Standpipes Required During Construction

Q: When is it necessary to have a Standpipe System during Construction?

A: Standpipes are an imporant part of the Fire Protection systems of buildings, including those that are under construction or demolition. The Standpipe is a vertical riser which provides firemen with a means of water supply for fighting fires within the building, especially in high-rise buildings.

During construction of a New High Rise Building (buildings exceeding 75 feet in height), a Temporary Standpipe is required by the Building Code. A Licensed Fire Suppression Contractor may submit an Alteration Repair Application as an initial filing to start work on a standpipe system as required by Section 27-1014(b) of the NYC Building Code. An approved ARA-1 will serve as a Temporary Permit until the permanent Standpipe Plans are approved by the NYC-Department of Buildings.

Summary of Code Section requiring Temporary Standpipe System:
A Standpipe shall be provided when construction or alteration work reaches 75' in height or more. The standpipe shall be kept in readiness at all times for fire department use. The system shall be a dry system when freezing conditions may be encountered.

In strucures being demolished which have existing Standpipe Systems, such systems shall be maintained as Dry Standpipes. The standpipe risers shall be capped above the outlet on the floor immediately below the floor being demolished so as to maintain the standpipe system on all lower floors for fire department use.

In structures undergoing demolition which have existing sprinkler systems with siamese hose connections, such system shall be maintained as a non-automatic sprinkler system. When demolition starts, the sprinkler risers shall be capped immediately below the floor being demolished so as to maintain the sprinkler system on all lower floors for fire department use.

How to Calculate Sprinkler Fire Reserve Capacity?

Q: How do I calculate the required Fire Reserve Capacity of the Sprinkler System? Is it possible to obtain an OK from the Commissioner for a reduction in the Sprinkler Fire Reserve Capacity to 20 Minutes?

A: The required Sprinkler Fire Reserve Capacity is calculated as follows:
Gallons Per Minute (G.P.M.) * (square root of (Available Pressure/Required Pressure) * (Required Minutes)

Example: 280.12 GPM * (Square Root Of (53.37 Available Pressure/31.94 Required Pressure) * 40 Minutes= 14,185 Minimum Required Gallons of Reserve.

The figures in the above are obtained from the Sprinkler Hydraulic Calculations.

For a Reduction in the Fire Reserve, refer to Table RS17-2-2.1(B), Note 1: In existing Buildings only, the Commissioner may authorize reduction of storage to 20 minutes provided there are provisions for acceptable mechanical automatic means of makeup to the storage tank. Where 20 minutes storage cannot be achieved with existing storage facilities, alternative means of supply may be considered by the Commissioner. In any event, no Fire Reserve Storage Facility shall have less than 3500 Gallons.