Standpipe and Hose Systems

Chapter 4

2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Learning Objectives
State when and where standpipes and hose
systems are required in buildings
Reference the design and installation standards
that apply to standpipes
List and describe the different types of
standpipes and the different standpipe
classifications

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 Learning Objectives (continued)
State the minimum standpipe system pressure
and flow requirements
List and describe the different standpipe system
components
Reference the inspection, testing, and
maintenance requirements
Recognize the possible impairments to
standpipe systems

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 Introduction
The standpipe system may be the only available
fire protection equipment in a structure
Standpipe system: network of piping and
components that transport water
Required where occupied levels are more than 30
feet above or below vehicle access
Standpipe system has fixed pipes that rise
vertically or horizontally through the building
To feed hose valve outlets or hose stations

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 Required Installations
Standpipes systems installed based on use,
occupancy, occupancy load, etc.
Building height and area determine when a
standpipe is required
Referenced standards state how to install a fire
protection system
When researching standpipe systems, confirm
the model codes and referenced standard in use

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 Building Height and Levels Below
Grade
Height above grade and distance below grade
affect ability to fight fire
Determine requirements
Number of feet or levels above or below fire
department access or grade level
Occupancy requirements
Occupancy conditions

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 Occupancy Requirements
Height of a particular occupancy will play a
major role
Other factors:
Occupancy load
Lack of other fire protection features
Stages are another example of assembly-based
occupancy requirement for standpipe systems
Part of many assembly occupancies

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 Hazard Requirements
Building conditions considered more hazardous
than normal should be thoroughly researched
Fires can grow exponentially within moments
Standpipe system requirements are straightforward
Model codes occasionally have exceptions
Read entire code section
Determine if other retroactive code requirements were in
effect
Know when the building was constructed

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 Buildings under Construction,
Rehabilitations, or Demolition
Construction and demolition sites create access
and fuel load problems
Construction materials surrounding the building
complicate fire fighting
Temporary standpipe may be required
At least one hose connection per floor level
Clearly marked and accessible connection at street
level

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 Design and Installation Standards
NFPA 14 most widely known and used
Establishes minimum requirements for components,
hardware, etc.
Discusses standpipe requirements while buildings are
under construction
Used as a referenced standard
FM Globals data Sheet 4-4N also well-known
N signifies FM Global has adopted NFPA standard
Some changes or additions have been made

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 Types of Standpipe Systems
Five different types of standpipe systems
Differ by operation and configuration features
Operational feature:
Whether water supply will be immediately available or
available after water manually supplied
Configuration feature:
Whether or not the standpipe system would ordinarily
have water in the pipe
Five types: wet, automatic dry, semiautomatic,
manual, manual dry

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 Wet Standpipe
Water in the pipe at all times
Automatic and dedicated water supply provides
water once a hose valve opens
Immediately supplies water
Required to supply sufficient quantities of water
to support manual firefighting operations
Fire pump connects to the system
Environmental temperature must remain over 40
degrees Fahrenheit

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 Automatic Dry Standpipe
Pressurized air in the pipes
Water enters after hose valve opens and air
pressure drops
Loss of air pressure allows a system component
to open
Permits water to flow into system piping
System piping and hose valve may be exposed
to temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit
Common in residential apartment buildings

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 Semiautomatic Standpipe
Either pressurized air or atmospheric air in the
pipe
Activation of a remote control device allows
water to enter the pipe
Remote control typically a manual release
located at each hose valve
Typically installed where system components
housed in a room greater than 40 degrees F
Common in industrial complexes or public areas

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 Manual Standpipe
Water in the pipes at all times
Water typically supplied from buildings domestic
water system
Tap size typically not more than inch or one
inch in diameter
Usually requires additional pumping to provide
adequate water pressure
Common in older mid- and high-rise buildings

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 Manual Dry Standpipe
Does not have attached water supply
Only atmospheric air in the standpipe
Firefighters must connect a water source
Common in remote or freestanding structures
such as parking garages

