METHOD STATEMENT FOR SPRINKLER PIPING SYSTEM

METHOD STATEMENT FOR SPRINKLER PIPING SYSTEM 

Wet sprinkler systems may dominate the fire safety market, but there’s a better solution for certain environments prone to freezing: dry sprinkler systems. Dry sprinklers provide the coverage you need in areas where the temperature drops to 40°F or below, without the fear of blocked or burst pipes. And because they don’t always have water running through most of the pipe network, they’re also used for structures with sensitive or expensive contents.

NFPA 5000: Building Construction and Safety Code, the International Building Code (IBC), local ordinances, and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code – mandate the use of some type of automatic sprinkler system in buildings based on factors such as the height and size of the building, its occupancy group, and its occupant load. They are required in most new commercial buildings that exceed 5,000 square feet and existing structures that expand to over 12,000 square feet. 

1.          Scope:

The scope of this method statement is to describe the method of installation of sprinkler piping system. It applicable for Towers, East and West Podiums and Villas. According to NFPA 13, Pipe Schedule System is defined as sprinkler system in which the pipe sizing is selected from a schedule that is determined by the occupancy classification and in which a given number of sprinklers are allowed to be supplied from specific sizes of pipe.

 2.          Material

2.1 Sprinkler pipes to ASTM A536 GR `B’
2.2 Zone Control Valve
2.3 Test and Drain Valves
2.4 Alarm valves
2.5 Pressure gauges
2.6 Flow switches
2.7  Pressure reducing valves
2.8 Water motor gong
2.9 Other associated materials

 3.          General Equipment & Tools

The equipment that will be engaged for Installation of Fire Fighting works will be
Tool Box
Welding Machine
Drilling Machine with various Bits
Grinding Machine
Cutting Machine
Threading Machine
Chain Block
Pipe Wrench
Hand Tools-gloves.
Hammer
Portable Lights
Manual Excavation Tools
Removable Barricades
Scaffolding / Mobile scaffold
Ladder
Spirit Level
Screwdriver, Pliers, Spanner.
Marker
Pressure gauge
Level gauge / Spirit level.
Measuring tape
Pressure test pump.

4.          Storage

4.1 All material while unloading shall be lowered to the ground either manually or with mechanical aid like crane depending on the quantity of the pipe and should not be dropped to the ground.

4.2 For pipes, timber supports shall be placed beneath at equal distance.

4.3 Pipes shall be stacked on a flat surface with adequate supports.

4.4 End caps of pipes shall be in place until removed for installation.

4.5 While stacking, it shall be ensured that pipes of bigger sizes are placed below and smaller sizes on top.

4.6 The pipes will be stacked in the site store on a proper stand on wooden loft on a flat surface at a height not exceeding 1.7m. From the bottom layer.

4.7 All pipes shall be covered and shall not be exposed to direct sunlight.

4.8 All other items such as valves, gauges, switches shall be kept on racks within site stores and shall be segregated as per size, model, type etc. for easy retrieval.

4.9 Any items found damaged or not suitable as per project requirements shall be removed from site. If required to store temporarily, they shall be clearly marked and stored separately to prevent any inadvertent use.

5.          Preparation

5.1 Check and ensure all drawings used for installation are latest and approved for construction.

5.2 Check the coordination of piping layout with other services and reflected ceiling and resolve problems, if any.

5.3 Check Type of Material, Size of Material, Make of Material as per approved makelist.

5.4 Mark the pipe routing on the ceiling as per approved drawings.

5.5 After checking in case of any damages observed during inspection, the concern report will be issued and Material shall be returned to the supplier for replacement.

5.6 The sprinkler pipe size from the water supply source to a sprinkler shall be not less than 3/4 of an inch (20 mm) in diameter. Threaded adapter fittings at the point where sprinklers are attached to the piping shall be not less than 1/2 of an inch (15 mm) in diameter.

6.          Installation

6.1 Fix supports and hangers with approved material, as per approved layout drawings.

6.2 Cut all excess hanger rods to leave only 25mm lengths below the support for final adjustment of levels, if required.

6.3 Machine cut the pipes square to required length and ream the pipes to remove burrs and clean thoroughly before installation.

6.4 Pipe work upto 50mm shall have threaded joints and pipes 765mm and above shall be with grooved coupling joints. The pipe work shall be grooved and installed as per coupling manufacturers instruction and grooving equipment as supplied by manufacturer shall be used.

6.5 Install pipe work at heights and to gradients shown on approved drawings, in a neat and tidy manner. The Pipe route should be min 500mm away from wall.

6.6 Holesaw cutter shall be used to cut holes in the pipe work where required for fixing mechanical Tees etc.

6.7 PVC Sleeves of suitable sizes shall be provided at wall crossings and fire stopping with approved material shall be completed.

6.8 Only standard fittings shall be used for changes in directions, reduction in pipe sizes, Tee joints, etc. Only long radius bends shall be used where required.

6.9 Expansion couplers shall be installed at location where piping crosses the building expansion joints (Refer Annexure-I for manufacturer’s recommendations).

6.10 All vertical pipes shall be installed plumb with at least 25mm clearance from the wall / surface.

6.11 Install valves, supervisory switches, flow switches, pressure gauges etc. as per approved drawings and manufacturer’s instruction.

6.12 Install drain valves at all low points as shown on approved drawings and ensure that water can be drained from all sections of pipe work.

6.14 Inspectors test drain valves of suitable size shall be provided at the farthest point in the system in each zone as per approved drawings.

6.15 Check and ensure easy access is available for maintenance and removal of all components such as valves, switches etc.

6.16 The droppers for sprinkler heads are installed at location as per approved layout / coordinated drawings.

6.17 Plug or cap-off all open ends in the piping during the installation phase.

6.18 Flush and clean the entire piping with clean water until the system is clean.

6.19 Install correct type of sprinkler heads as per approved drawings and manufacturers instruction.

6.20 Clean the pipe work thoroughly to remove all dirt, soil, oil, etc. and apply one coat of primer.

6.21 Provide identification and flow directional arrows to the pipe work, valves and other components as per approved submittals / details.

6.22 The entire installation shall be supervised, checked and certified prior to testing and commissioning of the system.

6.23 The details of the entire installation of the system shall be inspected and approved by the Authority or any good foundation.

7.          Testing & Commissioning

7.1 The entire pipe work shall be hydrostatically pressure tested as per method statement Ref. ETA/MS/P-011.

7.2 The final testing and commissioning of the system shall be carried out as per Method Statement Ref. ETA/MS/P-014.

8.          Water Supply Treatment

8.1 NFPA 13-9-1.5 states “In areas with water supplies known to have contributed to micro biologically influenced corrosion (MIC), water supplies shall be tested and appropriately treated prior to filling or testing of metallic piping systems”.

8.2 But, the chemical composition of DEWA water clearly shows that there is no microbiologically influenced corrosion. As water from DEWA is filled in the fire protection system, water treatment is not required for the wet system (Annexure-V).

9.          Safety

9.1 Warning signs shall be placed at required location during pressure testing of the pipe work and barriers where required to protect other services.
9.2 All precautions shall be followed as per established project safety procedures.

10.       Records

10.1 Work Inspection Request (WIR) duly signed by Consultants.
10.2 Installation check lists signed by QA/QC.
10.3 Installation report / certification by specialist fire protection contractor.
10.4 Test Certificate for Piping System