New Standpipe Rules For New York
Recently Adopted by Board of Standards and Appeals—To be Published Serially in These Columns
AS OUTLINED in the last issue of FIRE ENGINEERING, the first installment of the new “Standpipc-Fire Line Rides” of New York City is published herewith. The original rules were adopted by the Board of Standards and Appeals of that city on June 22. 1922, were amended July 20, 1923, and again on May 18, 1928. The finally adopted form, as reproduced herewith, were adopted July 20. 1928. Through the courtesy of Chairman William E. Walsh, of the Board, FIRE ENGINEERING is enabled to publish the entire new rules serially.
These new rules are formulated largely through the efforts of Peter J. Maher. Fire Prevention Inspector attached to the Division of Fire Appliances of the New York Fire Department.
RULE 1. PLANS.-A preliminary set of paper plans and cross sections, drawn clearly and distinctly, to a scale of 1/4-inch or, by permission of the Fire Commissioner, ⅛-inch to the foot, for each proposed standpipe (fire line) installation or alteration, shall be submitted to and approved by the Fire Commissioner before the work in connection with the installation is started. Such preliminary plans shall show the size and location of the standpipe (fire line) risers, size and location of siamese and cross-connections, valves, tanks and connections, pumps, hose stations, lengths of hose, etc., and the location of stairways and enclosing partitions in relation to the standpipe risers and hose stations. From these approved preliminary plans, three sets of plans on cloth, in clean and clear detail, shall be filed for final approval by the Fire Commissioner. A certified copy of approved plans shall be forwarded to the Bureau of Buildings by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Such application and specification forms as may be prescribed by the Fire Commissioner shall accompany preliminary plans. If an automatic sprinkler system is provided throughout the building or in any portion of the building, the plans shall include a note to that effect.
RULE 2. Approval.—Before acceptance all standpipe (fire lines) shall be tested, for at least one hour, under a hydrostatic pressure of not less than 300 pounds per square inch at the street Siamese, and at each pump supply level, or such additional pressures as may be required to give 100 pounds at the highest hose outlet supplied by such pump, except that when a change is made in a source of supply, or minor changes are made in an existing equipment previously approved, the system shall be tested to a pressure sufficient to give 50 lbs. per sq. in. at the highest story hose outlet. These tests to be made in the presence of a representative of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
No valves, risers, or other material portions of any standpipe (fire lines) equipment shall be covered or permanently concealed until tested and approved, in writing, by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
When entirely completed in accordance with the approved plans, and as per test herein provided for, application shall be made to the Bureau of Fire Prevention for inspection of the completed installation. When the standpipe equipment is approved, the applicant will be so advised, in writing, by the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
When deemed necessary by the Fire Commissioner, sectional diagrams of the standpipe (fire line) equipment in buildings of large area or height, not more than three in number and printed on cloth in size not less than 8 1/2 x 11 in., shall be filed by the applicant for the use of fire companies in the district in which the premises are located.
RULE 3. STANDPIPE-FIRE LINE Certificate.—The engineer, superintendent or persons in charge of the standpipe-fire line system in all buildings exceeding eighty-five feet in height shall be registered, and submit to an examination in the Fire Department. Upon evidence of fitness to properly operate and maintain the standpipe system he shall be granted a Certificate to that effect. The certificate shall contain the full name and a small photograph of the holder.
Day and night service shall be maintained in all buildings exceeding 250 feet in height in which there is a fire pump. Theatre buildings provided with fire pumps shall have at least one certified operator on duty during every performance. Buildings of large areas, industrial plants, amusement parks, etc., shall have at least one certified operator on duty when deemed necessary by the fire commissioner.
RULE 4. MONTHLY Inspection.—-All valves, hose, tools and other auxiliary fire appliances shall be kept in perfect working order, and at least once a month the person holding certificate of fitness shall make a thorough inspection of all the fire appliances to sec that they are in perfect working order and ready for immediate use by the Fire Department. Fire pumps shall be tested every 30 days by the person holding the certificate of fitness.
He shall also instruct all employees under his charge in the use and practice of all auxiliary fire anoliances. A detailed record of each inspection shall be kept on the premises for examination by a representative of the Fire Department.
All standpipe equipment in buildings exceeding 85 feet in height shall be subject to a flow test with a pressure of not less than 50 lbs. at the top floor outlet, at least once in every two years, test to be conducted in the presence of a representative of the Fire I)epartment.
RULE 5. APPROVAL Devices.—All devices approved for use in new standpipe fire line equipments shall bear the manufacturer’s name and the date of and the number of the approval. Certified copies of the approval, working drawings and photographs of the device approved, shall be submitted to the administrative authority having jurisdiction for preservation as records and reference data.
RULE 6. ELEVATOR IN Readiness.—In every building exceeding 150 feet in height at least one passenger elevator and in buildings in course of construction a hoist or elevator shall be kept in readiness for immediate use by the Fire Department during all hours of the night and day, including holidays -and Sundays, and a man competent to operate the elevator shall be present at all times.
RULE 7. AREA OF Buildings.—For the application of Section 581 of Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances the area of a building shall be taken as the area within the exterior walls, or the area between fire walls.
When the fire walls are constructed in accordance with Section 371, Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances, and all openings are protected on both sides of fire wall or walls with automatic fireproof self-closing doors, the area within such fire walls or exterior walls and a fire wall, shall be considered a separate building.
RULE 8. Height.—The term “height” as applied to a building or structure, as described in Chapter 5, Code of Ordinances, means the vertical distance measured in a straight line from the curb level, to the highest point of the roof beams in the case of flat roofs, and to the average height of gable in case of roofs, having a pitch of more than 20 degrees with a horizontal plane.
RULE 9. STANDPIPE EQUIPMENT shall consist of a system of piping connected to one or more approved sources of water supply and provided with sufficient number of hose outlets and hose located as hereinafter set forth, to make possible the covering of every portion of each floor area with a standpipe hose stream, except that where the first story or basement or both are occupied as stores without connection or communication with the entrance hall or stair enclosure to upper stories, the Fire Commissioner may permit the omission of standpipe protection in such stores and, if so omitted, may prescribe such portable protection as he may deem necessary. Cellars, sub-cellars, basements, etc., shall be protected in the same manner as the stories above.
Every standpipe (fire line) equipment shall be a Standard Wet System, except as hereinafter provided for:
(a) In any building not exceeding 40 feet in height, and 20,000 sq. ft. in area, a four-inch street supply system having one four (4) inch direct connection to a street main fed twoways or having one 4-in. direct connection to each of the two street mains on two street fronts, each main so fed that the shutting off of one main will not interfere with the supply of the other main, may be installed, provided there is a sufficient pressure in the street main or mains to maintain a minimum of twenty-five (25) pounds per square inch static pressure at the highest hose outlet.
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New Standpipe Rules for New York
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Evidence establishing the fact that water main conditions and pressures are as required shall be submitted to the Fire Department.
RULE 10. CLASSIFICATION OF STANDPIPE-FIRE LINE EQUIPments.—For the purpose of these rules standpipe equipments shall be classified as:
(a) Standard Wet System in which the pipes are of sizes as specified in Section 581 of the Building Code, and in which the system is at all times filled with water from at least one standard source of supply.
(b) Four-inch street connection system, in which the pipes are of sizes as specified in Section 581 of the Building Code and the system is at all times filled with water from one or more 4-in. diameter direct connections to public water mains in the street.
(c) Automatic dry systems, in which the pipes are of sizes as specified in Section 581 of the Building Code, and are normally dry, the system being connected to a source of water supply controlled by an automatic dry pipe valve as defined elsewhere in these rules.
RULE 11. TANKS ABOVE Ro f.—Construction shall be as per Section 428 of the Building Code and tank structure and supports shall be approved by the Superintendent of Buildings. The covers of all unenclosed standpipe tanks shall be conical in shape and protected with a type of roofing approved by the Superintendent of Buildings.
RULE 12. RESERVE FOR Standpipe.—Gravity roof tanks, except as otherwise required by Rule 83, shall contain not less than 3,500 gallons of water at all times, reserved solely for standpipe fire line purposes.
When a gravity tank is to be used for both standpipe and house supply, the connection for the latter shall be made through the side of the tank above the level of the required standpipe reserve. This type of house and standpipe supply tank is preferred and recommended.
When two gravity tanks are used, one for standpipe fire line
service and the other for the house supply, the house supply tank may be so arranged that it can only be filled by an overflow from the tank used for standpipe fire line purposes.
RULE 13. STANDPIPE AND SPRINKLER SUPPLIES.-Standpipe and sprinkler supply shall not be taken from one tank unless there is available 5,000 gallons of water for the standpipe system which shall be in excess of the amount of water required for the sprinkler system. Standpipe supply shall be taken from the uppermost portion, and through the side of the tank, or through the bottom, provided that portion of the pipe within the tank is of brass or other non-corroding material.
RULE 14. BUILDING IN GROUP UNDER THE. SAME OWNERSHIP AND Operation.—One gravity tank of at least 5,000 gallons water capacity to supply the largest unit of a group of separate and distinct buildings operating under one ownership, and located
(To be continued)