As Bob stated, an abandoned pipe should be identified. Look at 30.2.4. Personally, I also capped or plugged at the live part of the system.
*NFPA 13 - 2025* 30.2 Components. 30.2.1 The use of reconditioned valves and devices as replacement equipment in existing systems shall be permitted. 30.2.2 Where all or part of an inactive sprinkler system is abandoned in place, components including sprinklers, hose valves and hoses, and alarm devices shall be removed. 30.2.3 Control valves abandoned in place shall have the operating mechanisms removed. 30.2.4 Sprinkler system piping and/or valves abandoned in place shall be uniquely identified to differentiate them from active system piping and valves. *The above is my opinion and has not been processed as a formal interpretation in accordance with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects. This is provided with the understanding that the AFSA assumes no liability for this opinion or actions taken on it and they are not to be considered the official position of the **AFSA, and/or NFPA or its technical committees.**AFSA cannot provide design or consulting engineering services, and this opinion should therefore not be considered, nor relied upon, as such.* Thanks, John John August Denhardt, PE *Vice President, Engineering and Technical Services* *American Fire Sprinkler Association* m: p: 301-343-1457 214-349-5965 ext 121 w: firesprinkler.org *New Year, New Training!*Learn design, hydraulic calculations, and ITM with AFSA’s best-in-class training! Click here <https://firesprinkler.org/education-training/> to learn more and register now for Beginning Design School, Sprinkler Hydraulics Calculations Course, NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop, and Advanced Hydraulics Calculations Course. On Fri, Feb 6, 2026 at 12:27 AM <[email protected]> wrote: > > _________________________________________________________ > SprinklerForum mailing list: > https://lists.firesprinkler.org/list/sprinklerforum.lists.firesprinkler.org > To unsubscribe send an email to > [email protected] > > I should have noted the abandoned pipe should be identified as having been > abandoned in place as required by NFPA 1 (the Fire Code) as it appears in > multiple sections, including for gas pipe as well as other types. I > thought we added this requirement to NFPA 13 or 25 but my quick look didn’t > show anything…. Still a best practice. Thanks Shawn > > > > <https://link.nfpa.org/publications/1/2015/chapters/66#ID000010012563> > > *Removal from Service of Piping Systems. > <https://link.nfpa.org/publications/1/2015/chapters/66#ID000010012563>* > > *Piping systems taken out of service or abandoned shall be temporarily or > permanently closed in accordance with > <https://link.nfpa.org/publications/1/2015/chapters/66#ID000010012563>* > > > > > > > > > > > > *Bob Caputo, CFPS* > > *President* > > *American Fire Sprinkler Association* > > 1410 E Renner Rd., Suite 150 > > Richardson, TX 75082 > > c: 760-908-7753 > > p: > > 214-349-5965 ext124 > > w: > > firesprinkler.org > > > > > *New Year, New Training!*Learn design, hydraulic calculations, and ITM > with AFSA’s best-in-class training! Click here > <https://firesprinkler.org/education-training/> to learn more and > register now for Beginning Design School, Sprinkler Hydraulics Calculations > Course, NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop, and Advanced Hydraulics Calculations > Course. > > > > *From:* Shepherd, Shawn SS <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, February 5, 2026 1:27 PM > *To:* 'Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers' < > [email protected]> > *Subject:* [Sprinklerforum] Re: Removing Mechanical water motor bell > > > > I can agree with Bob's perspective, but working for an AHJ of a 175 year > old city, when a capped pipe of sprinkler system that lead to a WMG is > found, it can often lead to a rabbit hole of research on why it was > capped. Happened to me far more than once. You don't know who will find > the issue or on what path it will lead. But often I have found the overall > cost the owner to be more in the end than that upfront cost when the > equipment was not completely removed. I will add that I would not consider > such work to be need of such a "major" permit. > > > > Shawn Shepherd, PE > > Fire Protection Engineer > > Seattle Fire Department > ------------------------------ > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, February 5, 2026 11:09 AM > *To:* 'Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers' < > [email protected]> > *Subject:* [Sprinklerforum] Re: Removing Mechanical water motor bell > > > > *CAUTION: External Email* > > Don’t remove the pipe, just the bell. Cap the pipe and leave it in > place. Just a thought. > > > > > > [image: Image removed by sender.] > > *Bob Caputo, CFPS* > > *President* > > *American Fire Sprinkler Association* > > 1410 E Renner Rd., Suite 150 > > Richardson, TX 75082 > > c: 760-908-7753 > > p: > > 214-349-5965 ext124 > > w: > > firesprinkler.org > <https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=31323334-50bba2bf-31321b84-4544474f5631-007f0811dc0b3c39&q=1&e=482605c8-a915-4e8f-9c95-b52d83d49c72&u=http%3A%2F%2Ffiresprinkler.org%2F> > > > > > > *New Year, New Training!*Learn design, hydraulic calculations, and ITM > with AFSA’s best-in-class training! Click here > <https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=31323334-50bba2bf-31321b84-4544474f5631-7be89be2169abb42&q=1&e=482605c8-a915-4e8f-9c95-b52d83d49c72&u=https%3A%2F%2Ffiresprinkler.org%2Feducation-training%2F> > to > learn more and register now for Beginning Design School, Sprinkler > Hydraulics Calculations Course, NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop, and Advanced > Hydraulics Calculations Course. > > > > *From:* Brandon Bridgford <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, February 5, 2026 12:19 PM > *To:* Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers < > [email protected]> > *Subject:* [Sprinklerforum] Removing Mechanical water motor bell > > > > Good Afternoon, > > > > I am trying to remove a mechanical fire sprinkler alarm bell that > frequently plugs up. The facility already has an external horn/strobe in > the same location. The city is requiring a major building permit because it > includes the removal of pipe. Does this sound right? Any thoughts or > suggestions? > > > > > > Brandon Bridgford >
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