This document provides an overview of chapter 12 from the 8th edition of the book "Fire Inspection and Code Enforcement" which covers water-based fire suppression systems. It discusses the components and operation of automatic sprinkler systems including the four basic types. It also explains the operation of fixed fire suppression systems such as water-spray, water-mist, and foam-water systems. Additionally, it describes types of standpipe and hose systems and explains the components and operation of stationary fire pumps.

1. Fire Inspection and Code
Enforcement
8th Edition
Chapter 12 — Water-Based Fire Suppression Systems

2. ‣ Describe the components and basic
operation of automatic sprinkler
systems.
Learning Objective 1

3. Automatic sprinkler systems have proven to
be an unsurpassed fire protection device.

4. Fires unsuccessfully controlled by sprinkler
systems are the result of several human factors.

5. Understand some of the statistics
about sprinkler systems.

6. Know what makes a fire suppression
system effective.

7. Be familiar with the four basic types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

8. Be familiar with the four basic types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

9. Be familiar with the four basic types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

10. Be familiar with the four basic types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

11. Be familiar with other types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

12. Be familiar with other types of
automatic sprinkler systems.

13. Gridded systems consist of parallel cross
mains connected by multiple branch lines.

14. Looped sprinkler systems consist of
interconnected cross mains that provide
multiple routes for water.

15. Know the common components found
in automatic sprinkler systems.

16. Every automatic sprinkler system must have a
water supply of adequate volume, pressure, and
reliability.

17. Sprinkler systems must have a primary
water supply.

18. In some instances, a secondary water
supply may be required.

19. Waterflow control valves are used to
turn off or isolate the water supply.

20. Be familiar with several common types
of indicator control valves.
Courtesy of Rich Mahaney

21. Be familiar with several common types
of indicator control valves.

22. Be familiar with several common types
of indicator control valves.
Courtesy of Rich Mahaney

23. Be familiar with types of operating
valves.

24. Be familiar with types of operating
valves.

25. Be familiar with types of operating
valves.

26. Know the characteristics of water
distribution pipes.

27. Know the characteristics of water
distribution pipes.

28. Inspectors should be aware of the which
pipe arrangement method is in use.

29. Pipe schedule tables have been in use
for over 100 years.

30. Understand the characteristics of
hydraulically designed systems.

31. The sprinkler is the discharge device that
applies water or foam to a fire or other hazard.

32. Sprinklers are defined by their
orientation or the NFPA®.

33. Sprinklers are defined by their
orientation or the NFPA®.

34. Sprinklers are defined by their
orientation or the NFPA®.

35. Sprinklers are defined by their
orientation or the NFPA®.

36. Sprinklers are defined by their
orientation or the NFPA®.

37. Remember that the correct sprinkler needs
to be installed in the correct location.

38. Inspectors need to be familiar with
sprinkler types and their uses.

39. Inspectors need to be familiar with
sprinkler types and their uses.

40. Inspectors need to be familiar with
sprinkler types and their uses.

41. Inspectors need to be familiar with
sprinkler types and their uses.

42. Inspectors may encounter other variations of
basic sprinkler types due to special conditions.

43. Inspectors may encounter other variations of
basic sprinkler types due to special conditions.

44. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

45. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

46. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

47. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

48. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

49. Know what alarms, detectors, and activators
detection and activation devices contain.

50. Residential system standards address life
safety by working to prevent flashover.

51. Understand the water supply and flow rate
requirements for residential sprinkler systems.

52. Understand the water supply and flow rate
requirements for residential sprinkler systems.

53. Spacing of sprinklers may be based upon the
particular sprinklers that have been tested and listed.

54. Spacing of sprinklers may be based upon the
particular sprinklers that have been tested and listed.

55. ‣ Explain the operation of fixed fire
suppression systems.
Learning Objective 2

