In the definitions of the 2019. 4.6.1.1.1 Within the cabinet, the hose connections shall be located so that there are at least 2 in. (50 mm) between any part of the cabinet, other than the door and the handle of the valve when the valve is in any position ranging from fully open to fully closed. The 2 in. (50 mm) clearance ensures that a fire fighter wearing thick fire gloves can easily operate the valve. Where a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) is used, a deeper cabinet might be necessary due to the size of the PRV.
Best regards, *Joe Burtell, SET, CFPS* [image: Burtell Fire_Small] Phone | Fax | Mobile| Text *406-204-4653 <++1-406-204-4653>* 116 N. 11th Street | Billings, MT 59101 Email: j...@burtellfire.com Web Site: http://www.burtellfire.com *“**The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.**”* *NOTICE:* The information contained in this e-mail transmission is intended only for use of the individual or entity named above. This e-mail transmission, and any documents, files, previous e-mail transmissions or other information attached to it, may contain confidential information that is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail transmission, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this transmission or any of the information contained in or attached to this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail transmission in error, please immediately notify us by return e-mail transmission and destroy the original e-mail transmission as well as its attachments without reading or saving it in any manner. Thank you. On Tue, Apr 9, 2019 at 9:07 PM Christophe Born <fireph...@cox.net> wrote: > We've recently had an issue come up on a project concerning clearance > between a fire hose valve and a valve cabinet. The project is a dormitory > in the state of North Carolina, and the hose valves are located in cabinets > in the stairwells. I don't want to name the manufacturer (it is a commonly > used and recognizable manufacturer), but the cut sheet for the valve > cabinet indicates either 1-1/2 or 2-1/2 inch hose valves with the 8" deep > cabinets.The 2013 edition of NFPA 14 is applicable, although I don't think > there have been any changes in the 2016 or 2019 editions that are relevant > to this discussion. > > The state authorities seem to be contending that a minimum of 2" of > clearance is required, based on section 4.6.1.1.1. Note that these cabinets > only contain hose valves, and no hose, extinguishers, etc. There seems to > be some conflicting language from the committee during the 2013 and 2016 > revision cycles, and I am interested in the opinions of the forum members > regarding whether or not ANY minimum clearance is required for these hose > valves. > > In the 2013 ROP, proposal 14-15 (log #74) proposed the addition of a new > section 4.7.5 that called for a minimum of 1" clearance between the valve > handle and any adjacent obstruction. The committee accepted this proposal > in principle, with very minor editorial tweaking. The 2013 ROC had a > comment 14-9 (log #6) that proposed changing the 1" clearance to 3" > clearance, and added some Annex language. The committee accepted this > comment in principle, modified the proposed Annex language, and added a > sentence to the Annex that this section was not applicable to hose valves > located in closets and cabinets. The associated committee statement > indicated that section 4.6.1.1.1 addresses clearances for hose valves > located in closets and cabinets. > > Here is where it gets a little strange. At the 2016 first draft stage, a > public input was made to change the 3" clearance in 4.7.5 to 1-1/2", with > the explanation that 2-1/2" hose valves have a 5" wheel so you can't get 3" > clearance in an 8" cabinet. The committee rejected this change, with the > explanation that the Annex already states that the requirement does not > apply to hose cabinets. While the explanation should have probably said > "valve cabinet" rather than "hose cabinet," it does seem that the committee > intent was to say that there is no minimum clearance for a hose valve > located in a cabinet (based on the Annex language). This does seem to be > slightly at odds with the committee standpoint in the 2013 cycle that > 4.6.1.1.1 applies to valves in cabinets, but I can see some opinions > changing over time. Also, Roland's principle that "location has meaning" > would arguable say that 4.6 is not applicable to a hose valve, as the > section is titled "Hose Stations." > > Does NFPA 14 require any minimum clearance for a hose valve from any part > of a hose valve cabinet? There seems to be some political jockeying between > the North Carolina State Construction Office and the Department of > Insurance (under whom the state fire marshal falls) lately, and I'm > concerned about this becoming a precedent. One obvious solution would be to > not put hose valves in cabinets in stairs, but this project is close to > occupancy. I already fired that volley at our architect today, and the fire > protection engineer for the state also pointed that out. > > I appreciate the collective wisdom of this group. Sincerely, > > Christopher H. Born, P.E. > > Director, Fire Protection Engineering > > Clark Nexsen, Inc. > > Virginia Beach, VA > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org >
_______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
