In buildings hereafter erected, approved standpipe systems shall be installed and maintained as follows:
Standpipes shall be installed in all buildings over two stories high, except single and two-family dwellings. Such standpipes shall be not less than four inches in diameter for buildings not exceeding fifty-five feet in height, and not less than six inches in diameter for buildings over fifty-five feet in height.
On stages arranged or intended for theatrical, operatic or similar performances, regardless of building height, there shall be one two and one-half inch standpipe on each side of the stage.
The installation of all standpipe systems shall be in accordance with plans and specifications based on the requirements of this section, and subject to the approval of the Fire Chief.
(a) Specifications - Permit Required. Plans showing the location, size and connections of the fixed portion of the standpipe system shall be furnished to the Fire Chief. The plans shall be to scale and shall include the details necessary to indicate clearly all the apparatus and its arrangements. The plans shall be accompanied by specifications covering the character of the material and features relating to the installation in detail. Upon approval of the Fire Chief, a permit for the installation shall be issued.
(b) Number of Standpipes. The number of standpipes shall be such that all parts of every floor area can be reached within thirty feet by a nozzle attached to seventy- five feet of hose connected to a standpipe.
(c) Location of Standpipes. Standpipes shall be so located that they are protected against mechanical and fire damage, with outlets within stairway enclosures.
(d) Construction of Standpipes.
(1) Standpipes shall be constructed of wrought iron or steel, and shall be designed to withstand a working pressure of not less than one hundred pounds per square inch in excess of the static head of water due to the height of the standpipe.
(2) Standpipes shall extend from the lowest story of the building to the topmost story, provided that standpipes serving parts of buildings that are not of the full height of the building need extend only to the top story of that part.
(3) When more than one standpipe is required in a building, they shall be connected at their bases by pipes of a size equal to that of the largest standpipe, to permit water from any source, to supply all the standpipes.
(4) Where the water supply is furnished by a gravity tank or a pressure tank located in the building at, or above the topmost outlet, a check valve shall be provided below the tank and a stop valve between the check valve and the tank.
(5) Standpipes shall be equipped in every story with two and one-half inch hose connections and valves located not more than five feet above the floor level, such valves shall be provided with two and one-half inch to one and one-half inch reducing couplings for use with Fire Division hose.
(6) Sufficient stop valves or check valves shall be provided to permit cutting off a standpipe riser without interrupting the supply to other risers from the same source of supply. Stop valves which are located above the ground floor, and which must be closed to permit continued use of one standpipe in case of failure of another, shall be arranged to permit operation from the ground floor or from the pump room.
(7) Only fittings, connections and valves approved by the Fire Chief shall be used in the construction of standpipes.
(8) Standpipe and sprinkler systems shall be tested at a minimum 200 psi for two hours without leakage.
(e) Fire Division Connections.
(1) Standpipes shall be equipped with outside Siamese connections approved by the Fire Chief, having check valves in each inlet. The pipe from the standpipe to the Siamese connection shall be at least four inches in diameter.
(2) There shall be one or more Siamese connections to each standpipe system.
(3) Siamese connections shall be placed not less than eighteen inches nor more than thirty-six inches above the level of the adjoining ground or sidewalk.
(4) The thread of such connections shall be uniform with that used by the Fire Division of the City. Substantial plugs, with chains, shall be provided to protect the threads on each connection.
(5) Each such connection shall be suitably marked with raised letters reading "STANDPIPE WET" or "STANDPIPE DRY".
(6) Just inside of the building in a horizontal section of the standpipe connection, a straightway check valve approved by the Fire Chief shall be placed, with an automatic drip connection valve between the check valve and the exterior Siamese connection to prevent freezing.
(f) Hose.
(1) Standpipes located inside of buildings shall have linen hose approved by the Fire Chief, sufficient to reach all parts of the floor area, but not in excess of seventy-five feet, attached to each outlet.
(2) Such hose shall be not less than one and one-half inches in diameter, and provided with two and one-half inch outlet and shut-off valves, together with reducing couplings to conform to those of the Fire Division of the City.
(3) Each line of hose shall be provided with washers at both ends and fitted with smoothbore play pipe or nozzle at least twelve inches long having a one-half inch discharge outlet, or an adjustable nozzle.
