1540 Ch 6 PowerPoint

1. Fire Protection Systems
Third Edition
Chapter 6 — Standpipe and Hose Systems

2. Objectives
‣ List and describe the different types of standpipes and the
different standpipe classifications.
‣ List and describe the different standpipe system components.
‣ State when and where standpipes and hose systems are
required in buildings.

3. Objectives
‣ Reference the design and installation standards that apply to
standpipes.
‣ State the minimum standpipe system design pressure and flow
requirements.

4. Objectives
‣ Reference the inspection, testing, and maintenance
requirements.
‣ Recognize the possible impairments to standpipe systems.

5. Introduction
‣ A standpipe system may be a structure’s only fire protection
equipment.
‣ Allows for rapid engagement with a fire
‣ Essential for firefighting in tall buildings

6. Introduction
‣ A standpipe system is a network of piping and components that
transports water through a structure for manual firefighting.
‣ Fire protection strategies combine standpipe and automatic
sprinkler systems.
‣ Standpipes provide support to automatic sprinkler systems
when manual intervention is needed.

7. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ The different types of systems are defined by their operational
and configuration features.
‣ Operational = water availability
‣ Immediate
‣ After activation permits water to enter pipe
‣ Manually supplied through FDC
‣ Configuration = whether or not it ordinarily has water in the
pipe

8. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Automatic wet standpipe
‣ Water is in the pipe at all times.
‣Required to support manual
firefighting
‣ Environmental temperature
must be at least 40ºF for
installation.
‣ Found in internal stair towers of
mid- to high-rise buildings
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

9. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Automatic dry standpipe
‣ Contains pressurized air in the pipe
‣ Environmental temperature must be in 40ºF environment for
installation.
‣System piping and hose valves can be installed at lower
temps.
‣ Found in residential multifamily mid-rise buildings

10. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Semiautomatic standpipe
‣ Contains pressurized air or
atmospheric air in the pipe
‣ Water enters pipe through
activation of remote control
device.
‣ Environmental temperature
must be in 40ºF environment.
‣ Found in industrial complexes
or public areas where
features are exposed to
varying weather
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

11. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Manual wet standpipe
‣ Contains water in the pipe at all times, but water is supplied
from the building’s domestic system
‣ Domestic supply line is usually not more than ¾ or 1 inch in
diameter.
‣Serves as priming water to reduce the time it takes for
water to reach the hose valve
‣ Found in older mid- and high-rise buildings
‣Rarely newly installed in buildings due to arrival of
combined standpipe systems

12. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Manual dry standpipe
‣ Does not have an attached water
supply
‣Fire fighters must connect a
water source to the fire
department connection.
‣ Common in remote or
freestanding structures such as
parking garages where
environment is hard to monitor
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

13. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Combined standpipe and sprinkler
systems
‣ Designs will try to use the
standpipe system as the
sprinkler supply line.
‣ Common in old buildings with
existing standpipes and new
buildings where standpipe
design provides outlets for
sprinkler system
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

14. Types of Standpipe Systems
‣ Combined standpipe and sprinkler systems (cont’d)
‣ Benefits to contractors/developers are manageable designs,
better use of space, cost savings.
‣ Benefit to the fire department is ready access to sprinkler
control valves and manual hose valves.
‣ The NFPA formally adopted the combined system in 1971.
‣NFPA has certain requirements for these systems.

15. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose
Systems
‣ Three general categories of systems
‣Class I
‣Class II
‣Class III

16. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class I
‣ Designed to deliver
sufficient quantities of
water for manual
firefighting to hose valves
that sometimes discharge at
high pressure as indicated
by the warning sign
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

17. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class I (cont’d)
‣ Common in high-rise buildings, open parking garages,
covered malls, underground buildings
‣ System must deliver sufficient water at high pressure to
support manual firefighting.
‣ Hose connections must have 2½-inch threaded connections.
‣Hose valves may be fitted with smaller diameter reducing
caps.

18. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class II
‣ Equipped to give occupants,
fire brigade members, or fire
fighters access to water supply
through a hose system
‣ Lower pressure and volume
than Class I or III
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

19. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class II (cont’d)
‣ Fire departments use only if absolutely necessary.
‣Maintenance history is unknown.
‣Water supply cannot control fire past the incipient stage.
‣Hose locations are in open areas.
‣ Careful consideration should be given to installing these
systems.

20. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class III
‣ Incorporates Class I and II
requirements to provide equipment
that can be used by fire department,
fire brigades, and trained occupants
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

21. Classification of Standpipe Systems
‣ Class III (cont’d)
‣ Water and pressure requirements are same as Class I, but
safety issues are similar to Class II.
‣ Authorities may require Class I instead of Class II or III.

22. Standpipe System Components
‣ Fire department connections overview
‣ If the building has a standpipe or sprinkler system, first
responders will connect hose lines to the FDC.
‣FDC is a coupling device on a building’s exterior.
‣Provides primary or secondary water source.
‣ Check valve prevents water from leaving system.
‣ Protective caps or plugs prevent FDC from clogging with
debris.

