This may be a "dry standpipe", not connected to an automatic water supply or a "dry pipe standpipe", connected to a water supply via a dry pipe valve. I'm guessing it is a dry standpipe, as the building must surely be heated. Converting a dry pipe standpipe is relatively easy. To convert a dry standpipe, you also need to connect a water supply to the system.
Question #1, should be okay if you have enough water pressure. Question #2, No. You need the sprinkler system on a separate control valve, unless your building code says something different. Tony -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Todd Williams Sent: January 29, 2010 4:37 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Retrofit Questions Peter, It's hard to say without specifics, but from a Code standpoint, existing standpipes can be used to feed a new sprinkler system. They will needs to be converted to wet, which means the stairwells will have to be heated to prevent freezing. I'm not sure where you are located, but the sprinkler system on each floor will probably require a separate control valve and flow indicator. This is required to be located in the stairway. Consequently, you will not be able to use the branches that feed the hose valves to supply sprinklers. One issue you may have is water supply. Do you have enough water in the street (assuming you are on public water) to reach the 8th floor? This can have a big impact on design and price. My suggestion would be to contact a Fire Protection Engineer and get a full design done before you engage a contractor. They can answer that and other questions. That will help eliminate most of the "surprises" when doing a project like this. Best of luck with it. Your guests, fire department and insurance company will appreciate it. Todd At 11:36 PM 1/28/2010, you wrote: >I am looking at an 8-story hotel that was built in 1979. It does NOT >have a fire sprinkler system, as it has been "grandfathered-in". We are >looking to retrofit a modern fire sprinkler system but due to the >economy, money is tight, so we are on a budget. > >The hotel already has 2 dry standpipes, one on each end of the hotel >building, it runs up through the stairwell on each floor, all the way >to the 8th floor. I believe it is about 8" in diameter or larger. It is >steel/iron. > >QUESTION#1 - Can this dry-pipe be used to covert it to a wet-pipe in >the fire sprinkler retrofit? This could save us money by utilizing this >pipe and making it "wet", so it carries the fire sprinkler water to >each floor. > > >Also, the hotel has drop ceilings in all the hallways. The stairwell >standpipe "T's" off down each hallway, through the drop ceiling, and >goes to a box in the middle of the hallway, where a fire hose is located at. > >QUESTION#2 - Can this dry-pipe be used in conjunction with the >standpipe and made to be "wet"? This pipe could then be used to "T" >off into each hotel room, saving costs by utilizing the existing >dry-pipe in the fire sprinkler retrofit. > >Appreciate any input.... > >_________________________________________________________________ >Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. >http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/ >_______________________________________________ >Sprinklerforum mailing list >[email protected] >http://fireball.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) Todd G. Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, Connecticut www.fpdc.com 860.535.2080 _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.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 [email protected] http://fireball.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)
