Fire Sprkinkler Head?

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swyman
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Post by swyman » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 1:11 am

Anyone ever install one in their house above the boiler? Just thinking about safety and sounded like a cool idea and wondered if it has been done? Only thing I see in doing a little research is all the heads I find say they contain lead and therefore should not be used with potable water. Maybe I wouldn't need it but since I will be installing my boiler in the basement I was just thinking more about safety.

 
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Post by unhippy » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 1:36 am

they contain lead?....all the ones down here have a glass capsule thing that the heat breaks to activate the sprinkler....and I know they can be used with drinking water as they are used in schools and I know for a fact that none of the schools locally have a second supply or tanks of water for fire suppression.

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 6:36 am

unhippy wrote:they contain lead?....all the ones down here have a glass capsule thing that the heat breaks to activate the sprinkler....and I know they can be used with drinking water as they are used in schools and I know for a fact that none of the schools locally have a second supply or tanks of water for fire suppression.
I believe that a school will has a stand alone system where as I was thinking about just running a water line from my basement pipes over my boiler and throwing a sprinkler head in there. There are some for sale from supplyhouse.com that are brass but here is a quote from the description.........Note: This product should be used in stand-alone Fire Protection systems only. It is not lead free, and should not be in contact with the potable water supply.


 
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Post by unhippy » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 7:24 am

Well...for what its worth its only in the last few years that they have decided that all metals(brass/copper etc) used in potable water systems must be lead free...until then brass was brass.....and for 150 years it was known about but has caused so few problems that it was not worried about....

if it was me I wouldn't worry...its one valve in the entire system......and probably on the end of a long run-out.....

if your really worried, put a soft face swingcheck valve inline with the valve tilted so that the flapper will sit on the seat by gravity.....no water can then get back past the swingcheck to contaminate the rest of the system.

Callum

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 9:09 am

unhippy wrote: if it was me I wouldn't worry...its one valve in the entire system......and probably on the end of a long run-out.....

Callum
I guess your right, it would be on an end so there would be no flow and it is 50' from anything drinkable. Must be a California warning!

 
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Seagrave1963
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Post by Seagrave1963 » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 9:25 am

If it is a concern, look into placing a check valve in the line. Make sure you get the correct temperature fusible link so that it does not activate unless there is an actual problem.


 
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tsb
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Post by tsb » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 12:12 pm

I'm not sure what your concern is with the boiler. Even if the boiler went into total run away over heat, the pressure and temp relief valve would open and fill the basement with hot water and steam. An electrical failure will kill the boiler in a matter of minutes so no problem there.
Give me a scenario that would cause you concern for a fire. Hopper fire ? Maybe.

 
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coaledsweat
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Post by coaledsweat » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 12:39 pm

If you are serious, you better check with your insurance carrier. They may not pay a damage claim caused by an unapproved system.

 
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swyman
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Post by swyman » Mon. Oct. 17, 2016 12:38 am

tsb wrote:I'm not sure what your concern is with the boiler. Even if the boiler went into total run away over heat, the pressure and temp relief valve would open and fill the basement with hot water and steam. An electrical failure will kill the boiler in a matter of minutes so no problem there.
Give me a scenario that would cause you concern for a fire. Hopper fire ? Maybe.
That's also a good point, burning coal is nothing like wood. It's tough for me just to get the thing lit! Unlike last year, I will have all safeties in place so there are enough fail safes that any little problem and it will shut down. Also interesting point in reading "Classic Hydronics" is to shut the fill valve off when in use which I did not do. There is definitely a lot to learn with this stuff!

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