No, it was installed with the standpipes but the funny thing is, it's 500 gpm and there's 3 standpipes. 60 psi street, a 30 hp end suction that doesn't even meet nameplate (10-15 psi deficient down the curve) and a 6" underground. It's a bit whacked and looks of the 70-80's era HUD-type installations we have all over this area. I've seen several systems where you just look and laugh. I've always been on the same page as John when it comes to testing and maintenance but this one looks like a pandora's box to me. My first inclinations, which I voiced to the management was to remove the center standpipe valves and blank off the cabinets, put in a 750 diesel that will do 750 at 65 off the tops but I hate to remove any fire protection features in a building.
Well, I made a schematic of the pump room and one of the standpipe system from street to the top, will make some additional calculations and notes and sit with the Deputy and get his call on things. I'm not looking to fix everything wrong with the place but I too don't want to drive them back into hiding either. They thought just a simple pump replacement would solve their problems but after I told them I didn't think it even made requirements when installed; they began to get nervous. Tom Duross Go Red Sox I can't say what your state code requirements are but in CA and other states, under the terms of the U-code model and statutory regulations, the owner is required to maintain the systems in accordance with codes and standards adopted at the time of permit. So you would be responsible for compliance with the older standards only, which may or may not include an automatic water supply for the standpipe system. Are you sure the pump was sized for the standpipes? Was it part of the sprinkler retro? Steve Leyton PROTECTION DESIGN & CONSULTING I have an older residential high-rise that needs a new fire pump. It was built roughly 40 years ago and retrofitted with sprinklers 5 years ago under and ordinance change. The fire pump I believe to be original. Standpipes in the end Stairwells are 4" class 3 to the top (8th) floor and even has a third standpipe in the elevator core with an FDV and cabinet. It has a 500 gpm end suction pump that received a new controller-transfer switch when the sprinklers were installed. It's obviously a 65 psi design but the pump won't make it and hydraulically appears to be undersized back to day one. I want to replace it with another pump under the same residual requirement as the original design but I can't seem to find any documentation to tell me if I'm following the language of the standard or code. I know its probably a code question (we're boca '93 with some amendments) and there's verbiage in our building code about making modifications and alterations but this is about maintaining a design versus adopting current (100 psi) requirements. I have issues with attempting to redesign it to current standpipe requirements like the size of the supplies and standpipes, they'll need more HP than if they were 6". The building is only about 100' end to end and the center one isn't required (not sure if it ever was). Plus, I'm getting close to 175, maybe a little over if my rough numbers are right. That opens up another potential can of worms. I haven't approached the FD or ISD but I think they'll probably want full current conformance and I'd probably say the same in their position. Has anyone done this lately? Tom Duross Go Red Sox _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
