_qcfLg/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kfiengineers.com>
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of rongreenman .
Sent: Friday, October 6, 2017 2:26 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Pipe Schedule System

The minimum standard of care is to meet the requirements of the applicable 
version of NFPA 13 (and maybe 20). The SET after your name limits you to that. 
If it were a PE you'd have more flexibility but still need to prove your 
assessment was equal to or better than the minimum standard. You're just in a 
crappy place with this one. We are assuming occupancy hasn't changed? Yes? You 
say your issue is elevation and the problem is residual pressure. Can you play 
around with orifice size?

On Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 11:59 AM, Reed A. Roisum, SET 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
I’m not a contractor so I’m not worried about losing work.  I am trying to help 
the owner and making sure I am exploring all options available so they can make 
the decision with all of the pertinent information.  Like I said, I will 
recommend installing the fire pump and fully sprinklering the building, but 
just wondering if that is the only option, or if there are other, not as good, 
options.


Reed A. Roisum, SET | Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. | Senior Fire Protection 
Designer | Fargo, ND | direct: 701.552.9903<tel:(701)%20552-9903> | mobile: 
701.388.1352<tel:(701)%20388-1352> | 
KFIengineers.com<http://secure-web.cisco.com/1HcQZMCHpNKmgzCvOU7e0obfrRqMBS-1OZ_eRTpg50q5NSJ6Zdi52rpQRbVH9Ab2ZG_Ps95aEwg4zd-1zQQZp9d03qc85ecgLIT3nmPwIUQht5cFwMM2a7EjXf1LqYb0Mt4oH3LseP_UuFhTrQFr3XQ_K-QzAFg1AT9ehEz8Knm2gE1sFVxcGTofTsp2w1p9QxzDcEEQY_ROLM9d8ZKoM6cx3RxvxSq9BRrfs_z0Gsvk2Xymz233OWRocoZ0OEG4JHfgyFlbNcr_0r8hn_qcfLg/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kfiengineers.com>
From: Sprinklerforum 
[mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>]
 On Behalf Of Matthew J Willis
Sent: Friday, October 6, 2017 1:51 PM

To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Pipe Schedule System

I understand. I truly do. But to answer if it changes my thoughts, the answer 
is no. Not only that, it makes my position more steadfast.

I could use that same thought process of perceived life safety improvement, and 
just place one sprinkler in each large storage room, and come back and add the 
rest at a later date, when it is more convenient/affordable.

As Ron stated, give the life safety assessment. I have lost customers before, 
and walked on others. But I never worried about anything I recommended or 
provided.

R/
Matt



Matthew J. Willis
Project Manager
Rapid Fire Protection 
Inc.<http://secure-web.cisco.com/19x3Egmd7sByBCA7fXbULt-pwjDwdEzvB9fsm2AfQ2lVX__wn0gDONQu3JxgL5Y4EZ8SJ5Kx5xsjgXJnku7TBdDWf3UKY2f-AksoJ5uQ4IiWjgj4Fovx_lRdnydn4Cv2t89eqcfY8jNVZgbI5puL1ujcj2cDO9fEFa5F7SycSbjifol6VWTCcI5sD5-SxeAbBs_GaCC228Y6acefWOZwm-Glkf5PNtLqIil36Nhtn5nQpsva9YaHaZbi6U-KA367iKVWi-0f-dFOwBrZzCgw3mQ/http%3A%2F%2Frapidfireinc.com%2F>
1530 Samco Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
Office-605.348.2342<tel:(605)%20348-2342>
Direct Line-605.593.5063<tel:(605)%20593-5063>
Cell-605.391.2733<tel:(605)%20391-2733>
Fax:-605.348.0108<tel:(605)%20348-0108>

[cid:[email protected]]



From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Reed A. Roisum, SET
Sent: Friday, October 6, 2017 12:33 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Pipe Schedule System

Ron, Todd, Scott, Matt:

I agree with your statements and I’m not trying to be argumentative, but the 
system in place currently, does not “work”.  We all know that even if the 
system doesn’t hydraulically work it still provides a degree of life safety and 
could actually “work” to control a fire….whatever…it has been assumed that it 
will do that job for the last 50 years.  If the owner decides they don’t want 
the expense and hassle of a fire pump and decides to scrap the whole fire 
sprinkler upgrade because of it, then life safety has not improved at all.  
However, if the entire rest of the building is retrofitted with sprinklers, 
life safety does improve, and maybe down the road they can install a fire pump 
so the entire system will calc.

