OK, I can agree on keeping current but what do you "hang your hat on"? The 2002 edition of 25 doesn't say what it governs, neither does the 2008, from what I can tell. If we're supposed to follow a referenced design standard, does that mean we follow the referenced maintenance standard? EQ bracing is a huge one, hanging and bracing just as applicable. But what about simple main drain tests; quarterly, semi or annually? I've asked AHJ's, the simplest reply I've gotten is follow the standard in place when accepted. I can see that for hose valves for example, I'm not going to test an old 65 building at 100. I just tested a system installed in 1923 near Fenway Park. 3/4" and 1/2" ends. Mostly original pipe and heads. No tags. 3 1/2" check (no ports), 1" gate valve. No EOL. I scratched my head until I got splinters.
Tom, Here abouts we use IBC 2006 for the next couple of months and then move on to 2009. The edition of 25 changes with the code. Since 25 is a maintenance standard rather than a design standard I believe it to be a dynamic document that changes with changing data (a presumption of the perfect world where the driving force behind a change is always a real need to increase requirements for the sake of safety and is never influenced by a real need to increase profit) and so makes perfect sense to "upgrade" universally. In truth it would be better to upgrade engineering in some old buildings just because they're old and not up to current standards (EQ bracing comes to mind--think Northridge) but the resultant inability to forecast future major expenditures while pursuing business as usual would be too chaotic. There will be unpredictability, such as tax rates from year to year, and increased frequencies for NFPA 25 requirements might be amongst them. The alternative could be a 1990 building maintained in accordance with 1987 13A or a 1925 building maintained in accordance with nothing. Whether his is a problem or not is a different conversation. _______________________________________________ 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)