(4) Hose shall be kept on hose racks or in the hose cabinets approved by the Fire Chief.
(g) Water Supply to Standpipes.
(1) Standpipes shall be supplied under full pressure from an adequate water supply, or the water supply shall be furnished automatically by the opening of a hose outlet or by the operation of suitable located thermostats, except in dwellings, churches and other buildings having floor areas of less than 2,500 square feet in which not less than one approved two and one-half gallon chemical extinguisher is provided for such floor area, and except in sprinklered buildings in which one and one- half inch hose is connected to sprinkler risers in each floor area, and except in buildings which, because of occupancy or type of construction, do not in the opinion of the Fire Chief, require such constant and automatic water supply.
(2) Such water supply shall be furnished by a street main in which the pressure is sufficient to maintain a pressure of not less than forty pounds per square inch at outlets in the top story of the building with a flow of 500 gallons per minute from a hydrant within 200 feet of the building; by a gravity tank of not less than 5,000 gallons capacity, having the bottom not less than twenty-five feet above the outlets in the top story of the building; by a pressure tank of not less than 4,500 gallons capacity (3,300 gallons of water), located in the top story or on the roof of the building, or by automatic pumps having a combined capacity of not less than 750 gallons per minute.
(3) When a tank which supplies a standpipe is also used for ordinary house supply and is located at the required height, the inlet to the house supply pipe shall be placed at a height above the bottom of the tank to reserve for fire purposes not less than the quantity of water herein specified for such purposes.
(4) When the pressure of an outlet exceeds fifty pounds per square inch, an approved adjustable reducer or regulator shall be used to maintain a pressure of approximately fifty pounds per square inch on discharge side with a flow of 200 gallons per minute through the hose and nozzle.
(h) Pumps to Standpipe System.
(1) In buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet in area, unless the required water supply is furnished by an automatic pump of capacity prescribed in this section, fire pumps approved by the Fire Chief shall be installed in addition to the water supply that is provided and permanently connected to the required standpipe systems.
(2) The capacities of the pumps shall not be less than 500 gallons per minute for a four-inch standpipe; not less than 750 gallons per minute for a six- inch standpipe or two interconnected four-inch standpipes, not less than 1,000 gallons per minute for two or more six-inch standpipes.
(3) The pumps shall have an adequate source of power and shall be supplied from street mains or from well systems or other storage systems furnishing not less than one hour's supply at the rated capacity of the pump.
(i) Testing of Standpipe Installations.
(1) Upon the completion of a standpipe installation and at least once every two years thereafter, every standpipe shall be tested in the presence of a representative of the Fire Division assigned to witness such test.
(2) The test shall consist of a static pressure test, with all outlets closed, equivalent to the designed pressure due to the height of the standpipe. Flow tests shall also be made to prove that the standpipe, line valves, check valves and Siamese connections are free from obstructions and are workable.
(3) In buildings hereafter erected required standpipes shall be installed as the construction progresses, in such a way that they are available for use by the Fire Division to the topmost floor that has been constructed.
(4) After the completion of a building hereafter erected, and in buildings heretofore erected, standpipes and pumps, tanks and other equipment, as a part of the standpipe system shall be maintained in readiness for use at all times.
(5) Sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire alarm systems, and other fire protection or extinguishing systems of appliances which have been installed in compliance with any permit or order, or because of any law or ordinance, shall be maintained in operative condition at all times, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection so required, except this shall not prohibit the owner or occupant from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations or additions. The Fire Division shall be notified before such test, repairs, alterations or additions are started, and work shall be continuous until completion.
(j) Maintenance.
(1) Required tanks shall be kept properly filled at all times and, where pressure tanks are employed, a pressure of at least seventy-five psi shall be maintained at all times. Where necessary, tank heaters shall be provided and utilized to prevent freezing.
(2) All standpipe systems, pumps, tanks and other equipment shall be maintained in readiness for use at all times.
(3) An approved three and one-half inch Dial spring pressure gauge shall be connected with each discharge pipe from fire pump and public waterworks, at the pressure tank, at the air pump supplying pressure tank, and at the top of each standpipe. Gauges shall be located in a suitable place where water will not freeze. Each gauge shall be controlled by a valve, having arrangements for draining.
(Ord. 1969-5. Passed 2-10-69.)