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 Classifications of Standpipe
Systems
Classification dates back to 1917 edition of
NFPA 14
Establishes classes of service in use today
Three general categories:
Class I
Class II
Class III
Classification system establishes design,
installation, use, water supply, outlet size

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 Class I Standpipe System
Designed for use by personnel trained to handle
heavy fire streams
High pressure and volume
Two to three people may be required to handle the
hose line
Hose valves commonly fitted with 2 X 1
inch reducing caps
Common to high-rise buildings, open parking
garages, covered malls, underground buildings

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Figure 4-1 Class I standpipe and 2 inch hose valve with a
2 X 1 inch reducing cap

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 Class II Standpipe System
Access to water supply through:
Hose rack, pre-connected 1-inch or 1 inch hose, and
hose nozzle
Water pressure and volume requirements much
less demanding
Any individual can start suppression activities
Fire departments discourage building occupants from
fighting fires beyond using fire extinguisher
Reliability of hoses and nozzles is unknown
Installed hoses are smaller

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Figure 4-2 Class II standpipe hose system cabinet.

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 Class III Standpipe System
Incorporates Class I and Class II requirements
2 inch and 1 inch hose outlets
Water and pressure requirements same as for
Class I
Class III should be carefully considered
Safety and reliability concerns
Many authorities suggest Class I standpipe
instead of Class II or III

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Figure 4-3 Class III standpipe system. The lower pipe feeds
a Class II hose cabinet on the other side of the wall.

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Combined Standpipe and Sprinkler
Systems
Standpipe system should be used as the
sprinkler system riser
Common in old buildings where there is an
existing standpipe
Common in new buildings where the standpipe
design provides outlets for the sprinkler system
1971 NFPA adopted combined standpipe and
sprinkler systems

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Figure 4-4 Combination standpipe and sprinkler system. The
sprinkler system feed is the topmost horizontal piping

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 Water Pressure and Flow
Requirements
Factors such as standpipe class and type
establish water supply requirements
Calculating system demand ensures water
supply provides minimum pressure and flow

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 Minimum and Maximum Pressure
Requirements
Per NFPA 14, minimum design pressure is 100
psi at hydraulically most remote 2 inch outlet
65 psi at hydraulically most remote 1 inch outlet
Minimum valve ties directly to pressures
required to properly operate modern nozzles
Lower pressures adversely affect nozzle operation
Maximum pressure factors:
Ability of individuals to handle hose
Pressure rating of standpipe and sprinkler system

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 Pressure Requirements in High-
Rise Buildings
In high-rises, overcoming pressure loss due to
elevation places great demand on standpipes
Pressures at hose valves on lower levels are
much greater
System may be zoned, and pressure-control
devices installed
Extremely tall buildings: upper and lower zones
Water comes from many different sources

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 Minimum Flow Requirements
Class I and III standpipe systems require minimum
500 gpm flow rate
Additional 250 gpm per standpipe riser
Total should not exceed 1,250 gpm
When building equipped with sprinkler system,
requirement reduces to 1,000 gpm
Class II standpipe systems require 100 gpm flow
rate
No additional flow required when more than one hose
provided

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 Standpipe System Components
Standpipe system requires many components
Each component has a pressure rating
Factors such as type and classification of
standpipe system determine components
Fire department personnel should be familiar
with their functions

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 Fire Department Connections
First responders connect hose lines to the fire
department connection (FDC)
Types of fire department connections
Single inlet and double inlet
Wall mounted or free-standing

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 Fire Department Connections
(continued)
Location of fire department connections
Must be accessible from street side of the building
Fire department connection identification
Type of system
Inlet pressure requirements
Part of building it serves

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Figure 4-5 Wall-mounted fire department connection.

