Regardless of whose scope it is, an automatic drain is required per NFPA 13 (2022) Section 16.12.5 and NFPA 24 (2022) Section 5.9.4.1…unless waived by the AHJ per NFPA 24 Section 5.9.1.1. NFPA 13 Figures A.16.12.5.5(a & b) and NFPA 24 Figures A.5.9.3.2.1(a & b) specifically show the ball drip just upstream of the FDC check valve at the low point of the piping as required per NFPA 13 Figure 16.12.1 to ensure leakage is detectable while still below the frost line where even a leaking FDC check valve doesn’t fill the upstream FDC piping, potentially freezing and rendering the FDC unusable.
Regardless of remoteness, NFPA 13 Section 16.12.7 and NFPA 24 Section 5.9.4.1 require the piping upstream of the FDC check valve to be fitted with an automatic drain/drip in areas subject to freezing. This location must be accessible for NFPA 25 inspection and testing per NFPA 13 Section 16.12.7.1 and NFPA 24 Section 5.9.4.1. NFPA 25 (2023) Sections 13.8.1(6 & 7) require visual verification that the FDC check valve is not leaking and that the automatic drain valve is in place and operating properly. On a remote FDC, I provide one of the following as desired/required: 1. An insulated valve box where both the FDC check valve and the automatic drain are below the frost depth and can be visually inspected…similar to what is shown in NFPA 24 Figure A.6.2.2.2 or 2. An AHJ-permitted directly buried automatic drain in properly lined drain field as allowed per NFPA 24 Section 5.9.4.2.1 and 5.9.4.2.2. Good luck and merry Christmas! Ryan L. Hinson, PE*, SET** \ Burns & McDonnell Associate Fire Protection Engineer O 612-900-3755 \ M 763-688-4045 \ F 952-229-2923 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> \ burnsmcd.com<http://www.burnsmcd.com/> 8201 Norman Center Drive, Suite 500 \ Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 55437 *Registered in: AK, LA, MD, MN, PA, TX, & UT **NICET IV - Water-Based Systems Layout [cid:[email protected]] From: Matt Grise <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2022 11:27 PM To: Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers <[email protected]> Subject: [Sprinklerforum] Re: Underground FDC auto drain Are you installing the underground and remote FDC? My first response for that question is “not my scope!”. We typically have the site utility sub install remote FDC’s and the underground to it… so I don’t know! I am also pretty sure that the remote ones around here that just pop up out of the ground don’t have serviceable drains – I think they just drain into a gravel layer below the elbow (?). You might check with the site utility contractor for the job (unless someone on the forum knows). Hope that helps… might not even be worth 2 cents though! Matt From: Steve Cox <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2022 10:49 PM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [Sprinklerforum] Underground FDC auto drain Since the auto drain on an FDC needs to be at the lowest point after the check valve, where do we install it on an underground, remote FDC? We need to have access to it to service it. Steve Cox Cox Fire Systems, LLC 817-633-3000<tel:817-633-3000> Office 817-470-9398<tel:817-470-9398> Cell [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Important/Confidential: This communication and any files or documents attached to it are intended only for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed. It contains information that may be privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, you are hereby notified that the copying, distribution or other use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication by mistake, please notify the sender immediately by electronic mail and destroy all forms of this communication (electronic or paper). It is also the recipient’s responsibility to ensure that this e-mail and any attachments are free of any virus or other defect that might negatively affect a recipient’s computer system, and no responsibility is accepted by the sender for loss or damage in the event such a virus or defect exists. Texas Fire Sprinkler Certificate of Registration SCR-G-2255435 Texas Fire Alarm Certificate of Registration ACR-2176114 Texas Fire Extinguisher Certificate of Registration ECR-2175786 Texas Fire Sprinkler License # RME-G-2255433 Texas Fire Alarm License #APS-2463287 Texas Fire Extinguisher License # FEL-A-2364622
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