Standpipe systems

Question 1

Standpipe class 1

Answer 1

For use by fire department and those trained in handling heavy fire streams - high flows and pressures.

equipped with only a 2 1/2” outlet
shall be capable of furnishing the effective fire streams required during the more advanced stages of fire on the inside of buildings or for exposure fire protection
Typically for the purpose of fire extinguishment

Question 2

Standpipe class 2

Answer 2

For use primarily by the building occupants until the arrival of the fire department

1 1/2” hose outlet
for the control of incipient (the initial stage) fires by the occupants of the building
It is not designed for fighting fires

Question 3

Standpipe class 3

Answer 3

Used by fire departments and/or those trained in handling heavy hose streams
shall be capable of furnishing class 1 and class 2 service
Can have 1 1/2” outlet and 2 1/2” outlets, or a 2 1/2” outlet with an adapter

Question 4

Exceptions

Answer 4

light hazard hose can be smaller than 1 1/2”

when the building has sprinklers:
class 2 personnel do not require training

travel distance 130’ without sprinklers / 200’ with sprinklers

Question 5

Standhose system types

Answer 5

automatic wet, combined, manual wet, automatic dry, semi-automatic dry, manual dry

Question 6

automatic wet

Answer 6

standpipe is filled with water

Question 7

combined system

Answer 7

supplies hose connections and automatic sprinklers

Question 8

manual wet

Answer 8

water is in the pipe but relies on the FDC

Question 9

automatic dry

Answer 9

dry pipe system for trained personnel only

Question 10

semi-automatic

Answer 10

admits water to the system through manual operation of approved remote control devices located at each hose station

Question 11

manual dry

Answer 11

no water supply, relies on FDC

Question 12

true or false. Every standpipe system has to be hydraulically calculated.

Answer 12

true.

pipe scheduled systems may still be in service.
Class 2 max 400’
class 3 max 275’

Question 13

class 1 + class 3 pipe sizes

Answer 13

minimum standpipe size 4”
combined systems, partially sprinklered = 6”
branch lines not less than 2 1/2”

Question 14

class 2

Answer 14

hydraulic calculations and pipe size based on 100gpm at the hydraulic most remote connection at the required pressure 7.8.1

Question 15

Standpipe pressures

Answer 15

Pressures
• Standpipes shall supply - Minimum Pressure
• 65 psi (4.5 bar) at the topmost 1 ½”outlet Class II
• 100 psi (6.9 bar) when it’s 2 ½” Class I & III

• Standpipes shall supply - Maximum Pressure
• 100 psi for Class II – 1 ½”
• 175psi for Class I and III – 2 ½”

• Maximum system pressure = 400psi (2019 edition is
400psi)

Question 16

Flows

Answer 16

Class I and Class Ill services, each standpipe shall be sized
for a minimum flow of 500 gpm (1893 L/min)

Designed for a minimum flow of 500 gpm for the first
standpipe plus 250 gpm (946 L/min) for each additional
standpipe.

Minimum total flow
• 1250 gpm (4731 L/min) - unsprinklered
• 1000 gpm (3785 L/min) - buildings sprinkled throughout.

For buildings that exceed 80,000 ft.²(7432m2) per floor
• the minimum flow rate for the additional standpipes shall be
• 500 gpm (1893 L/min) for the second standpipe
• and 250 gpm (946 L/min) for the third standpipe

Question 17

Combined systems

Answer 17

Comply with NFPA 13 for sprinklers and NFPA 14
regarding size of vertical risers (standpipes) and water
supplies
• For fully sprinklered systems demands from 13 and 14
are compared and the final system demand is the
higher of the 2
• Consider the hose stream allowance of 13 = 50gpm/
hose valve to a maximum of 100 light hazard, 250
ordinary and 500 extra hazard

Question 18

Multiple zones/Multiple pumps

Answer 18

Where pumps supplying two or more zones are located at the same level, each zone shall have separate and direct supply piping of a size not smaller than the riser which it serves.