I know it is the owner’s decision, but I am looking at it in a practical way, 
how I have often witnessed the fire official look at it.  That is, we would be 
improving the life safety of the building dramatically and leaving an 
“inadequate” system in place.  I know liability is a big part of a discussion 
like this, but if we leave that out for now, does that change your thoughts at 
all?

I am thinking of it this way because the owner’s rep said, “This could be a 
game changer for us”, when I told them the existing system would not “work” 
without a fire pump.  I know what is best and that is what I will recommend, 
but because I haven’t dealt with pipe schedule systems (other than replacing 
them), I was wondering in what instances, if any, you can leave a pipe schedule 
system in place when doing an upgrade?  I also thought of discussing with the 
AHJ the option of retrofitting sprinklers throughout the building now, and 
installing a fire pump later.

Just looking for options beyond what would be ideal.

Thanks.

Reed



Reed A. Roisum, SET | Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. | Senior Fire Protection 
Designer | Fargo, ND | direct: 701.552.9903<tel:(701)%20552-9903> | mobile: 
701.388.1352<tel:(701)%20388-1352> | 
KFIengineers.com<http://secure-web.cisco.com/1HcQZMCHpNKmgzCvOU7e0obfrRqMBS-1OZ_eRTpg50q5NSJ6Zdi52rpQRbVH9Ab2ZG_Ps95aEwg4zd-1zQQZp9d03qc85ecgLIT3nmPwIUQht5cFwMM2a7EjXf1LqYb0Mt4oH3LseP_UuFhTrQFr3XQ_K-QzAFg1AT9ehEz8Knm2gE1sFVxcGTofTsp2w1p9QxzDcEEQY_ROLM9d8ZKoM6cx3RxvxSq9BRrfs_z0Gsvk2Xymz233OWRocoZ0OEG4JHfgyFlbNcr_0r8hn_qcfLg/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kfiengineers.com>
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of rongreenman .
Sent: Friday, October 6, 2017 12:39 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Pipe Schedule System

If the system isn't required by code and you are doing a life safety analysis 
then your job is to give the client advice regarding life safety.

1. The client wants good life safety demonstrated by have the analysis done at 
all.
2. The system is not required.
3. Better life safety is obtained with a system.
4. The system can't work without a pump, thus a pump is required for the 
desired degree of life safety.
5. Analysis of cost versus benefit of the system.
6. Owner's decision.

On Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 10:27 AM, 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Everything you install or modify has to “work”. Anything that you know doesn’t 
is bad ethics and a huge liability issue. Give the owner the options for fully 
adequate systems and let him make the decision.

Todd G Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, CT
860-535-2080<tel:(860)%20535-2080> (ofc)
860-553-3553<tel:(860)%20553-3553> (fax)
860-608-4559<tel:(860)%20608-4559> (cell)

On Oct 6, 2017 at 12:41 PM, <SET Reed A. Roisum<mailto:[email protected]>> 
wrote:
I have an existing pipe schedule system in a partially sprinklered 
building…installed in 1969.  I am doing a life safety analysis that includes 
budget estimating to provide new fire alarm and sprinklers.  The existing pipe 
schedule portion of the system is considerably higher in elevation and remote.  
It doesn’t work hydraulically with the city supply.  Even when I replace the 
system with larger pipe I can’t get the calc to work.

In order to install a new system or keep the existing system in place and have 
it hydraulically “work” we will need to install a fire pump.  My problem is, 
the owner may decide to just upgrade the fire alarm system and not sprinkler 
the building if we need a fire pump as the sprinkler retrofit is voluntary.

My question for the Forum is, can an existing pipe schedule system be left in 
place even if we retrofit the rest of the building and hydraulically prove the 
rest of the building?

NFPA 13, 2013 edition…
23.5 Pipe Schedules  Pipe schedules shall not be used, except in existing 
systems and in new systems or extensions to existing systems described in 
Chapter 11.  Water supplies shall conform to 11.2.2.

If I can meet the water supply requirements of Table 11.2.2.1 for Ordinary 
Hazard, which is a minimum pressure of 20 psi flowing 850 gpm then is the pipe 
schedule permitted?

It appears as though I am out of luck because of 11.2.2.6.1 Residual Pressure… 
The residual pressure requirement of Table 11.2.2.1 shall be met at the 
elevation of the highest sprinkler.