23. Standpipe System Components
‣ Types of fire department
connections
‣ Most FDCs are single-inlet or
double-inlet-threaded type,
although there may be additional
inlets depending on the system
demand.
‣ When the FDC has more than
one inlet, a clapper swings
between the couplings.
‣FDC in picture requires four
inlets to meet system
demand
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

24. Standpipe System Components
‣ Types of fire department connections (cont'd)
‣ “Quick connect” or Storz type connection
‣ Couplings align and lock lock together after twisting a one-
quarter turn.
‣ This type is used in conjunction with a large-diameter hose.

25. Standpipe System Components
‣ Location of fire department
connections
‣ FDC must be visible,
recognizable, and accessible.
‣ NFPA 14 lists requirements for
FDCs.
‣ Other requirements may exist
(e.g., jurisdictional).
‣ Wall-mounted FDC breaches the
exterior wall of a building.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

26. Standpipe System Components
‣ Location of fire department
connections (cont’d)
‣ FDCs can be wall mounted or
freestanding.
‣ Pipe for freestanding FDC is buried
underground.
‣ Once the pipe reaches the right
location, it turns up and extends
out of the ground to where the
FDC coupling attaches to the
piping.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

27. Standpipe System Components
‣ Location of fire department
connections (cont’d)
‣ Wall-mounted FDCs are
preferred over freestanding.
‣ Freestanding FDCs may be
necessary due to
topography, safety, and
other factors.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

28. Standpipe System Components
‣ Fire department connection
identification
‣ FDCs must have ID signs so fire
fighters know what kind of
system they supply.
‣ Signs should give information
about inlet pressure
requirements.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning

29. Standpipe System Components
‣ Pipes and fittings
‣ Components used to install systems must meet or exceed
adopted standards.
‣American Water Works Association, American Society for
Testing and Materials, American Welding Society,
American National Standards Institute
‣ Materials are chosen considering the pipe schedule, type,
and joining method.
‣ Fittings join piping and components together by various
methods.
‣ Regardless of the material, the purpose is to connect pipe
and other system components.

30. Standpipe System Components
‣ Gauges
‣ Pressure gauges are important and required to help
determine available water pressure in a system.
‣Installed at the top of each standpipe
‣Recommended for pressure-regulating devices
‣Should not be exposed to freezing temperatures
‣Must have a shutoff control valve and be able to drain
‣ Help determine the available water pressure in the system

31. Standpipe System Components
‣ Valves
‣ Many different types:
‣Check valves
‣Control valves
‣Drain valves
‣Hose valves
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

32. Standpipe System Components
‣ Valves (cont’d)
‣ Pressure-restricting, pressure-reducing, and pressure-control
devices and valves
‣Allow boost pressure to be high but manageable
‣Special care must be taken with installation, testing, and
maintenance.
‣Flow tests must be performed at the time of acceptance
and periodically thereafter.
‣Fire companies should identify properties with these
devices.

33. Standpipe System Components
‣ Hose cabinets, hose, hose racks, and nozzles
‣ Cabinet/closet: Mounted to the wall; holds fire protection
equipment
‣ Hoses: Certain requirements for use, length, and collapsible versus
noncollapsible
‣ Hose racks: May require a listing depending on size
‣ Nozzles: May require a listing and must be able to flow at low
pressures

34. Required Installations
‣ Codes determine when to install a standpipe system.
‣ NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code®
‣ NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®
‣ NFPA 1, Fire Code®
‣ ICC, International Building Code® (IBC®), International Fire
Code® (IFC®)
‣ Refer to NFPA 14 for how to install systems

35. Required Installations
‣ Factors affecting installation:
‣ Building height above or below the level of fire department
access
‣ Whether a sprinkler system is installed
‣ Building use and occupancy
‣ Occupant load
‣ NFPA and ICC consider the time it takes for fire fighters to
establish water supply for suppression efforts given these
factors

36. Required Installations
‣ Considerations
‣ Which adopted model code and referenced standard does
the local, state, or other authority use?
‣ Are there any hazards that will present special challenges?
‣ Are there any exceptions in the code?
‣ Are there any retroactive code requirements that impact
current work (for existing conditions)?

37. Required Installations
‣ Requirements based on building height and levels
‣ Building height above and below grade affects a fire
department’s ability to operate during a fire.
‣ NFPA 1 requires standpipe installation under certain
conditions; NFPA 5000® has similar requirements.
‣ IBC® has its own special requirements.

38. Required Installations
‣ Occupancy requirements
‣ Factors regarding occupancy may generate additional
requirements.
‣ NFPA 1, NFPA 101®, NFPA 5000®, and IBC® all have special
requirements for assembly type occupancy.
‣ Dimensions and open area of a building design of this kind
can affect standpipe requirements.
‣Performance stages over 1000 sq ft
‣Airport terminals higher than two stories or 100 ft in
dimension

39. Required Installations
‣ Buildings under construction, rehabilitation, or demolition
‣ Create access and fuel load problems for fire departments
‣ NFPA 1, NFPA 5000®, and the IBC® have special standpipe
installation requirements for these sites.
‣ Hose connections and clearly marked fire department
connections equipped with plugs and caps are required.
‣ Temporary standpipes are required during construction.

