7 replies to this topic

[mykid]

Hi Is anyone here familiar with the deluge valve design?
I need some advice as i cant find any code that mentions about the minimum requirement for deluge valve.

1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?

Any feedback is welcomed. thanks

[fallah]

Hi Is anyone here familiar with the deluge valve design?
I need some advice as i cant find any code that mentions about the minimum requirement for deluge valve
1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
It may also be pneumatic,electric and pneu-electric actuated.
2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
IMO,For peneumatic actuated type,yes.
4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?
I think,yes.
Any feedback is welcomed. thanks

Edited by fallah, 20 April 2011 - 05:36 AM.

[mykid]

Thanks Fallah.
Anyone can help? I need to know if deluge valve is covered by any standard? I can't find any NFPA code that mentions about this.

Hi Is anyone here familiar with the deluge valve design?
I need some advice as i cant find any code that mentions about the minimum requirement for deluge valve
1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
It may also be pneumatic,electric and pneu-electric actuated.
2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
IMO,For peneumatic actuated type,yes.
4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?
I think,yes.
Any feedback is welcomed. thanks

[fallah]

Thanks Fallah.
Anyone can help? I need to know if deluge valve is covered by any standard? I can't find any NFPA code that mentions about this.

mykid,

NFPA 13 (Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems) and NFPA 15 (Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection) included a lot of statements for Deluge Valve as a part of water spray fixed system.

Fallah

[daryon]

1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
Agree with Fallah here, they can be pneumatic, the facility i'm working on currently we are using instrument air - but aways with the soleniod on the air supply energised, which keeps the valve in the closed position. Loss of instrument air or power will cause the valve to spring open.

2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
Are you refering to a test line for the firewater pumps or the deluge valves themselves? A fire water pump test line is required by NFPA 25 - as a weekly test of the fire pump must be performed, 10 minutes for electric driven pumps, 30 minutes for diesel driven pumps. If you have a PSV or PRV (safety valve) on the discharge of the pump, NFPA does allow you to dicharge water through this during the pump test, but this isn't very good practice. You should really install a dedicated test line for the weekly fire pump tests. (ref. NFPA 25 - Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems -Section 8.3)

Also NFPA 25 calls for a drain line (test line) downstream of the deluge valve to check the valve seat is not leaking, this test must be performed monthly.

3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
I never seen it mentioned in code, but I would install one as a matter of course, they are very cheap and offer a buffer volume upon loss of instrument air to allow the deluge valve to stay closed whilst instrument air supply is re-established. You don't really want all your facility deluge valves opening soon after you instrument air compressors go down.

4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
Never used a epoxy coated cast steel valves before but they might be o.k., you should check with the cleint/classification athourity/supplier reference list for suitability of these valves. We are using Nickel-Aluminium Bronze pneumatic actuated butterfly valves that are Fire Safe in accordance with API 607, we install these valves in a A-60 fire rated enclosure on the deck of FPSO.

5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?
Not sure if this required by code, but it's certainly a good idea for maintenance/inspection/teasing of the deluge valves which is regular occurance. Any manual isolation valves in the firewater system should be locked open, and the deluge valve bypass locked close during normal operations.

You also need a manual method of actuating the valve, i.e. the solenoid on the air supply should have a overide hand switch on it, or another 3 way valve provided downstream to vent instrument air and allow the valve to open. - A quote NFPA 15 regarding this:
"System actuation valves shall provided with manual means or actuation independent of the automatic release system and detection devices"
"Manual controls of actuation valves shall not require a pull of more than 178N or lovement of more than 356 mm to secure operation"


Hope this helps, you should get you hands on NFPS 15 and 25, they offer some guidance.

[mykid]

Thanks a lot daryon.. you made my day. Will check out NFPA 25 and 15. Anyone has a copy of UL 260?

1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
Agree with Fallah here, they can be pneumatic, the facility i'm working on currently we are using instrument air - but aways with the soleniod on the air supply energised, which keeps the valve in the closed position. Loss of instrument air or power will cause the valve to spring open.

2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
Are you refering to a test line for the firewater pumps or the deluge valves themselves? A fire water pump test line is required by NFPA 25 - as a weekly test of the fire pump must be performed, 10 minutes for electric driven pumps, 30 minutes for diesel driven pumps. If you have a PSV or PRV (safety valve) on the discharge of the pump, NFPA does allow you to dicharge water through this during the pump test, but this isn't very good practice. You should really install a dedicated test line for the weekly fire pump tests. (ref. NFPA 25 - Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems -Section 8.3)

Also NFPA 25 calls for a drain line (test line) downstream of the deluge valve to check the valve seat is not leaking, this test must be performed monthly.