• At least two lines shall be provided between zones; one of these lines shall be arranged so that supply can be automatically delivered from the lower to the higher zone.

*Supply must be maintained for a 30-minute duration

Question 19

Water Supplies

Answer 19

Acceptable water supplies may be:
• 1. Public waterworks system where pressure and discharge capacity are
adequate.
• 2. Automatic fire pumps.
• 3. Manually controlled fire pumps in combination with pressure tanks.
• 4. Pressure tanks.
• 5. Gravity tanks.
• 6. Manually controlled fire pumps operated by remote control devices at each
hose station.

Question 20

Locations

Answer 20

Class 1 and 3 hose connections:
must be within 150’ for unsprinklered
200’ for sprinklered

class 2 within 130'
120' if < 1 1/2" hose

streams must be supplied to all rooms, ie. around the partitions

standpipe risers and horizontal standpipe runs:
shall not pass-through hazardous areas
shall be located so they are protected from mechanical and fire damage
Dry standpipes shall not be concealed in building walls or built into pilasters

Question 21

Locations of hose connections

Answer 21

*3’-5’ above the floor
• At the main floor landing in exit stairways
• On each side of the wall adjacent to the exit openings of horizontal
exits.
• In other than covered mall buildings,
• in each exit passageway at the entrance from the building areas into the
passageway
• In covered mall buildings,
• at the entrance to each exit passageway or exit corridor,
• at the interior side of public entrances from the exterior to the mall.
• At the highest landing of stairways with stairway access to a roof
• On roofs with a slope of less than 4 in 12 where stairways do not
access the roof.

Question 22

Class 2 hose lengths

Answer 22

Class II systems
• If 1 ½” hose is provided within 130ft
• If < 1 ½” hose is provided within 120ft
• Class II hose stations are generally in the corridor,
whereas Class I & III are in the stairwells

Question 23

Standpipe locations

Answer 23

Standpipes are required in exit stairways
• Where the building is protected throughout by an
approved automatic sprinkler system
• Class II hose stations for use by trained personnel shall not be
required, subject to the approval of the local fire department
and the AHJ
• provided that each Class I hose connection is 21/2 in. (65 mm)
and is equipped with a 21/2 in. × 11/2 in. (65 mm × 40 mm)
reducer and a cap attached with a chain.

Question 24

Listed equipment + hose connections

Answer 24

All devices and materials used in standpipe systems shall
be listed.
• Exception - devices that do not affect system
performance are not required to be listed (drains, signs).
• Hose connections for use by trained personnel
• may be equipped with not more than 100 ft. of lined fire hose.
Any unlined hose shall have a drip connection to prevent any
slight leakage entering the hose.
• Each hose connection for dry standpipes having no
permanent water supply shall be provided with a
conspicuous, durable and permanent legible sign reading
• “Dry Standpipe for Fire Department Use Only.”

Question 25

Gravity tanks + pressure tanks

Answer 25

Connections to Systems from gravity tanks (on buildings)
and pressure tanks (on top floor or roof) shall be made
to the top of the standpipe system
• Exception - Where the tanks are used as a supply to standpipes
in several buildings, or sections of a building, they are at the
base
• Where two or more standpipes are installed in the same
building or section of a building, they shall be
interconnected

Question 26

Isolation and check valves

Answer 26

Isolation and check valve connections to each water
supply, shall be provided with a listed indicating-type
valve and check valve
• except to fire department connections
• Valves shall be provided to permit isolating a standpipe
riser without interrupting the supply to other risers from
the same source of supply

Question 27

Connecting to public water systems

Answer 27

Connections to public water systems shall be controlled by
post indicator valves of a listed type located at least 40 ft.
(12.2 m) from the building protected
• Exception: Approved location accessible and not subject to
injury
• Exception: If an underground valve is used –
• The valve locations, directions to open, and services which they
control shall be plainly marked on the buildings
• Where standpipes are supplied from a yard main or header in
another building, the connection shall be provided with a
listed indicating-type valve located outside at a safe distance
from the building or at the header