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 Pipe and Fittings
Components to install standpipes and the way
they join must meet adopted standards
Commonly used materials
Ductile iron, cast iron
Malleable iron
Steel
Copper
Fittings join piping together by a number of
different methods

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 Gauges
Gauges determine available water pressure
Alert personnel to potential problems
Required at the top of each standpipe
Recommended on each side of pressure-
regulating devices
Should not be subject to freezing temperatures
Should have a control valve capable of draining

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 Valves
Standpipe systems use many types of valves
Check valves installed between the FDC and the
standpipe system piping
Prevent water flowing back to FDC
Control valves permit water to flow into and
through the system when open
Isolate parts of the system for servicing when closed
Drain valves permit water to purge from the
system for testing or servicing

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 Valves (continued)
Hose valves allow fire hoses to be connected
Pressure-restricting, pressure-reducing,
pressure control devices and valves
Allow boost pressure to be high but manageable
Require extra care and attention
Flow test at time of acceptance is crucial
Fire companies and inspectors conduct required tests

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Hose Cabinets, Hose, Hose Racks,
and Nozzles
Hose cabinet is a metal enclosure mounted in
the wall of a building
Holds fire protection equipment
Require labeling, cabinet door typically glass
Cabinet door may be locked
Device to strike the glass must be available
Sized to house the pre-connected hose and
related equipment

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 Inspection, Testing, and
Maintenance Requirements
System must undergo acceptance testing
Fire, building, insurance, third-party inspectors
conduct acceptance tests
Some tests occur during construction; others at
the conclusion
Through life of the standpipe, periodic
inspection, testing, and maintenance is essential

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 Hydrostatic and Air Test
One of the first and most important tests
Subjects the system to a minimum 200 psi
pressurized water for two hours
Hydrostatic pressure measured at low elevation
point
At end of two hours, release of pressurized water
allows system pressure to drop to zero
24-hour air test required for dry standpipes
40 psi air pressure for 24-hour period

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 Visual Inspection
Visual inspection of all components ensures
system maintains integrity
Check for leaks
Verify components are installed correctly
Ensuring that piping and components specified by the
designer and approved by the authority are installed
Takes place at floor level
As important as the hydrostatic test

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 Flushing
Flushing supply piping necessary to remove dirt,
stones, mud, debris, and particulates
Inspector observes underground fire service
mains and lead-in connections flowing water
Recommended flow rate is 10 ft/sec
Minimum flow rate should not be less than
system demand rate
System is flushed long enough to ensure pipe
cleaning until water flows clear

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 Flow Tests
Flowing water from hydraulically most remote
outlet
Determine if required flow and pressure available
Takes place on the roof of a building
Requires hose lines and nozzles
Pitot tube and riser gauge determine flow and
pressure readings
When roof not accessible, water flows out of a
window or down stairs

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 Main Drain Test
Main drain serves two purposes:
Remove system water so it will not be a hazard
Allows the inspector to determine if there is enough
water supply in the system
As main drain valve is fully open, system gauges
display static and residual pressure
Compare new readings with previous readings
to determine if water supply has changed
Drain should be piped to an exterior location

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 Operation of Components
Any component capable of movement requires
testing under operating conditions
Almost every component requires unscrewing a
cap or turning a valve to move water
Doing so provides a means to determine
whether system will operate when needed

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 Periodic Inspection, Testing, and
Maintenance
Many fire protection systems have never actually
operated
When a device is not tested and maintained, the
operating condition is unknown and may fail
Better to fail in a test than an emergency
Visual inspection can reveal leaks, corrosion,
and damage
Hydrostatic testing determines if system can
handle water pressure

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 Impairments
Some impairments are system-related; some are
not
Important for fire companies to frequently tour
their first due area
Fencing, barricades, bushes, and physical
barriers create access problems
Unmaintained standpipe systems may be
inoperable

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 Summary
Standpipe and hose systems may be the only
required fire protection system
Height, area, occupancy, and hazard determine
when a standpipe is required
NFPA 14 establishes three standpipe
classifications
Five different types of standpipes
Fire department connections are very important
Inspections and tests crucial for system to work

2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning