American Fire Sprinkler Association
12750 Merit Dr., Suite 350 Dallas TX 75251
Ph: (214) 349-5965 Fax: (214) 276-0908
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TECHNICAL UPDATE
AUGUST 31, 2007
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"We have installed new drops off of existing branchlines for coverage
below a new suspended ceiling. We cannot isolate the drops for
hydrostatic testing. Does 24.2.1.6 apply to new drops and is there
any limit to the number of drops that this section applies to?"
We have reviewed the 2007 Edition of the NFPA 13 that you have
identified as the applicable Code or Standard. Our informal
interpretation is that Section 24.2.1.6 does apply to your situation
and that Section 24.2.1.6 does not set a limit on the number of
relocated drops.
The requirements of Section 24.2.1.6 often gets confused with the
isolation and testing requirements of Section 24.2.1.5 that requires
isolation and hydrostatic testing when a system modification consist
of 20 or more sprinklers. As explained in the Automatic Sprinkler
System Handbook, "When new portions of a system cannot be isolated,
such as relocated drops, NFPA 13 provides some flexibility and
permits hydrostatic test to be conducted at the system's normal
static pressure". This relieves the requirement to subject the
existing portions of the system from a new hydrostatic test of 200
psi for 2 hours.
When it comes to items such as relocated drops or new drops being
installed to a sprinkler, NFPA 13 does not set a limitation to the
number of drops involved. You can have one or you could have
hundreds. However if modifying a portion of the system, including a
modification to branchlines and/or cross-mains as well as drops, that
consist of 20 or more sprinklers, isolation of that portion of the
system is required with a minimum hydrostatic test at 200 psi for 2
hours.
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Technical Update is prepared by the Technical Services Dept. of the
AFSA: Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services Roland
Huggins, a PE registered in fire protection engineering; Phill Brown,
a NICET IV certified automatic sprinkler technician and NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and Tom Wellen, a degreed
fire protection engineering technologist. This is provided with the
understanding that the AFSA assumes no liability for this opinion or
actions taken on it and they are not to be considered the official
position of the NFPA or its technical committees.
Copyright (c) 2007, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All
Rights Reserved
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