1.

DUCTILE IRON PIPING SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH AMERICAN WATER

WORKS ASSOCIATION (AWWA) C600, ASBESTOS-CEMENT PIPE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AWWA C603 AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDE PIPE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AWWA C900. THESE AWWA STANDARDS WERE WRITTEN
FOR WATER UTILITY PIPING, BUT THE SAME PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES
APPLY TO FIRE SERVICE MAINS.
2. BELL HOLES SHALL BE PROVIDED IN THE TRENCH BOTTOM TO ALLOW JOINT
ASSEMBLY AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PIPE BARREL WILL LIE FLAT ON THE
TRENCH BOTTOM. FOR ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE EXCAVATE A COUPLING HOLE
WITH SUFFICIENT LENGTH, WIDTH AND DEPTH TO PERMIT ASSEMBLY, AND
PROVIDE A MINIMUM CLEARANCE OF 2 IN. (51 MM) BELOW THE COUPLING.
3. WHEN EXCAVATION OF ROCK IS ENCOUNTERED, ALL ROCK SHALL BE
REMOVED NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A CLEARANCE OF AT LEAST 6IN. (152 MM)
BELOW AND ON EACH SIDE OF ALL PIPE, VALVES AND FITTINGS. WHEN
EXCAVATION IS COMPLETED, PLACE A BED OF SAND, CRUSHED STONE OR
EARTH THAT IS FREE OF STONES OR LARGE CLODS OF FROZEN EARTH, ON
THE BOTTOM OF THE TRENCH TO A MINIMUM DEPTH OF 6 IN. (152 MM). LEVEL
AND TAMP THE BEDDING MATERIAL.
4. WHEN THE SUBGRADE IS FOUND TO BE UNSTABLE OR TO INCLUDE ASHES,
CINDERS, REFUSE, ORGANIC MATERIAL OR OTHER UNSUITABLE MATERIAL,
SUCH MATERIAL SHALL BE REMOVED TO A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST 6 IN. (152
MM) BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE PIPE. THE MATERIAL SHALL BE REPLACED
WITH CLEAN, STABLE BACKFILL MATERIAL. WHEN SUCH UNSUITABLE
MATERIALS ARE ENCOUNTERED, CONSIDER PROVIDING POLYETHYLENE
ENCASEMENT (SEE SECTION 2.1.5.3, PROTECTION AGAINST EXTERNAL
CORROSION).
5. WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRENCH OR THE SUBGRADE IS FOUND TO
CONSIST OF MATERIAL THAT IS UNSTABLE TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT IT
CANNOT BE REMOVED, A FOUNDATION SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED FOR THE
PIPE AND/OR APPURTENANCES USING PILING, TIMBER, CONCRETE OR OTHER
MATERIALS.
6. THE SPECIFIED LAYING CONDITIONS FOR DUCTILE IRON PIPE SHALL BE
ACCORDING TO AWWA C150 AND AS ILLUSTRATED IN SECTION 3.0, FIGURE 35,
FOR ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE SHALL BE ACCORDING TO AWWA C603 AND AS
ILLUSTRATED IN SECTION 3.0, FIGURE 36, FOR POLYETHYLENE, PVC, GLASS
FIBER-REINFORCED AND OTHER APPROVED PIPE SHALL BE ACCORDING TO
THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
7. MAXIMUM DEFLECTION AT JOINTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THAT GIVEN IN THE
APPROPRIATE STANDARD.
8. ALL VALVING, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, BACKFLOW PREVENTERS, METERS, ETC.,
SHALL BE PROVIDED REQUIRED BY THE WATER AUTHORITIES AND IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPROVAL AUTHORITIES. A BACKFLOW
PREVENTER SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ENSURE THAT THE FIRE WATER DOES
NOT CONTAMINATE THE POTABLE WATER SUPPLY.
9. FIRE MAINS SHALL BE 10 INCH DIAMETER MINIMUM; SHALL BE COORDINATED
WITH FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACTOR FOR FINAL MAIN SIZING BASED ON FIRE
FLOW DEMANDS OF THE FACILITY.