Question 28

Protecting the standpipe

Answer 28

Protect piping from:
• Freezing
• Corrosion
• Damage – earthquake protection as per NFPA 13 Chapter 18
• Fittings used in standpipe systems shall be extra-heavy pattern
where pressures exceed 175 psi
• Exception – cast iron up to 2” and <300psi
• malleable iron up to 6” and <300 psi
• Or their listings

Question 29

Pressure gauges

Answer 29

Pressure Gauges NFPA 14 5.5
• An approved 3 ½” dial spring pressure gauge shall be connected with
each discharge pipe from:
• 1. Fire pumps and public waterworks,
• 2. At the pressure tank,
• 3. At the air pump supplying pressure tank
• 4. At the top of each standpipe. Where water will not freeze.
• Exception: Where several standpipes are interconnected at the top,
a single gauge properly located may be substituted for the gauges at
the top of each standpipe.
• 5. Each gauge must be controlled by a valve that drains.

Question 30

Standpipe riser supports

Answer 30

Supported as per NFPA 13 17.4.5, and 18.5.8
• Standpipe riser supports shall be provided at the lowest level, at
each alternate level above and at the top of the risers.
• Provide support to restrain creep at regular intervals
• Lateral runs from the standpipe to the hose valve which are over
18” (457 mm) in length shall be supported by hangers.

Question 31

Testing

Answer 31

200 psi for 2 hours
if working pressure is > 150 you test 50 in excess of that

air pressure leakage test at 40 psi for 24hrs.
If loss more than 1 1/2psi in 24 hrs it fails

Question 32

testing automatic dry and semiautomatic systems

Answer 32

The system shall deliver a minimum of 250gpm at the hose connection within 3 minutes of opening the hose valve if the system capacity exceeds 750 gals.

Question 33

Hydrostatic tests

Answer 33

every 5 years - manual, semiautomatic dry

Manual wet standpipe systems that are part of a combined sprinkler system shall not be required to be tested

Question 34

Testing hose valves

Answer 34

Testing Hose Valves
• Class I and Class III standpipe system hose valves
shall be tested annually by fully opening and closing
the valves.
• Hose valves on hose stations attached to sprinkler
systems and Class II standpipe systems shall be tested
every 3 years by opening and closing the valves
• Pressure Regulating Devices
• Inspected annually – partial flow test
• Full flow test 5 yrs

Question 35

More testing

Answer 35

flow test 5 years
hose 5 years then every 3 years after that
hose connections annually
hydrostatic every 5 years

Question 36

pressure-reducing valves and relief valves

Answer 36

full flow test every 5 years
a partial test to move the device from its seat is done annually.

class 1 + 3 hose valves tested annually - fully opening and closing

class 2 hose valves should be tested every 3 years - fully opening and closing

Question 37

Fire department connections

Answer 37

Must be within 150ft from the nearest fire hydrant connection

18” to 48” above ground

Question 38

True or false. Hose systems can only be attached to wet systems

Answer 38

True.

Dry systems not permitted

Question 39

Hose connections to wet pipe systems

Answer 39

max 2 1/2 inches
Hydraulically calculated designed loops and grids minimum size 2”
20’ run - 1”
20’ to 80’ - 1 1/4”
80’ + 1 1/2”
Vertical runs - 1”
if psi > 100 pressure regulating device required

Question 40

nozzles

Answer 40

might be brass
1 1/2” female thread
100-degree spray pattern(adjustable)

Question 41

Valves

Answer 41

preferably globe valve with a removable disc

drip connection required if using unlined hose

Question 42

class 2

Answer 42

if hose pressure exceeds 175 psi a pressure regulating device is required