Detector Check System Requirement

[msquared48]

My question is: Are these systems only needed if the building is sprinklered?

I have a private hydrant that is being furnished on-site, but the building is not sprinklered. To use the Detector Check System makes no sense to me in this circumstance. The detail has a 4" diameter in/out line which would make sense going to a private fire system (sprinklers), but not to a hydrant which requires a 6" diameter feed.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[coloeng]

Mike,

In our system we have properties that have fire hydrants but no sprinkler system. We require double detector check valves on these fire systems. The reason we require this is because there have been many instances where they have a leak on their underground piping and no one would know, except for the detector on the double check assembly. We have also had people use the fire hydrants to wash off their parking lots or for other unauthorized use. Again, we would not know except for the detector. We constantly have discussions with property owner's that feel our requirements for a double detector check on just a fire hydrant system is unwarranted, but our experience has shown otherwise.

 

[msquared48]

So the Double Detector Check Valve is on the feed to the Hydrant, after the property line, and before the stub for the water meters?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[coloeng]

The DDCV is on the hydrant line, after the property line, but the domestic meter is tapped off before the DDCV. Typically, we put the domestic meter and DDCV in the same vault and separate lines are run from the vault.