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Prior Chicago Building Code
BUILDING CODE AND RELATED EXCERPTS OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
DIVISION 1 - ADMINISTRATION
DIVISION 2 - DEFINITIONS
DIVISION 3 - USE AND OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATIONS
DIVISION 4 - SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY
DIVISION 5 - GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
DIVISION 6 - TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 7 - FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 8 - INTERIOR FINISHES (NA)
DIVISION 9 - FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 15-16 FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
ARTICLE I. FIRE PROTECTION (15-16-010 et seq.)
ARTICLE II. FIRE PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (15-16-170 et seq.)
PART 1. STANDARD SPRINKLER SYSTEMS (15-16-170 et seq.)
15-16-170 Definition of system.
15-16-180 Other definitions.
15-16-190 Permit and fees.
15-16-200 Installation certification.
15-16-210 Inspections.
15-16-220 Notice of defective conditions.
15-16-230 Requirements for light hazard occupancies.
15-16-240 Requirements for extra hazardous occupancies.
15-16-250 Requirements for special systems.
15-16-260 System tests.
15-16-270 Water supply requirements.
15-16-280 Use of pressure tank for other services.
15-16-290 Gravity tanks.
15-16-300 Pressure tanks.
15-16-310 Fire pumps.
15-16-311 Test manifold.
15-16-320 Supply to tanks.
15-16-330 Filling pipe.
15-16-340 Small equipment.
15-16-350 Location and arrangement of sprinklers.
15-16-351 Display booths.
15-16-360 Sprinklers.
15-16-370 Sprinkler piping.
15-16-380 Piping supports.
15-16-390 Siamese connections.
15-16-400 Valves.
15-16-410 System drainage.
15-16-420 Hand hose connections.
15-16-430 Protection against freezing.
15-16-440 Protection against corrosion.
15-16-450 Test pipes.
15-16-451 Test pipes for high-rise buildings.
15-16-460 Dry pipe systems.
15-16-470 Dry pipe system capacity limits.
15-16-480 Quick opening devices.
15-16-490 Non-freezing systems.
15-16-500 Gauges.
15-16-510 Relief valves.
15-16-520 Painting or finishing.
15-16-530 Alarms.
15-16-540 Spare sprinklers.
15-16-550 Reserved.
15-16-560 Reserved.
15-16-570 Reserved.
15-16-580 Reserved.
15-16-590 Reserved.
15-16-600 Hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems.
15-16-601 Residential sprinklers.
15-16-610 Retroactivity.
15-16-611 Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems.
PART 2. STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS (15-16-620 et seq.)
PART 3. STANDARD INSIDE STANDPIPE SYSTEMS (15-16-710 et seq.)
PART 4. STANDARD FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS (15-16-1200 et seq.)
PART 5. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS - ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS (15-16-1520 et seq.)
DIVISION 10 - MEANS OF EGRESS
DIVISION 11 - ACCESSIBILITY
DIVISION 12 - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
DIVISION 13 - ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
DIVISION 14 - EXTERIOR WALLS (NA)
DIVISION 15 - ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES (NA)
DIVISION 16 - STRUCTURAL DESIGN
DIVISION 17 - STRUCTURAL TESTS AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
DIVISION 18 - SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
DIVISION 19 - CONCRETE
DIVISION 20 - ALUMINUM (NA)
DIVISION 21 - MASONRY
DIVISION 22 - STEEL
DIVISION 23 - WOOD
DIVISION 24 - GLASS AND GLAZING (NA)
DIVISION 25 - GYPSUM BOARD AND PLASTER (NA)
DIVISION 26 - PLASTIC (NA)
DIVISION 27 - ELECTRICAL
DIVISION 28 - MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
DIVISION 29 - PLUMBING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 30 - ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
DIVISION 31 - SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION (NA)
DIVISION 32 - ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
DIVISION 33 - SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
DIVISION 34 - EXISTING STRUCTURES
DIVISION 35 - REFERENCED STANDARDS

