NFPA 14 - Standpipe installation within drywall

[miguelsantos]

Hello,

I live in an apartment in a new building in Houston and upon inspection I noticed that the main sprinkler system standpipe (used for multiple apartment sprinkler systems in that section of the building, 1 1/2'', CPVC orange pipe) is installed inside a drywall (sheetrock) more or less in the center of my apartment. There is no other protection for the standpipe other than the drywall itself. The pipe is located less than 2'' under the drywall surface.
Upon review of NFPA 14 I noticed that there's a section mentioning that standpipes should be protected against mechanical damage. I was therefore wondering if this kind of assembly is allowed since it seems that if I drive a nail into the wall it could easily damage the pipe.
In case I need it, who do you think I should contact regarding this?

Thanks,

Miguel

 

[stookeyfpe]

That sounds like a branch line or feed main for the sprinkler system. It doesn't sound like a standpipe, but I would need to know the height of the apartment building before I could make any statement.

Protection of the branch line or feed main from a nail penetration may have not been required at the time of construction. Your installation may be legal as it was approved when a previous edition of NFPA 13 or 13R was adopted by the City of Houston. Houston only updates their codes about every 8-10 years so I suspect the sprinkler system was installed using standards that are now 8-10 years old.

 

[miguelsantos]

The complex was built in 2009, so it's pretty recent. It has 5 storeys.
This particular pipe feeds not only the sprinklers in my floor (2nd) but also all the sprinklers for the upper storeys. I know it goes all the way to the roof (there's a vent there).

thanks

 

[TravisMack]

It is NOT a standpipe as governed by NFPA 14. The standpipe under NFPA 14 would be a minimum of 4" pipe. You have a vertical riser in the wall. Even if built in 2009, the standard governing the project may have been NFPA 13 or 13R, 1999, 2002 or 2007 edition. It depends on what the local jurisdiction has adopted. As Stookey said, the protection you speak of may not have been required under the standard that governed that installation.

Since you know it is there, be careful and don't put any nails in the wall at that location.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

 

[miguelsantos]

OK, thank you for the help!

 

[cdafd]

Ok I will ask

Cvpc fire sprinkler system

What section says to protect the pipe from nails or other protection, besides just being behind sheet rock when required

 

[miguelsantos]

Hi

I was referring to NFPA 14-2000, section 4-1.2.1, but this applies to the standpipe, not the smaller riser.
By the way, can anyone give me a rough order os magnitude on how much would cost to repair such pipe if it did get punctured by e.g. a nail?

Thanks again,

 

[TravisMack]

It would likely cost more than any of us would care to spend. So, since you know where it is, simply avoid putting nails through the pipe :^)

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

 

[cdafd]

The pipe is cheap, the water and sheet rock is what would cost

 

[NJ1]

No section needs to indicate to protect the piping from nails or any other protections.
The manufacturer governs and supersedes any standard I believe.

 

[cdafd]

But there is no requirement to protect cvpc pipe from nails

Not in 13 or by manufacture

If there is will someone please post it

 

[stookeyfpe]

There is such a provision in the International Plumbing Code and in the International Fuel Gas Code. But this isn't a plumbing system. Even if it was, the building is in Houston and they are using the 2000 IPC, and the requirement didn't come into effect until 2006.