56. Water-spray fixed systems discharge water
over an area through an arrangement of
pipes and nozzles.

57. Know the components of a water-spray
fixed fire suppression system.

58. Know the characteristics of water-
spray fixed fire suppression systems.

59. Know hazards water-spray fixed fire
suppression systems protect.

60. Know hazards water-spray fixed fire
suppression systems protect.

61. Know the characteristics of water-mist
fire suppression systems.

62. Know the hazards water-mist fire
suppression systems typically protect.

63. Know how water-mist fire suppression
systems protect lives and property.

64. Water-mist fire suppression systems are
operated at higher pressures than standard
sprinkler systems.

65. Understand characteristics of water-
mist fire suppression systems.

66. The most common type of water-mist
system works like a deluge system.

67. Know inspection requirements for
water-mist systems.

68. Know the typical serving functions
required for water-mist systems.

69. Foam-water systems are designed to
discharge foam-water solution onto fires.

70. Foam-water systems are designed to
discharge foam-water solution onto fires.

71. Foam-water systems are designed to
discharge foam-water solution onto fires.

72. All foam-water systems require a
proportioner.

73. ‣ Describe types of standpipe and hose
systems.
Learning Objective 3

74. Know the characteristics of standpipe
and hose systems.

75. Know the characteristics of standpipe
and hose systems.

76. Know the characteristics of standpipe
and hose systems.

77. Know what inspectors need to verify
on standpipe and hose systems.

78. Be familiar with standpipe
components.

79. Understand the three classes of
standpipe systems.

80. Understand the three classes of
standpipe systems.

81. Understand the three classes of
standpipe systems.

82. Understand the five types of standpipe
systems.

83. Understand the five types of standpipe
systems.

84. Understand the five types of standpipe
systems.

85. NOTE
‣ Canadian building and fire codes do
not accept dry standpipes as meeting
code requirements.

86. Automatic wet standpipe systems with
automatic water supply are the most
common.

87. An inspector assessing standpipe
systems must ask certain questions.

88. Water supply systems for standpipe
systems have specific requirements.

89. Inspectors have specific tasks in
regards to standpipe systems.

90. Fire hose valves should be located so that any
part of a floor is within 130 feet (40 m) of the
standpipe connections.

91. Inspectors need to know other distance
requirements for standpipe systems.

92. Inspectors need to be familiar with
pressure-regulating devices.

93. Know the three basic categories of
pressure-regulating devices.

94. Know the three basic categories of
pressure-regulating devices.

95. Inspectors need to verify that
requirements are met.

96. Know requirements for standpipe
systems.

97. Inspectors need to know hose
requirements for standpipes.

98. Inspectors need to know hose
requirements for standpipes.
Courtesy of Scott Strassburg

99. ‣ Explain the components and operation
of stationary fire pumps.
Learning Objective 4

100. Inspectors must be familiar with
stationary (fixed) fire pumps.

101. Inspectors must be familiar with types
of centrifugal pumps.

102. Horizontal split-case pumps are the
most common type.

103. Vertical split-case pumps are very
similar to horizontal split-case pumps.

104. Inspectors need to be familiar with
vertical inline pumps.

105. Vertical turbine pumps are useful for lifting
water from a water source below the pump.

106. An end suction pump is a variation of
the horizontal split-case pump.

107. Automatic sprinkler systems may require
a small-capacity auxiliary pump.

108. The source of power that operates a fire
pump is called the driver.

109. Electric motor drivers are the most
commonly used.

110. Diesel motor drivers are used where a driver
independent of local electric power is needed.

111. Diesel motor drivers are used where a driver
independent of local electric power is needed.

112. Steam turbines provide steam pressure to drive
both horizontal and vertical split-case pumps.

113. Understand the role of controllers when
it comes to fire pumps.

114. Understand the role of pressure
switches in electric motors.

115. Understand the role of controllers when
it comes to fire pumps.

116. The diesel fire pump controller is more
complicated than an electric motor controller.