Trap Seal Primer Alternative

[dbill74]

I have run into a situation whereby I am concerned with protecting a tarp seal in a floor drain from drying out.
Drain is in a computer room to collect CRAC unit condensate. CRAC units are scheduled with 0 latent load, actual calculations show 0.1 MBH latent load.
First choice is to use a trap primer and pipe water to the trap; however a suitable source of water is far enough away to be beyond the recommended distance of trap primers (50 feet+).
Second choice is deep seal trap; I have doubts that the drain will receive sufficient amounts of water to maintain the seal (if there was this I wouldn't need the trap primer to start with).

Although there are ways around my problem, I am curious to know if other engineers have used devices such as Trap Guard. Also what has been your justification to allow such a device when IPC does not specifically mention them?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[PEDARRIN2]

Be careful about using it. There are some jurisdictions who use the IPC as a base that have not allowed it, while others have allowed it. My thoughts are a flapper in the drain is likely to get contaminated by "stuff" and tend to fail over time. Condensate water is fairly clean so that may not be an issue.

Have you thought about electronic trap primers where a solenoid opens on a regular schedule to allow a small quantity of water to flow. I specify them where the floor drain is not close to a water line feeding a water closet and I am not likely to get a good pressure drop spike to operate the standard trap primer. They are pricy, ~$800, but will do the job.

 

[dbill74]

Thanks for the input Pedarrin2. Good to know that not all jurisdictions allow these devices, tells me it is an interpretation issue. I have the same concern and reservations regarding contamination and is my primary cause for hesitation for using them.

I had not thought about using an electronic primer, thanks. Unfortunately, I have similar concern as using a regular primer and that is simply the distance from the trap to the water source. I will have to do some research on that.

Still would like to hear tales where they have been used, both successfully and not.

 

[rdeagan]

We use trap guards and similar products in every jurisdiction that allows them and have never had a problem. Conversely, trap primers are a maintenance nightmare.

IPC 2015 now allows "trap seal protection devices) (¶1002.4.1.4).