The main reason I can’t get the calc to work is because of elevation.

I would assume the AHJ would be willing to work with us if the choices are… 1. 
No upgrade to the sprinkler system, or 2. A fully sprinklered building with 
2000 sq ft that is pipe schedule and doesn’t work hydraulically.

Any insight or ideas will be appreciated.

Reed



Reed A. Roisum, SET | Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. | Senior Fire Protection 
Designer | Fargo, ND | direct: 701.552.9903<tel:(701)%20552-9903> | mobile: 
701.388.1352<tel:(701)%20388-1352> | 
KFIengineers.com<http://secure-web.cisco.com/1HcQZMCHpNKmgzCvOU7e0obfrRqMBS-1OZ_eRTpg50q5NSJ6Zdi52rpQRbVH9Ab2ZG_Ps95aEwg4zd-1zQQZp9d03qc85ecgLIT3nmPwIUQht5cFwMM2a7EjXf1LqYb0Mt4oH3LseP_UuFhTrQFr3XQ_K-QzAFg1AT9ehEz8Knm2gE1sFVxcGTofTsp2w1p9QxzDcEEQY_ROLM9d8ZKoM6cx3RxvxSq9BRrfs_z0Gsvk2Xymz233OWRocoZ0OEG4JHfgyFlbNcr_0r8hn_qcfLg/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kfiengineers.com>

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
 
http://secure-web.cisco.com/1s80vLdecIi1YI3AyTWUezvxCoT9QVC77EHYkcRj0XLpCJoDgI39NIzIf5PbigPrDnEly1jNMQz8zmUpIsM_HNGbIf3ckk1V8OWW80VJPdb4NPTrE5v9icBqgjp2LVSRJfBrUuoozxpK-MnICwhYfV3GNWQMSMTcXs6L4lFoIB-SJYUMxDPQk777z-ptoBMqsfGI_PErDQQKT3a0N1y-FJfr4IOSHVFSi8J6MOpeCFi_fZ6oOEQLHQMI29kY8hEVerIpNEWIpINblX_0hJhgK9w/http%3A%2F%2Flists.firesprinkler.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fsprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org

_______________________________________________
Sprinklerforum mailing list
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
http://secure-web.cisco.com/1s80vLdecIi1YI3AyTWUezvxCoT9QVC77EHYkcRj0XLpCJoDgI39NIzIf5PbigPrDnEly1jNMQz8zmUpIsM_HNGbIf3ckk1V8OWW80VJPdb4NPTrE5v9icBqgjp2LVSRJfBrUuoozxpK-MnICwhYfV3GNWQMSMTcXs6L4lFoIB-SJYUMxDPQk777z-ptoBMqsfGI_PErDQQKT3a0N1y-FJfr4IOSHVFSi8J6MOpeCFi_fZ6oOEQLHQMI29kY8hEVerIpNEWIpINblX_0hJhgK9w/http%3A%2F%2Flists.firesprinkler.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fsprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org



--
Ron Greenman

[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

253.576.9700<tel:(253)%20576-9700>

The Universe is monstrously indifferent to the presence of man. -Werner Herzog, 
screenwriter, film director, author, actor and opera director (1942-)

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________
Sprinklerforum mailing list
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
http://secure-web.cisco.com/1s80vLdecIi1YI3AyTWUezvxCoT9QVC77EHYkcRj0XLpCJoDgI39NIzIf5PbigPrDnEly1jNMQz8zmUpIsM_HNGbIf3ckk1V8OWW80VJPdb4NPTrE5v9icBqgjp2LVSRJfBrUuoozxpK-MnICwhYfV3GNWQMSMTcXs6L4lFoIB-SJYUMxDPQk777z-ptoBMqsfGI_PErDQQKT3a0N1y-FJfr4IOSHVFSi8J6MOpeCFi_fZ6oOEQLHQMI29kY8hEVerIpNEWIpINblX_0hJhgK9w/http%3A%2F%2Flists.firesprinkler.org%2Flistinfo.cgi%2Fsprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org



--
Ron Greenman

[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

253.576.9700

The Universe is monstrously indifferent to the presence of man. -Werner Herzog, 
screenwriter, film director, author, actor and opera director (1942-)

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service.
For more information please visit http://www.symanteccloud.com
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Sprinklerforum mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org

Reply via email to