2 other potential problems... We were involved in a job where the Insurance Carrier forced the building owner to remove the pump suction line from the pool and install a new water source for liability concerns.
During this project on the Gulf of Mexico, the engineers were concerned that the pool would float out of the ground if left empty too long. Supposedly has happened before. Greg Living Water Fire Protection, LLC 1160 McKenzie Road Cantonment, FL 32533 850-937-1850 Fax: 850-937-1852 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Cahill Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: pool as water source The disembowelment was here in MN. The news has reported the cover plate was missing from the suction in the pool. Granted the news reported this and we know how they mess up sprinklers.... Vortex plates, large inlets and multiple draft points should lessen the risks. In a very low water supply area in town we used a pool at a college campus for a back up supply. The systems ran off the grid and pump but it was so tight the pool was added as reserve. It's been about 8 years. The only point that sees chlorine is a short run on the suction side of the pump to the check valve in the city line. The system is filled with potable water (or what used to be potable before it sat around in sprinkler piping.) The only time the system will have pool water is if the city grid doesn't keep up with the demand because either the grid is light at the time of fire, the FF use any water or the system opens more heads than code designed. If you can fill and do T&M with potable water you can limit the chlorine damage to just when fires occur. Allow a means do drain and flush after a fire (or inadvertent fill with chlorine). Then a little chlorine is a small part of the problem. Great idea, probably not. Manageable when necessary, yeah. Chris Cahill, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Sentry Fire Protection, Inc. 763-658-4483 763-658-4921 fax Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mail: P.O. Box 69 Waverly, MN 55390 Location: 4439 Hwy 12 SW Waverly, MN 55390 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:11 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: pool as water source Steve: That's a horrible story - made me squirm. Do you have any specific information regarding the issue of water chemistry and advancing corrosion? Coincidentally, I have a prospective project here in SoCal where the developer wants to consider using the pool for a high-rise water supply. I think that the suction vortex could be mitigated with a Weir-type box taken off to the side of the pool, but I'm ig'nant when it comes to chlorine and piping. Steve Leyton PROTECTION DESIGN & CONSULTING -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Kowkabany Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 9:57 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: pool as water source Rod, There are a few things to be cautious of. We considered using pools for several projects and opted not to for a few reasons including the following: 1) Safety - A fire pump will pull a pretty strong draft on a swimming pool. There is a story on CNN.com right now about a 6 year old girl who was disembowled after being on top of the drain of an emptying kiddie-pool. That was without any mechanically induced suction. On top of the risk of a horrific injury like that, there is the obvious threat of drowning someone. 2) Structural damage from buoyant forces on the pool from emptying it quickly - this probably isn't a problem for you, but for outdoor pools in areas with a high water table, it can happen. 3) Corrosion issues - chlorinated pool water is pretty nasty to metal pipe. Just a few things to keep in mind. Good luck, Steve Kowkabany, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Neptune Fire Protection Engineering LLC 216 Seagate Avenue Unit B Neptune Beach, FL 32266 904-652-4200 Phone 904-212-0868 Fax -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rod DiBona Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 12:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: pool as water source I am wondering what if there is anything I should know about using an indoor swimming pool as the water supply for a fire pump in a new motel. This is not a high rise building and this is the only source. I think this is somewhat common but we have never done this. Anything to be aware of? Thanks for your replies. Rod DiBona V.P. of Sales Rapid Fire Protection [EMAIL PROTECTED] 605-348-2342 ph _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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)
