I meant to change the thread title on this one. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ken Holsopple (forum) Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 4:41 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Water Supply
Ok guys and gals.....here's one for ya. Just did a pump acceptance test under 2003 edition of NFPA 20. The inspector shows up on site and asks for calibrated gauges. Even though we pulled out a gauge that came from the factory 3 months ago, he wanted to see the paperwork. (I guess he didn't like the dirt that was on the gauge either from a previous diesel pump flow test. Turns out things get muddy when you do those) After reviewing NFPA 20 (03) I see that there is not a requirement for gauge calibration except in the appendix, to which no tolerance for the gauges is given. I questioned the inspector on the requirement and asked for a code reference. What I got back was the re-write that appears in the 2007 edition of the acceptance procedure that does note that gauges must be calibrated and within +/- 1%. I'm fine with that, except for the fact that here in Pennsyltucky and in his jurisdiction, the 2003 is the applicable standard. Now to take it one step further, the new NFPA 20 (07) mentions that the gauges must be calibrated annually (depending on use...kinda open ended don't ya think?). In speaking with some folks that supplied our shiny 4 1/2" Glycerine filled gauges, they mentioned that we could get them calibrated, but "what are you gonna do, get them calibrated after every use?" They do mention in the literature for our gauges (that I sent to the AHJ) that they are calibrated at the factory. Keeping in mind that scientists are probably using their "top of the line" gauges to measure the force of an atom bouncing of a cow's butt. I mentioned to the AHJ that in the meantime (till the 2007 ed comes around), the township could purchase a calibrated gauge and use that as a benchmark and throw the contractor's gauge(s) on a static point of the system if they think something was tampered with. I would be curious to see how others would handle this. AHJs especially. You'ins keep my life interesting. Getting calibrated gauge paperwork isn't a big deal (well it is if they spring this on you at the time of test), but trying to enforce rules that haven't been adopted yet kinda crosses the line in my book. By the way, I did check out NFPA 291 (forgot the edition), there was mention of calibration, but no mention of tolerance. I have a headache from bouncing my head off the soapbox. Ken Holsopple Design Manager & Gauge Calibration Coordinator Rowe Sprinkler Systems _______________________________________________ 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)
