×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Underground Fire Service

Underground Fire Service

Underground Fire Service

(OP)
NFPA 13 states you cannot run Fire Service mains below a building unless precautions are taken. I'm a bit confused at this.

I have a situation where the only water supply is on the opposite side of the building and the only way to get the service into the water service entrance room is from underground. This means I would have to run the pipe below the building for approx 60 feet, then rise up through my backflow/checks. Can I do this?

Would I need a post indicator valve on the side of service before it goes below the building? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

RE: Underground Fire Service

I would not approve it

There must be a way to get the water there, is it a matter of cost to run around the building??

Can't move the riser to the other side?

Make a dog house on the side where the water is??

Go into the building on the side the water is and run the supply overhead to the riser??

RE: Underground Fire Service

from nfpa 24::


the normal accpted practice is not more than five feet into the building:::

Chapter 10 Underground Piping


10.6 Protection Against Damage.

10.6.1    Pipe shall not be run under buildings.



10.6.2    Where pipe must be run under buildings, special precautions shall be taken, including the following:
 

(1)
Arching the foundation walls over the pipe


(2)
Running pipe in covered trenches


(3)
Providing valves to isolate sections of pipe under buildings





10.6.3    Fire service mains shall be permitted to enter the building adjacent to the foundation.


10.6.3.1    Where fire service mains enter the building adjacent to the foundation, the requirements of 10.6.2(2) and 10.6.2(3) shall not apply.
 



10.6.4*   Where adjacent structures or physical conditions make it impractical to locate risers immediately inside an exterior wall, such risers shall be permitted to be located to minimize underground piping under the building.


A.10.6.4

A.10.6.4 It is not the intent of this provision to prohibit piping from passing under or through the foundation. Best practices are to locate risers to minimize the run of pipe below the building.


10.6.4.1    Where risers are located according to 10.6.4, the requirements of 10.6.2(2) and 10.6.2(3) shall not apply.
 



10.6.5*   Pipe joints shall not be located under foundation footings.  

RE: Underground Fire Service

Can you bring the pipe in on the side of the building where the supply is, then run overhead to your riser room?  I have had to do this on multiple occasions.   

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
 

RE: Underground Fire Service

Unless the backflow preventor is installed at the entrance, the piping run overhead will have to be approved potable water pipe, unless the water utility allows.
 

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources