Paddy

For anyone thinking about including residential sprinklers in their plumbing business, the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and International Code Council (ICC) have a book on sprinkler systems for 1- and 2-family dwellings that was written with plumbers in mind. The title is "Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems: Design, Installation and Code Administration." I don't have the ASPE web site, but the ICC web site is www.iccsafe.org. The book is available on their online bookstore and the Item No. is 7405S. It think it runs around $48.00 for non-members and around $38.00 for members.

plumber666

Admit it, you wrote that book didn't you?

Paddy

Yeah, I did. I was an ICC employee at the time, so I don't make any money on sales. I left them several months ago, one reason being that the powers that be didn't want to risk their relationships with the sprinkler industry. Totally frustrating. Integrating sprinklers with plumbing fixtures on the cold water distribution pipe reduces costs. Plumbing contractors can install them, which saves time and leaves builders with one less subcontractor to coordinate. And, homeowners get a system with superior hydraulics.

Since going independent, I created a one-day seminar on plumbing-based fire protection and will be writing a book with the same title. You can download a flyer about the seminar at www.fdexcellence.com.

BROOKLYN\PLUMB

I'm not a fan of combined domestic/sprinkler system. Here are combined system just means they use the same main but they tee off and are a separate system, which I believe is superior for a bunch of what if? reasons. Price should not be a factor in matters of safety. That being said any system is better then none.

Paddy

The definition of muitipurpose piping in NFPA 13D, the installation standard for dwelling sprinklers, is so loose that what you describe can be called multipurpose. Water authorities usually require backflow preventers for these systems, and that adds significant material and maintenance costs. Plumbing-based systems with all potable water are the way to go.

To me, PEX manifolded grids have the best hydraulics (for both plumbing fixtures and sprinklers), can be installed faster and for less cost. At least two of the five PEX manufacturers in the US and Canada design manifolded grids. All the water in the system flows when a plumbing fixture operates, thus no standing water anywhere. For plumbing fixtures, manifolded grids waste less water in delivering the desired temperature water at a fixture. They also eliminate temperature/pressure shock that occurs on Trunk and Branch plumbing. There are other advantages, but I'm getting too windy!

DesertOkie

But that orange pvc looks so cool.

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Mississippiplum

What happens if the water authority shuts the water off to the house for lack of payment, then your fss Is useless, having a seperate meter and tap for the sprinkler system eliminates that issue, or am I missing something here? Because the water dept. Ain't gonna shut the water off to a main designated to feed the sprinkler system, because if the building burns down the water dept. Can be at fault. This is what I've been told, tell me if I'm not understanding things right.

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''i would rather die on my knees with freedom then on my feet with no freedom"

Paddy

I hear the same from time to time, but water authorities can easily resolve their concerns.

Every water authority tarriff or contract that I have read includes a statement that they do not guarantee minimum volume or pressure, anyway. All they need to do is add a statement that the person who signs the tarriff agreement, in this case the homeowner, understands that shutting off the water due to lack of payment will render the sprinkler system inoperable as well as the plumbing system.

We went through similar concerns with smoke alarms. As more jurisdictions required wired alarms, electric utilities voiced concern over their liability if they shut off the electricity. NFPA 72, the installation standard for residential smoke alarms, has required wired alarms for years. Here we are 40 years after residential smoke alarms were introduced, and I have not seen one lawsuit about electric utility shutoffs and lack of protection from wired smoke alarms. But like I said, water authorities can add language to their tarriffs that will protect them from liability in the event of a shutoff, just as they avoid liability from the lack of sufficient volume or pressure.

Mississippiplum

I see what your saying it makes sense, here the smoke alarms must have a battery back up built into them, but it makes sense that the contract can be worded to protect both sides, thank you for the reply I just learned something new lol

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''i would rather die on my knees with freedom then on my feet with no freedom"

Paddy

Fortunately, CPVC pipe will be covered, except in unfinished basements. The same goes for PEX. The funny thing is that most people won't notice exposed bright orange CPVC, let alone white PEX. I installed a CPVC system in our new home back in the early '90's. When we put it up for sale, 24 couples walked through the home. Not one of them noticed the semi-recessed sprinklers on the main and upper floor ceilings, nor did they notice the exposed CPVC in the basement. The couple who bought the home had no idea that it was protected with fire sprinklers. I had to explain how they had superior fire protection - and about their future insurance savings.