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Pressure testing Sprinkler systems

treycash

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
12
Location
United States
Hey everyone, this is my first post here. I am a fire inspector for a small county in NC.

It has been a while since I have done a new Fire Sprinkler Pressure test. (don't get too many new buildings in my county). They are building a new Middle School and is having a sprinkler system put in. What PSI should it be at during an initial sprinkler test? We use IFC 2012 and I have look up and down NFPA and can not find it....Sorry if this is a stupid question.
 
Welcome. Do not be shy. Yes there are a few that like to be argumentative around here

Should be in nfpa 13

200 psi two hours.

If you are talking about new above ground

What edition of nfpa 13 do you have adopted ???

Not near the book but look in chapter 16 maybe, depending on edition
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome!

It is also worth noting, if the working pressure of a system is above 150psi, the hydro test should be at 50psi above the normal working pressure. We have a few facilities in our area that have fire pumps that keep the pressure around 160 psi, so the hydro has to be at least 210 psi.

nfpa 13 - 2010

24.2.1.2 Portions of systems normally subjected to system working pressures in excess of 150 psi (10.4 bar) shall be tested as described in 24.2.1.1, at a pressure of 50 psi (3.5 bar) in excess of system working pressure.
 
Micro soft has a snipping tool you can use to cut and paste NFPA online codes. It is limited in the size it works well for plan review comments
 
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