The National Co.

For Mechanical & Electrical Works

Method Statement for Flushing and Cleaning

of Fire Fighting Piping Systems

The American University in Cairo

New Campus Development

Egypt National For Mechanical & Electrical Rev: A Date : 03-Mar.- 2007 Page 1 of 6
The National Co.
For Mechanical & Electrical Works

Contents

1. PREAMBLE

2. INTRODUCTION

3. HEALTH AND SAFETY

4. SPECIFICATIONS CLAUSES

5. SYSTEM PREPARATION AND PRE-CLEANING/CHECKING

6. CLEANING AND FLUSHING PROCEDURE DESCRIPTION

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The National Co.
For Mechanical & Electrical Works

1.Preamble:

- The introductive explanation of the proposed method statement flushing and

cleaning of the fire fighting piping system would briefly be our understanding of
the services to be provided for the AUC New Campus Development Project. As
our understanding of site conditions and logistics, thereto stages of construction to
be adopted in our work and shall comply with the general condition and
specifications of the contract.

- Yet however the following aspects to be considered while planning for this
operation:

Importance of safety to this project.

Importance of meeting project milestone dates.

Importance of final product quality.

- The following points will outline our proposed procedures for flushing and
cleaning of the fire fighting piping system in this project.

2.Introduction:

- Provide source of clean water and ensure that drainage connections are
available.

- Obtain PMCM permit to work.

- Construct a safe access to the areas where flushing and cleaning operation to
be performed.

- Start of work.

3.Health & Safety:

- This section is covered in our proposed safety program (HSE) and safety
program (SOP) submitted among contract requirements. However, the following
points are to be noted:

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The National Co.
For Mechanical & Electrical Works

All relevant personnel protection equipment (PPE) shall be provided to all

personnel involved in the work and wearing of PPE shall be enforced by
the team as whole all site personnel shall wear the following at all times.

Safety boots.

Safety helmets.
Safety glasses with side shields.

Other utilities shall be clearly marked and identified. Signboards

identifying the type of utilities shall be displayed at the relevant locations
indicating limits of their limits.

Public are strictly not allowed to enter the site only authorized persons are
permitted into the work zone. Any accident shall be promptly reported to
the safety department for further investigations and action.

4.Specifications Clauses:

- Specification sections:
Div. 13930 Sprinkler pipe fire suppression system.

5.System Preparation and Pre-cleaning/Checking:

-System preparation & pre cleaning.

A suitable number of staff must be selected for cleaning and flushing

of the system and also suitable tools and accessories must be
available.

Checking drain valves.

Note: The above mention steps shall be applied after the hydraulic pressure test
for all the systems is completed.

6.Cleaning and Flushing Procedure:

a)System Description:

-Due to the configuration of the layout of the project, the fire fighting system has to
be divided into the following sections.

Storage water tank and pump room.

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The National Co.
For Mechanical & Electrical Works

External network and hydrants.

Parcel feeding lines and parcel internal piping.

Service tunnel.

-Following the logic that the direction of flow during the flushing operation has to be
from smaller diameter pipes to larger diameter pipes, the flushing has to start in
the Sprinkler piping systems inside the parcels.
-Inside the parcels in the individual buildings, the fire fighting system is a combined
Sprinkler and fire standard pipe/hose reel systems. The Sprinkler loops for
dedicated floors or areas can be isolated by zone valves, therefore the Sprinkler
piping system will be flushed zone by zone, using the test and drain valve in the
vicinity of the zone valve to evacuate the water.

b)Flushing of Sprinkler Loops:

-The flushing procedures will follow wherever possible the method stipulated in
NFPA clause considering that most of the parcels will be connected to the existing
loop under the execution of parcel #71, the recommended sequence described in
the NFPA "flushing procedure" cannot be followed as in many parcels the internal
piping will be completed before and should be flushed in order not to delay the
finishing works.

-Upon completion of the fire fighting piping system of a complete building, or parcel
but before Sprinkler heads are installed, the flushing procedure can commence.

-The engineer in charge of the operation with the assistance of his crew has to ensure,
that all fittings for Sprinkler outlets are plugged and the flow switch of the loop is
removed and replaced by a plug. At the branch which is located at the far end of
the loop, the water connection from the source, either from the temporary water
supply or from a temporary pump, will be made and the system filled. To soften
the inclusions, it is preferable if the actual flushing can be delayed for a short
period. The velocity of the water for the flushing (by pumps) will be 0.8m/ sec.

-For the flushing of the loop, the water will be circulated by the temporary pump,
connected to the inlet at the far branch, the return will be taken from the nearest
Sprinkler head outlet and by hose connected to a tank or barrel, serving as a
suction containment for the temporary pump. As soon the water at the return from
the loop is clear, the pump will be disconnected and the loop reconnected to a
temporary water source. The loop will then be rinsed until the water is clean.

-According to the size of the loop, the procedure will be repeated while connecting
the pump to an other main branch.

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The National Co.
For Mechanical & Electrical Works

-The same sequence of flushing will also be applied for the flushing of the fire
pipes in the service tunnel.

-For the flushing of the external pipe network, the connections for the hydrants will be
used.

-The piping inside the pump room will be flushed separately before the line is
connected to the external network.
-The engineer in charge of this operation will keep record of which parts of the
systems have been flushed by marking the progress on a separate set of drawings.

-The velocity of at last 0.8 m/sec is necessary for scouring the pipe and for lifting
foreign material to an above ground flushing outlet. Water should be move
through the pipe at the rate of flow indicate in the following table:-
Pipe Size "Inch" GPM
1 6.5
1.25 13.5
1.50 18
2 28
2.50 40
3 62
4 106
5 166
6 235
-In multistory buildings, system will be flushing by starting at lowest story and
working up.

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