40. Design and Installation Standards
‣ NFPA 14
‣ Most widely recognized document outlining standpipe and
hose design and installation requirements
‣ Adopted in 1915
‣ Revised 31 times, but basic principles are essentially
unchanged

41. Design and Installation Standards
‣ NFPA 14 (cont’d)
‣ Cited by NFPA 1, NFPA 101®, NFPA 5000®, and the IBC® as
the referenced standard
‣ Establishes minimum requirements for components, design,
plans, installation, etc.
‣ Discusses requirements for buildings under construction
‣ Additional requirements exist when using IBC® model code.

42. Water Pressure and Flow
Requirements
‣ Minimum and maximum pressure
‣ Minimum: 100 psi at the hydraulically most remote 2½-inch
hose valve outlet; 65 psi at 1½-inch valve outlet
‣ Maximum: Multiple factors at play; fire department hoses are
tested at 250 psi.
‣Trained personnel may have trouble with over 175 psi.
‣Untrained individuals have trouble over 100 psi.
‣Maximum listed pressure for most components is 175 psi.

43. Water Pressure and Flow
Requirements
‣ Pressure requirements in high-rise buildings
‣ Pressure and flow must overcome pressure loss due to
elevation changes.
‣ Design professionals install pressure-control, pressure-
regulating, and pressure-restricting devices for safety and
reliability at high pressure.
‣ At certain heights, pressure cannot be managed.
‣Subdivide into upper and lower zones
‣Use high-pressure fittings and devices

44. Water Pressure and Flow
Requirements
‣ Maximum and minimum flow
‣ Class I and Class III: Minimum flow of 500 gpm; another
250 gpm per standpipe riser where building floor areas are
<80,000 sq feet
‣>80,000 sq feet have additional gpm requirements
‣ Class II: Minimum flow of 100 gpm
‣No additional flow when more than one hose is provided

45. Water Pressure and Flow
Requirements
‣ Maximum and minimum flow (cont’d)
‣ Buildings with NFPA 13 sprinkler systems
‣ Maximum flow requirement of 1000 gpm
‣ Buildings with no sprinkler system: 1250 gpm
‣ Horizontal standpipes with three or more hose connections
require minimum of 750 gpm.
‣ Minimum duration of water supply to meet system demand
is 30 minutes.

46. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Hydrostatic and air test
‣ Hydrostatic
‣One of the first and most important tests
‣System is subjected to 200 psi of pressurized water for 2
hours and then allowed to drop to zero to ensure valid
test.
‣ Air
‣Dry standpipe systems are subjected to 40 psi of air
pressure for 24 hours to ensure no leaks.

47. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Hydrostatic and air test (cont’d)
‣ If weather prevents hydrostatic testing, air test is interim
measure of integrity.
‣ Many jurisdictions require both tests for dry systems.
‣200 psi of water and 40 psi of air pressure
‣If a dry system is supplied water through a dry pipe
valve, a dry pipe valve test is also needed.

48. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Visual inspection
‣ Occurs in conjunction with hydrostatic test and is just as
important
‣ Includes:
‣Checking for leaks
‣Verifying components installed correctly
‣Ensuring components are ones chosen by designer
‣ Occurs at floor level
‣ Failure to complete can result in system damage, injury, or
fire department delays.

49. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Flushing
‣ Flush the system to remove dirt, debris, etc., before
attaching it to a water service.
‣ Inspector observes underground fire service mains and lead-
in connections while they flow water.
‣The outlet used to flush matches the pipe being flushed.
‣10 ft/sec is the recommended rate.
‣Flush until water is clear.

50. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Flow tests
‣ Tests ensure designed
performance is met and
required flow and pressure are
available.
‣ Water is flowed from the
hydraulically most remote valve
outlet.
‣ Test usually occurs on the roof.
‣ A fire apparatus (pumper) may
be needed to pump through
FDC to verify a manual
standpipe and system demand.
‣ Verify pressure-regulating
valves if present.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.
© A. Maurice Jones, Jr./Jones & Bartlett Learning.

51. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Main drain test
‣ Main drain is always available in combined systems or
systems with automatic water supply.
‣Removes water
‣ As main drain valve is opened fully, system gauges display
static and residual pressure readings.
‣Compare these to previous readings.

52. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Operation of components
‣ All system components capable of manual or automatic
movement must be tested under actual operating systems.
‣Usually just requires unscrewing a cap or turning a valve
‣Ensures the system will operate when needed

53. Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance
Requirements
‣ Periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance
‣ Even if they have never been used, all systems must be ready for an
emergency.
‣ Inspection and testing occur at defined intervals.
‣ When components sit idle, operational condition is unknown.
‣ Visual inspection, flow test, hydrostatic test
‣ There are many impairments to firefighting, some system related, some not.
‣ Can create barrier to access
‣ At a minimum, follow schedules in NFPA 25.
© Jones & Bartlett Learning.. Courtesy of William G. Stein, Alexandria Fire Department