In some jurisdictions around my area, the fire department wants a quick means 
of shutting the water off that does not involve getting in a vault or trying to 
locate the riser room on the interior of a building.  If there is access to the 
riser room from the exterior, a Knox Box with a key to the room is sufficient.  
If the riser room is only accessed from the interior of the building, they 
require either a PIV or WIV.



Jeff Brickell, CET
Senior Estimator/Designer
BIM Coordinator
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From: John Denhardt <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2025 11:39 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Sprinklerforum] Re: PIV

The number one cause for a sprinkler system failure is a closed control valve.

Let’s add more control valves 🥹. Makes no sense to me to add additional control 
valves.

Thanks,
John

John August Denhardt, P.E

Vice President Engineering and Technical Services
American Fire Sprinkler Association
301-343-1457


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On Oct 20, 2025, at 11:36, Parsley Consulting 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
 Tim,

Understood, however that prompts my question.

Why do you need a PIV?  Doesn't the backflow serve as a control valve?

It's already difficult enough by having two control valves on a system, on 
opposite ends of the backflow, why do you need to add a third control valve 
(PIV)?

Doesn't that increase the opportunity for the system to be out of service, 
particularly if the monitoring (tamper switches, locks, etc) were compromised?

sincerely,
Ken Wagoner, SET
Parsley Consulting
3002 Younger Drive
Harrisonville, Missouri 64701-3909
Phone: (760) 745-6181
Visit the 
website<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/8OBhCA8EJ5inGNwNc8h1uGk-LF?domain=linkprotect.cudasvc.com>

On 10/20/2025 11:45 AM, Tim Easter wrote:
Currently only piv. Want to remove piv and just install main control valve at 
riser. Piv didn't close all the way. Been underground a long time.

On Mon, Oct 20, 2025, 12:36 PM Parsley Consulting 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Tim,

I won't copy what Craig and Tom have said, only to offer my own thoughts.

If the backflow serves only one sprinkler system, the OS&Y valves there 
function as a system control valve.  Indeed §16.9.3.3.5 in the '22 and '25 
editions of -13 specifically permits them to serve as a control valve to a 
sprinkler system provided they are listed for fire protection.  And the 
supervision requirements of §16.9.3.3 would apply as well.

Why are you adding a PIV, and installing a control valve at risers?  Is there 
more than one system?

sincerely,
Ken Wagoner, SET
Parsley Consulting
3002 Younger 
Drive<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zT_wCB1GK5iMz7w7HNi3u22GjC?domain=google.com>
Harrisonville, Missouri 
64701-3909<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zT_wCB1GK5iMz7w7HNi3u22GjC?domain=google.com>
Phone: (760) 745-6181
Visit the 
website<https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/8OBhCA8EJ5inGNwNc8h1uGk-LF?domain=linkprotect.cudasvc.com>

On 10/20/2025 10:54 AM, [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> 
wrote:

We are trying to remove PIVs, and install a main control valves at risers. AHJ 
is saying we must have a PIV. Also, we have BFPs before the PIVs. Can anyone 
help me find in NFPA 13 or 24 the section about PIVs?



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