Maybe the leak isn't in the system piping but in the compressor piping to the system valve?
Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection Specialist Mechanical Department CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive PO Box 491, Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 [email protected] http://www.ch2m.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tom Duross Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 11:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Dry System Air Question Very little grooved, just repairs made in the last 10+ years. It's all Sch40 threaded, 1"-4", threaded flanges. This is just our 3rd year here, last year when we did a full flood we attached a pump and took it to 200 looking for leaks but couldn't find anything. I'm thinking the leak is concealed behind old plaster walls. It does an unheated attic, traditional piping arrangement. I'm guessing 40 years old with a 15 year old dry valve and compressor. I'm told the compressor runs about once a day for a few minutes. They lost power last Friday and the valve tripped about 4 AM on the 4th, I spent most of the morning chasing low points and resetting it. The compressor was tripped out so I'm thinking it went out on overload from running so long, I did mention it shouldn't and suggested rewiring it to the generator. It's a long term care facility right near NFPA in Quincy. I'm aware of the allowable leakage but sometimes (like this) have a hard time applying it. I did consider a scent test but if we couldn't even find a drip at 200, would this help? I'm getting splinters scratching my head but I have tweezers. TD We have done this a couple times and have always replaced the compressor. However, a word of warning inspired by learning the hard way. Assuming this is a grooved system, when you drop the pressure the entire thing can start leaking like a sieve. Older couplings can be a little brittle and less resilient. They just don't like to seal correctly under the lower pressure. Best of luck! Lori Kitchen _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
