4.10 Testing of Fixed Extinguishing Systems (Standpipes and PRV)Reference: C.A.C. Title 19, Chapter 5
Title 19, California Administrative Code, includes regulations for Automatic Extinguishing Systems. Chapter 5 contains the criteria and time frames for maintenance and service inspections for all fixed automatic extinguishing systems.
Sections 904.2 (i) and (j) permit the local Fire Department to require notification prior to any service inspection and also to be sent a report of the results.
The San Francisco Fire Department shall be notified at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to any servicing of a system. Also, a report of the results of any service inspection shall be forwarded to the San Francisco Fire Department at:
San Francisco Fire Department
Bureau of Fire Prevention
698 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107
Pressure Reducing Valves-Certification
Section 904.4(c)(3) and (d)(3)-Service Regulations for Class III and Combined Standpipe Hose Outlets state that Each Hose Valve Outlet shall be inspected in a manner that will indicate the valves are fully operable.
The primary function of a PRV type hose outlet is to reduce pressures under both flow and no-flow conditions. The only way this pressure reducing feature can be tested and certified as operational is to flow test the valve.
All PRV type hose outlets shall be flow tested for certification. The following test results and information shall be submitted to the Fire Department for review: valve type or model, valve pressure setting, reduced static pressure, outlet residual pressure flowing 500 g.p.m. for the first standpipe and 250 for each additional standpipe with the pump running at its rated capacity.
PRV hose valves shall be certified as per the design criteria at the time of their installation.
Hose valve design criteria for new installations require outlet pressures of 100 to 125 psi residual pressure flowing 250 g.p.m. and 75-100 psi residual pressure when flowing 500 g.p.m. from the roof manifold of the hydraulically remote standpipe and 250 g.p.m. for each additional standpipe. Maximum static pressure must not exceed 150 psi.
All test results will be reviewed by the San Francisco Fire Department.
