Thanks Matt. I also got a tip to buy/rent a large pressure washer today. I'm thinking this little 3/4 hp Reed is not going to do it at all. I did 800' of 8" ductile today, flush, pressure test, forward flow test. It was 32° and snowing just north of Boston at this University. Took me 1 hr. 10 mins. to pump from 66 to 210. It held fine but I got to thinking (during the 2 hr. rest) that just one of these roadway #502 standpipes are 2300' long, all 6" except the risers to the gated wye's and air releases every 275' and a drop at each end to a 5" Storz and Vic717R. I doubt I will have much free use of the local FD's pumper, I'm told they're not too happy about having to do it. Kind of like the power company putting panels on your roof with no rental but have to provide access. I'll know more next week. I'm writing up test procedures over the weekend to coincide with #25 and #502, and then some. Haven't done a roadway system in a few years but it looks like 5 AM Saturdays for 5 weeks and the bridges are in use, never closed. I gotta see what's out there for rentals. Going to use Scott's math to see what the street fill will take and then the pressure pump-up. Thanks Scott, we'll do pizza again next time your in town. Hey Scott, I got 10 minutes to show a full stream after pulling the trigger on 150#, starting empty, think I'll make it?
It might not be a real fast approach, but is there some reason that you could not have the standpipes pressurized to 200 psi before the inspector arrives? We frequently hook up the test pump and then go about moving-off/cleaning up until the little pump reaches the pressure. If you don't have enough time to get it pumped before the inspector comes (ask for an afternoon appointment?) - we have pumped the systems up partially the day before so that they are close to the test pressure but not excessively high. Then you don't need as long to top them off. Just be sure you have a helper/day laborer keep an eye on the gauge! I suppose it would just depend on how much big pump rental or nitrogen tanks would cost VS a couple hours of small pump babysitting. Matt Fill completely with water; then connect a high-pressure nitrogen cylinder and quickly jack the system to 200 psi. Have seen this method used before to test large warehouse systems where it is very time consuming to pressurize the system(s). _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
