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All deluge, pre-action and combination dry pipe pre-action sprinkler systems shall be designed in accordance with NFPA 13-2013.
The area protected by a single pre-action valve shall not exceed 5,000 square feet except that in storage occupancies which are operated continuously at a temperature less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit a single pre- action valve may be used to protect an area up to 40,000 square feet. Each pre-action valve shall be trip tested annually as provided in NFPA 25-2014.
(Prior code § 91-9; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 22)
Upon completion of the installation of a standard sprinkler system an acceptance test shall be performed by the installing contractor.
All portions of each system shall be tested for two hours at a cold water pressure of not less than 200 pounds per square inch if the normal pressure in the system does not exceed 150 pounds per square inch or at a pressure of not less than 50 pounds per square inch above the normal pressure, if such normal pressure is more than 150 pounds per square inch. Interior piping shall show no leaks. Underground piping shall show a leakage rate not greater than two quarts per hour per 100 gaskets or joints irrespective of pipe diameter.
Dry pipe systems, if tested during seasons of the year which will not permit the use of water, may be tested with air under a pressure of not less than 50 pounds per square inch.
Brine or other corrosive or toxic chemicals shall not be used for testing.
If the dry pipe valves are of the differential type, they shall be pumped up and allowed to stand 24 hours and shall show not more than one and one-half pounds per square inch loss of pressure during that period of time. A working test of each dry pipe valve shall be made before acceptance. When dry pipe valves are subjected to hydrostatic test pressures, the clapper of a differential type valve shall be held off its seat to prevent damaging the valve.
Fire pumps, air compressors, filling pumps and other equipment shall be tested for a period of two hours or such portion of this time as is necessary to show they are of the required capacities. Initial tests of fire pumps shall be made in the presence of a representative of the bureau of fire prevention and the installing contractor.
Every fire pump shall provide its rated capacity at its rated pressure. Fire pumps rated at less than 1,500 GPM shall furnish at least 150 percent of the rated capacity at 65 percent of its rated pressure. The pressure at the intake side of the pump shall not be less than five pounds per square inch under any flow rate.
Fire pumps shall be tested annually by an independent contractor licensed under the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. Such inspections shall be scheduled with, and may be overseen by or in the presence of, the fire commissioner.
(Prior code § 91-10; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 121)
The water supply for sprinkler systems shall be taken from one or more of the following sources:
(a) Gravity tanks. Having a capacity sufficient to supply not less than 25 percent of the total number of heads in the largest fire area served for a period of not less than 20 minutes. The bottom of the tank shall be not less than 35 feet above the highest sprinkler connected thereto and the discharge from each sprinkler shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute; the minimum capacity of the tank shall be 10,000 gallons.
(b) Pressure tanks. Having a capacity of not less than 4,500 gallons and not more than 9,000 gallons each, designed to be two-thirds full of water and one- third full of air at a pressure of not less than 75 pounds per square inch. Total water capacity of tanks in gallons shall be calculated as given in the gravity tank capacity section. The drop from the gravity tank shall be arranged to enter the line from the pressure tank at a level at least 35 feet below the bottom of the gravity tank and the gravity tank check valve shall be at this level when both gravity tank and pressure tank are used.
(c) Fire pumps, connected to a city water main, having a capacity sufficient to supply not less than 25 percent of sprinklers in the largest fire area except that no fire pump supplying sprinklers only need be larger than 1,500 gallons. Capacity of a fire pump shall be not less than 500 gallons per minute; however, a 250 gallons per minute sprinkler fire pump supplied by not less than a four-inch connection to the city water may be used in a school, an institutional unit, or a building used only as a residential unit which does not exceed four stories or 55 feet in height and which has less than 100 sprinkler heads in any sprinkler area. The discharge from each sprinkler head shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute. The pressure shall be sufficient to provide 18 pounds per square inch at the highest sprinkler for a system not utilizing hydraulic design.
A fire pump may supply both a sprinkler system and an inside standpipe system; provided, however, the capacity of the pump is equal to the required capacity for the automatic sprinkler system and one-half the required capacity for the standpipe system. It shall be designed to meet the pressure requirements prescribed for the more severe service. The city connection shall be increased two inches if used to supply both domestic service and fire protection demands when the domestic service exceeds two inches.
(d) City mains. City water mains having sufficient volume and residual pressure in the main to supply 25 percent of the total number of sprinklers in the largest fire area to a maximum of 1,500 gallons per minute at a residual pressure of 18 pounds per square inch at the level of the highest sprinkler for a system not utilizing hydraulic design. The discharge shall be calculated as 22 gallons per minute.
(Prior code § 91-11; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
Gravity tanks shall be constructed and installed in accordance with the requirements of the Chicago Building Code in place at the time such construction or installation occurred. Provided, however, that gravity tanks constructed after September 10, 2014, shall be constructed and installed in accordance with N.F.P.A. Standard 22, Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection, 2013 Edition, as amended. Provided further, that all gravity tanks, regardless of the date of construction or installation, shall be maintained and disassembled in accordance with the latest edition of N.F.P.A. Standard 22, as amended.
(Prior code § 91-13; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 7-30-14, p. 86203, § 14)
The materials and construction of tanks under pressure shall be in accordance with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers “Rules for the Construction of Unfired Pressure Vessels”, Section VIII, dated 1986.
They shall be installed on steel or reinforced concrete supports, located so as to prevent sagging or vibration in the tanks and so as to distribute the load. Each tank shall be provided with a glass water column installed on one end of the tank at such a height that the center of the gauge glass shall be at the normal level of the water in the tank and equipped with automatic safety cocks.
(Prior code § 91-14; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
Fire pumps and auxiliary equipment, including controllers required to form complete pumping units, shall be of a type designed and developed for sprinkler service. The installation shall comply with NFPA 20-2013. The suction pipe shall be six inches for 500 and 750 gallons per minute pumps and eight inches for 1,000 and 1,500 gallons per minute pumps. The city connection shall be increased two inches if used for both domestic consumption and fire protection demands when the domestic service exceeds two inches.
In each case the pump used shall be selected to meet the conditions surrounding the installation. The pumping unit shall be designed to develop full capacity at its rated pressure. The design and installation of a pump shall be such that under any flow rate the intake pressure at the pump shall be not less than five pounds per square inch.
A fire pump shall be automatic in operation. A time delay device set for one minute for each ten horsepower of motor rating but not to exceed seven minutes shall be provided. A separate automatically controlled centrifugal pressure maintenance pump to avoid too frequent starting and stopping of the fire pump shall be provided.
(Prior code § 91-15; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 23)
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