Residential Fire Protection PWD Experience

Transcription

1 Residential Fire Protection PWD Experience MWUA April 24, Gordon Johnson Portland Water District

2 Outline Sprinkler background Portland background Approach Lessons along the way Direction

3 Sprinkler Standards Sprinkler Standard NFPA 13 Focus Property Protection/ Life Safety First issued Flow Demand (gpm) (Design structure dependent) Application Any building except special hazards NFPA13D Life Safety standard One and two family dwellings NFPA 13R Life Safety Residential (any building where people sleep overnight) (4 Stories or less)

4 Residential Home Death Statistics 1.4 From Fire Loss in the United States during 2016 H. Hynes NFPA From Sprinklers in Reported Home Fires NFPA Fact Sheet NFPA 2017

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6 Characteristics of Modern Homes Larger homes Open Spaces Increased fuel loads Faster fire propagation Shorter time to flashover Rapid changes in fire dynamics Void spaces Changing bldg. materials Shorter escape times Shorter time to collapse National Fire Protection Association. All rights reserved.

7 UL Lab Study Construction Type From Report on Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions UL Laboratories 2008 Time to Failure (min) Legacy Joist System 18 Unprotected Engineered I-beams 4 Protected (1/2 gypsum) Engineered beams 25

8 Fire Death Distribution From Fire Loss in the United States during 2016 H. Hynes NFPA

9 Maine Volunteer Firefighter Statistics 14,000 Number 35 Percent Over Age 50 12, , , , , , From Maine Volunteer Firefighter Shortage BDN 2015

10 What does it translate to?... Personal Utility

11 Portland Water District Quasi-municipal, independent, non-profit Serve water & wastewater to 11 communities, 200,000 people 182 employees $43.6 annual budget $320 million in assets

12 Situation on the ground mid-2000 s National push State push Local push Fragmented approach And oh by the way.

13 Water Services Added ,000 8,000 7,000 Average new services per year 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,

14 PWD Goals with Respect to NFPA 13D Support installation of 1&2 family residential sprinkler systems Minimize costs associated with installations

15 Assumptions behind goals No negative impact on District mission 1&2 Family life safety focus No greater demand than residential usage No additional operational effort No additional infrastructure maintenance costs

16 Impact on District mission

17 To protect public health, safety, and the environment by providing our customers first-class water, wastewater, and related services

18 Utility Mission Public Health Fire Protection

19 Fire Protection

20 PWD Revenue Total Revenue - $23.8 M Public Fire 6% Private Fire 4% Other 1% Metered 89%

21 Public Fire Protection - MEPUC

22 1-2 Family life safety focus

23 1-2 Family life safety focus 46,000 of 56,000 services Residential =< 1-1/2 diameter

24 No greater demand than residential usage

25 No greater demand than residential usage gpm target flow 1 residential standard service size

26 Headloss (psi) Meter Headloss Comparison /8" 1" Flow (gpm) 20

27 Meter Measurement Comparison 5/8" 1" Low Flow Max. Continuous Operating Max. Flow 20 55

28 No additional operational effort

29 No additional operational effort New service processing Customer service support Billing Disconnection

30 New service processing

31 Disconnect Notifications 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,

32 Service shuts

33 No additional infrastructure maintenance costs

34 PWD Preferred Configuration NFPA 13D Alternate Arrangement Single Service Metered Fire Service From NFPA 13D NFPA 2015

35 PWD Alternate Configuration NFPA 13D Alternate Arrangement Two Services Unmetered Fire Service Special approval required High flows Duplexes Incurs a separate fire protection charge to cover infrastructure maintenance From NFPA 13D NFPA 2015

36 Additional NFPA Configuration NFPA 13D Preferred Arrangement Single Service Unmetered Fire Service Not approved by PWD From NFPA 13D NFPA 2015

37 Water Main Replacement Costs Average Cost $/ft Average Cost $/ft Linear (Average Cost $/ft)

38 Off to the races!... 1 Combined service 1 Meter Non-testable dual check backflow No private fire protection charges

39 More lessons along the way.. Hydraulics Testing Services Alternate supplies Seasonal installs Duplexes Townhouses/triplexes

40 Infrastructure Challenge The use of a municipal water supply is a tried-and-true source for fire protection water. This is the most common mechanism for supplying water to commercial sprinkler systems, often supplemented with a fire pump. Municipal water supplies can be a great source for NFPA 13D systems as well. Many municipal water supplies maintain system pressures sufficient enough to meet the demands of an NFPA 13D system without the need for a pump, and they supply well in excess of the minimum 10-minute water supply outlined in the standard. There can be challenges with connection fees and water metering in certain jurisdictions, however, and where these challenges present themselves, it may be prudent for the designer and homeowner to look into an alternative water supply source. (NFPA Journal 2014).

41 The Challenge Arterial streets Traffic control Utility congestion Sewer Storm Gas Electric Telephone Traffic signal Potential night work Potential moratorium conditions

42 Potential Residential Sprinkler Connection Water Main

43 Standard Two Hydrant Flow Test Water Main Flow direction

44 What if?...

45 Capacity Test Water Main Flow direction Uni-directional flow Recommend checking flow at structure also

46 What if (2). Water Main

47 Headloss Comparison (aka oops) - Assuming 20 gpm flow, 50 feet service length Meter Size 5/ /2 2 Headloss (psi) Service Size 3/ /2 Headloss (psi) Line Color Total Headloss (psi) Existing 47+ Requested Recommended 10.8

48 Small diameter service installations 27,000 ¾ Services

49 Tank Supplies Allow installation flexibility Requires some planning Require pumping Require floor space Require maintenance Require cross-connection control Raimondo Fire Systems 2009

50 Connections to seasonal mains Seasonal house conversions

51 Connections to seasonal mains - Mains not adequately sized for peak flows - Seasonal taps located at main - ¾ service size

52 Water Main Duplex Service Configuration Meter Meter Preferred Individual Service Associated Fire M M

53 Water Service 13D Triplex/ Townhouse Configuration Use of Fire Wall and single water service Only allowed if PWD 13D conditions are met: Single family peak flow Single shutoff M

54 Multi-use piping systems Limited PWD experience PEX tubing Blended potable and sprinkler flow Cross connection control Installer knowledge Uponor

55 Direction Continued increases in 13D installations 13R installations

56 Sprinkler Standards Sprinkler Standard NFPA 13 Focus Property Protection/ Life Safety First issued Flow Demand (gpm) (Design structure dependent) Application Any building except special hazards NFPA13D Life Safety standard One and two family dwellings NFPA 13R Life Safety Residential (any building where people sleep overnight) (4 Stories or less)

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58 Sprinkler Standards (additional info) Sprinkler Standard Listed Backflow Required? Listed Water Meter Required? NFPA 13 Yes Yes NFPA13D No No NFPA 13R Yes Yes

59 Shifting use.

60 Project success Water Utility General Contractor Fire Marshal Planning Board Local Inspector Architect /Engineer Plumber/ME Contractor Fire Protection Professional Developer/ Owner Early communication

61 Questions?