I think all you guys using 50 psi to test plastic are crazy. I also think that guys that pipe shop air in plastic are crazy. That said I know it's done all the time without mishap. Puff test for holes. Water test for pressure holding ability.
And what the hell is a polar vortex. Sounds like Winter Blast 2014 (which may be appropriate for you Easies this year). On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 10:25 AM, Morey, Mike <mo...@bmwc.com> wrote: > NFPA 13 2010 > A.10.10.2.2.1 might be worth pointing out, specifically: > When systems having rigid thermoplastic piping such as CPVC are pressure > tested, the > sprinkler system should be filled with water. The air should be bled from > the highest and farthest > sprinklers. Compressed air or compressed gas should never be used to test > systems with > rigid thermoplastic pipe. > > I would avoid it if at all possible, and especially a pressure as high as > 50 psi, you're making a plastic pipe bomb at that pressure. > > Mike Morey, CFPS, SET > Planner Scheduler/Designer > BMWC Constructors, Inc. > 1740 W. Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46222 > O: 317.651.0596 | C: 317.586.8111 > mo...@bmwc.com | www.bmwc.com > > ________________________________________ > From: sprinklerforum-boun...@lists.firesprinkler.org [ > sprinklerforum-boun...@lists.firesprinkler.org] on behalf of Richard Mote > [rich...@rowesprinkler.com] > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 12:46 PM > To: sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org > Subject: Air Testing CPVC Piping > > We have an AHJ requiring a 50 psi test on CPVC piping, we think that is > excessive, and have always used 20 psi max. I know the best practice is to > do a hydrostatic test, but thanks to the polar vortex we are having > freezing temperatures and the builder needs to close up his walls. Right > now we are looking for chapter and verse as to what the maximum recommended > pressure is for an air test. Have looked through 3 different CPVC > installation handbooks but the number is not jumping out at me. The TYCO > Residential Dry System runs 10 - 15 psi pressure. Note: This is not a > residential dry system we are trying to air test a system so the drywall > can go on. When the building gets the heat turned on it will be a wet > system. > > Richard L. Mote > Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. > 7994 Route 522, Suite 1 > PO Box 407 > Middleburg, PA 17842 > P 570-837-7647 > F 570-837-6335 > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org > > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 rgreen...@bates.ctc.edu http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC, WFSC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) A problem well stated is a problem half solved. -Charles F. Kettering, inventor and engineer (1876-1958) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@lists.firesprinkler.org http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
