Is there a section of code which addresses the use of a fire sprinkler piping system on an occasional basis as a utility water system?
in our facility, we have a number of fire headers located around the plant. Is there a code restriction against extending the piping to a valve station where water could be used for floor washing?
I did not explain my situation well, but perhaps a bit of clarification is in order.
I said sprinkler system, but this is off of an automatic wet (fully charged full) fire hose system, but not part of our sprinkler system.
there are a number of hose stations on this riser up several floors from ground. We currently will, on ocaission hook up a utility hose in order to wash floors or some other odd job, such as wash down one of our conveyors.
what we would like to do is to extend the existing piping to include a half dozen valve stations. This would be hard piped but valved shut in order to isolate it from the fire header when we’re not washing.
I’m looking through NFPA 14, but it doesn’t speak at all to extending the system in this manner.
Jason:
I would say with your proposed alterations to the use of the standpipe system to wash floors does not meet the definition of a standpipe system - "... ,for the purpose of extinguishing a fire,...."
Excerpt from the 2019 NFPA 14.
In my opinion if your local codes and regulations require a standpipe system for your building, alternations cannot reduce the purpose of the standpipe system.
Where a code or standard does not address the proposed piping alterations, does not mean that permission is given to alter the standpipe system.
I cannot speculate what your local building regulations and codes are for altering the use of a standpipe system. Please check with them.
There are hose connection standards in Section 16.15 of the 2019 NFPA 13. For fire purposes only connected to wet systems.
I can not speculate what your local building regulations and codes are.