10. A MINIMUM VELOCITY OF 10 FEET PER SECOND SHALL BE PROVIDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 13.
11. PIPE RESTRAINT SHALL BE PROVIDED AT ALL UNDERGROUND FITTINGS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH MINIMUM FM REQUIREMENTS. RESTRAINED JOINT PIPING
 IS PERMITTED BUT DOES NOT ALLEVIATE THE NEED TO PROVIDE CONCRETE
THRUST BLOCKS AT THESE FITTINGS. THREADED RODS SHALL BE PROVIDED
AT ALL HYDRANTS PER FM 3-10.
12. CATHODIC PROTECTION SHALL BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FM
REQUIREMENTS AS NECESSARY BASED ON SITE SOIL CONDITIONS
(COORDINATE WITH CORROSION ENGINEER/CONSULTANT IF REQUIRED).
13. SECTIONAL CONTROL VALVES ARE REQUIRED BETWEEN EVERY FIVE (5)
PIECES OF EQUIPMENT (I.E. HYDRANTS, SPRINKLER SYSTEM RISERS, ETC.);
LOCATION SHALL BE COORDINATED WITH FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACTOR AS
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN 1 RISER AT EACH SERVICE LEAD LOCATION.
14. SCV’S ARE REQUIRED BETWEEN MANIFOLD (DUAL) FIRE RISER LEADS IN
ORDER TO ADEQUATELY SEPARATE EACH RISER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE
REDUNDANCY IN THE SYSTEM.
15. SCV’S TO BE GATE VALVE AND BOX WITH CAPS PAINTED WHITE. VALVES IN
GATE WELLS ARE PROHIBITED.
16. TAMPER AND FLOW SWITCH SHALL BE PROVIDED ON ALL SECTIONAL
CONTROL VALVES.
17. POST INDICATOR VALVES (PIV) SHALL BE SUPPLIED ON ALL FIRE SERVICE
LEADS (WALL MOUNTED PIV’S ARE PROHIBITED).
18. PIVS SHALL BE CONNECTED TO FIRE ALARM SYSTEM (TAMPER PROOF) AND
NUMBERED WITH 3” TALL WHITE NUMBERS. TO BE COORDINATED WITH
DIVISION 21 REQUIREMENTS AND FIRE PROTECTION CONTRACTOR.
19. PIV TO BE LOCATED BEHIND EDGE OF CURBING/PAVEMENT AND BE
PROTECTED FROM ALL SIDES WITH PIPE BOLLARDS. BOLLARDS TO BE
LOCATED A MINIMUM OF THREE (3) FEET FROM EDGE OF CURBING OR
PAVEMENT.
20. FIRE HYDRANTS SHALL BE LOCATED AND INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, FM GLOBAL, AND AUTHORITY HAVING
JURISDICTION (AHJ) REQUIREMENTS, WITH NO MORE THAN 300’ BETWEEN
HYDRANTS.
21. HYDRANTS OUTLETS SHALL BE 2-1/2” NOZZLES WITH THREADS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS. LOCKABLE
CAPS SHALL BE PROVIDED ON ALL NOZZLES.
22. HYDRANTS SHALL BE LOCATED A MINIMUM OF 40’ FROM THE BUILDING
23. HYDRANTS SHALL BE PAINTED “RED” OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH AUTHORITY
HAVING JURISDICTION (AHJ), WITH WHITE 3” NUMBERS ON TOP.
24. APPROVED FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTION (FDC) SHALL BE PROVIDED ON
SUPPLY SIDE OF FIRE MAIN.
25. FIRE MAINS SHALL BE FLUSHED AND TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FM
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, WITH HYDROSTATIC TEST AT 200 PSI (MINIMUM), OR
150% OF AVERAGE FIRE MAIN PRESSURE, FOR 2 HOURS.
26. MAXIMUM LEAKAGE SHALL BE PER LOCAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT IN NO CASE
EXCEED 0.50 GALLONS PER HOUR PER 100 JOINTS.
27. HYDROSTATIC TESTING OF UNDERGROUND PIPING INSTALLED AND TESTED
SEPARATE OF THE FIRE MAIN SHALL BE PERFORMED PRIOR TO TRENCH
BACKFILL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE VISUAL LEAK DETECTION. MAXIMUM LENGTH
OF VISUAL TEST IS 60 FEET.