3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
I never seen it mentioned in code, but I would install one as a matter of course, they are very cheap and offer a buffer volume upon loss of instrument air to allow the deluge valve to stay closed whilst instrument air supply is re-established. You don't really want all your facility deluge valves opening soon after you instrument air compressors go down.

4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
Never used a epoxy coated cast steel valves before but they might be o.k., you should check with the cleint/classification athourity/supplier reference list for suitability of these valves. We are using Nickel-Aluminium Bronze pneumatic actuated butterfly valves that are Fire Safe in accordance with API 607, we install these valves in a A-60 fire rated enclosure on the deck of FPSO.

5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?
Not sure if this required by code, but it's certainly a good idea for maintenance/inspection/teasing of the deluge valves which is regular occurance. Any manual isolation valves in the firewater system should be locked open, and the deluge valve bypass locked close during normal operations.

You also need a manual method of actuating the valve, i.e. the solenoid on the air supply should have a overide hand switch on it, or another 3 way valve provided downstream to vent instrument air and allow the valve to open. - A quote NFPA 15 regarding this:
"System actuation valves shall provided with manual means or actuation independent of the automatic release system and detection devices"
"Manual controls of actuation valves shall not require a pull of more than 178N or lovement of more than 356 mm to secure operation"


Hope this helps, you should get you hands on NFPS 15 and 25, they offer some guidance.

[mykid]

Daryon, do you happen to have the P&ID for the deluge valve?
So far the vendor catalogue that i google online most offer hydraulic operated either pneumatic, electric actuated valve.

Thanks a lot daryon.. you made my day. Will check out NFPA 25 and 15. Anyone has a copy of UL 260?

1. I noticed that all deluge valve is hydraulic operated valve, is this required by any code?
Agree with Fallah here, they can be pneumatic, the facility i'm working on currently we are using instrument air - but aways with the soleniod on the air supply energised, which keeps the valve in the closed position. Loss of instrument air or power will cause the valve to spring open.

2. Is it compulsory to provide a test line?
Are you refering to a test line for the firewater pumps or the deluge valves themselves? A fire water pump test line is required by NFPA 25 - as a weekly test of the fire pump must be performed, 10 minutes for electric driven pumps, 30 minutes for diesel driven pumps. If you have a PSV or PRV (safety valve) on the discharge of the pump, NFPA does allow you to dicharge water through this during the pump test, but this isn't very good practice. You should really install a dedicated test line for the weekly fire pump tests. (ref. NFPA 25 - Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems -Section 8.3)

Also NFPA 25 calls for a drain line (test line) downstream of the deluge valve to check the valve seat is not leaking, this test must be performed monthly.

3. Is backup air bottle compulsory for the pneumatic air supply in case of compressor failure?
I never seen it mentioned in code, but I would install one as a matter of course, they are very cheap and offer a buffer volume upon loss of instrument air to allow the deluge valve to stay closed whilst instrument air supply is re-established. You don't really want all your facility deluge valves opening soon after you instrument air compressors go down.

4. Anyone use epoxy coated cast steel deluge valve before? what is the service life if seawater is used.
Never used a epoxy coated cast steel valves before but they might be o.k., you should check with the cleint/classification athourity/supplier reference list for suitability of these valves. We are using Nickel-Aluminium Bronze pneumatic actuated butterfly valves that are Fire Safe in accordance with API 607, we install these valves in a A-60 fire rated enclosure on the deck of FPSO.

5. Is it compulsory to provide a manual bypass in case the deluge valve fails?
Not sure if this required by code, but it's certainly a good idea for maintenance/inspection/teasing of the deluge valves which is regular occurance. Any manual isolation valves in the firewater system should be locked open, and the deluge valve bypass locked close during normal operations.

You also need a manual method of actuating the valve, i.e. the solenoid on the air supply should have a overide hand switch on it, or another 3 way valve provided downstream to vent instrument air and allow the valve to open. - A quote NFPA 15 regarding this:
"System actuation valves shall provided with manual means or actuation independent of the automatic release system and detection devices"
"Manual controls of actuation valves shall not require a pull of more than 178N or lovement of more than 356 mm to secure operation"


Hope this helps, you should get you hands on NFPS 15 and 25, they offer some guidance.

[daryon]

Hi,
I do but I can't post it on here, let me know your personal email and I'll sense something through. Please use it for reference only and do not distribute it. Thanks