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15-16-400  Valves.
   All parts of the system shall be provided with indicating type valves so that any portion of the system can be taken out of service for repairs or in an emergency without interfering with the operation of the remainder of the system. Each system shall be provided with a gate valve so located as to control all sources of water supply except siamese connections.
   Each floor and level of a building shall be provided with a separate control valve for that floor or level.
   All valves in connections to water supplies and in supply pipes to sprinklers shall be outside screw and yoke or other indicating type except the valve at the connection to the city main.
   Check valves shall be installed in all sources of water supply. They shall be straightway, wafer style, or silent pattern installed in horizontal piping unless of a type designed for installation in a vertical position.
   A control valve shall be installed on each side of each check valve unless otherwise herein provided.
   Where a gravity tank is located on a tower in a yard, the gate valve on the tank side of the check shall be of the outside screw and yoke type; where located on top or inside of a building both gate valves shall be of this type.
   Where pressure tanks serve as a source of supply, a check valve shall be provided near the tank; no valve need be provided between the check valve and the tank.
   Where a city main serves as a source of supply, no valve except the city gate valve need be provided on the street side of the check valve.
   All siamese connections shall be connected to the system on the discharge side of all city control valves; the check valve shall be located as far as possible from the source of supply.
   Valves controlling water supplies for sprinklers shall be located within building stairwells or in other locations where readily accessible. They shall not be located within a space occupied by an individual tenant unless the valve controls sprinklers located only within that space.
   All valves in supply pipes to sprinkler systems shall be secured open. All valves shall be plainly marked to indicate the area controlled.
(Prior code § 91-24; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 9-6-17, p. 55278, Art. VII, § 25)
15-16-410  System drainage.
   All sprinkler pipes and fittings shall be so installed that they can be completely drained. On wet pipe systems, sprinkler pipes may be installed level. In dry pipe systems and portions of pre-action systems subject to freezing, branch lines shall be pitched at least one- half inch per ten feet and mains shall be pitched at least one-quarter inch per ten feet.
   Drain pipes for system risers and mains shall be not less in size than given in the following table:
 
Size of Riser or Main
Size of Drain
Two inches or less
3/4 inch
Less than four inches but greater than 2 inches
1 1/4 inches
Four inches or greater
Two inches
 
   Where sectional or floor control valves are provided, they shall be provided with a drain sized as shown in the above table to drain that portion of the system controlled by the sectional valve.
   Where installed underground, drains shall be galvanized with galvanized fittings or other corrosion resistant material. Where exposed to the weather they shall be fitted with hoods or elbows turned down to prevent stoppage with ice.
   Drain pipes shall be so arranged as not to expose any portion of the sprinkler system to frost and shall be so connected that they will not overflow domestic or other piping. Direct connection shall not be made between sprinkler drains and sewers.
   On wet systems all piping for sprinklers in excess of 20 which may be trapped, shall have a separate drain valve and drain connection; piping for 20 or less sprinklers shall be provided with non-ferrous drain plugs except the drop to an individual sprinkler head. On dry pipe systems, piping for sprinklers in excess of 20 which are trapped shall be equipped with a drain consisting of two one-inch valves separated by a 12-inch length of two-inch in diameter pipe. Where fewer than 20 sprinklers are trapped the drain may consist of a valve not smaller than one-half inch.
(Prior code §  91-25; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-420  Hand hose connections.
   Hand hose to be used for fire protection only may be attached to sprinkler pipes. The pipe and valve supplying the hose shall be not less than one inch and not larger than one and one-half inch. The hose shall not be larger than one and one-half inch. The nozzle orifice shall not be larger than one-half inch except that an adjustable spray nozzle may be used. Hand hose shall not be connected to pipe less than two and one-half inches unless the system has been hydraulically designed to include the water discharged from the hose at the point where the hose is connected to the system. Hand hose shall not be connected to a dry system.
(Prior code §  91-26; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-430  Protection against freezing.
   All equipment and piping, normally containing water, shall be protected against freezing.
(Prior code §  91-27; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-440  Protection against corrosion.
   All piping shall be protected against corrosion. Sprinkler heads located in places where subject to corrosion shall be especially designed or protected against such corrosion.
   Where pipe is used underground, the pipe shall be protected against corrosion.
(Prior code §  91-28; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-450  Test pipes.
   A test pipe of not less than one inch diameter, with a smooth bore corrosion resistant outlet giving a flow equivalent to one sprinkler of a type having the smallest orifice installed in the system, shall be provided on wet sprinkler systems. This test pipe shall be connected to the end of the most remote branch line at the highest level of the system. There shall be a separate test pipe for each system. A test valve, which is not exposed to freezing, shall be provided to allow use of the connection.
   A test pipe as provided above shall be installed in each dry sprinkler system. The test valve shall be equipped with a brass plug or a nipple and cap.
(Prior code §  91-29; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-451  Test pipes for high-rise buildings.
   In high-rise buildings the test pipe for a sprinkler system may be placed at the water flow switch or the valve controlling the sprinklers for an individual floor or portion of a floor. The test connection shall be a listed sight test connection utilizing an orifice equivalent to a sprinkler of a type having the smallest orifice used in the system. The test connection shall terminate at a drain capable of accepting full flow of one sprinkler under system pressure.
(Added Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
15-16-460  Dry pipe systems.
   A dry pipe system shall be permitted only where heat is not adequate to prevent freezing of water in all or sections of a system. If the sprinklers in such unheated spaces are 25 percent or less of the total number of sprinklers required on a system having a total of 100 or more sprinklers, only such 25 percent or less shall be on the dry system and the remainder shall be on the wet system.
   The dry pipe system shall be isolated from the water supplies (or from the wet portion of the system, if a combined wet and dry pipe system) by a dry pipe valve located at an accessible point as near as practicable to the dry system, adequately protected against mechanical injury and freezing.
(Prior code §  91-30; Amend Coun. J. 10-30-96, p. 31216, § 1)
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