10/31/22, 8:41 AM A Fire Department Connection Cheatsheet

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A Fire Department Connection Cheatsheet Search

8/21/2019

There’s no real way around it: I love cheatsheets.

In a design course in college we received 5x7 index cards to include any handwritten notes we wanted for
an upcoming final. I wrote so much on that card with handwriting that was effectively size-4 font that it
could have been displayed as a work of art. 

Nearly an entire semester summarized to a 5x7 card. It was a thing of beauty. 

While I no longer have a need to write so small, I still enjoy having information organized so that it is
extremely easy to access. 

If you haven’t seen these before, here are a couple cheatsheets I’ve created so far:

Summary of Differences of NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D

Sprinklers & Passive Fire Protection Options

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Why Sponsor?
GET FDC PDF CHEATSHEET

ALL-ACCESS
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10/31/22, 8:41 AM A Fire Department Connection Cheatsheet

covered
important
L​ ast week IBLOG FORUM
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considerations surrounding fire department connections from a design
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perspective,CART
which(0)was a joint-effort with QRFS covering the topic.

At some point I’ll compile the best blog posts and resources into a hardcover reference book. For this
week, however, here’s a cheatsheet on requirements surrounding fire department connections across
NFPA 13R, NFPA 13, and NFPA 14:

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Value NFPA 13R NFPA 13 NFPA 14

To supplement To provide primary SUBSCRIBE

​ o supplement
T
pressure (not based on (manual) or secondary
pressure (not based on Get Free Articles via
Purpose system demand)
(automatic) supply to Email:
system demand)

[NFPA 13 2019 standpipes

[same as NFPA 13]

A.16.12.4] [NFPA 14 2019 3.3.4.1.2] + Get calculators, tools,
resources and articles

All buildings except:

+ Get our PDF Flowchart
- Remote areas for Canopy & Overhang
inaccessible for fire Requirements instantly
All buildings except:
department support

- single story buildings - large-capacity deluge

not exceeding 2,000 systems exceeding ​Always required.

When Required
sqft (185 m2)
pump capacity of F.D.
[NFPA 14 2000 2.8,
[NFPA 13R 2002 - single story buildings 2003-19 4.8]
6.6.4.1, 2007 6.7.4.1, not exceeding 2,000
2010-19 6.11.1]​ sqft (185 m2)

+ No spam

[NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.2, ​+ Unsubscribe anytime

2007-16 8.17.2.2, 2019
16.12.2]
Email Address

Approved plugs or
Approved plugs or I'm Interested In:
caps, secured, with
caps, secured, with
easy removal by fire Weekly Blog
easy removal by fire
department.
Daily Forum
Caps No requirement. department.

[NFPA 14 2000 2-8.2,

 [NFPA 13 2002 6.8.4, Subscribe
2003 4.8.2.1, 2007-13
2007-13 6.8.2, 2016
4.7.3, 2016 4.8.3, 2019
6.7.2, 2019 16.12.3.2]
4.8.3]

AUTHOR
Installed as close as
possible to fire Joe Meyer, PE, is a Fire
department Protection Engineer out
connection inlets.
of St. Louis, Missouri who
In accessible location writes & develops
I​n accessible location [NFPA 14 2000 4-3.2,
with automatic drain resources for Fire
with automatic drain 2003 6.3.2, 2007-13
valve where subject to Protection Professionals.
valve where subject to 6.4.2, 2016-19 6.4.2.1]

Check Valve freezing.

See bio here: About
freezing.
In accessible location
[NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.5
[NFPA 13R 2007 with automatic drain
& .6, 2007-16 8.17.2.5
6.7.4.4, 2010-19 6.11.4] valve where subject to
& .6, 2019 16.12.6 & .7]
freezing.

FILTERS
[NFPA 14 2000 4-3.4,
2003 6.3.4, 2007-2019 All

6.4.4] Announcements

Book Review

Clearance No specific guidance. Such that “hose lines Such that “hose lines Calculators

can be readily and can be readily and Career

conveniently attached conveniently attached Course

without interference without interference Design Challenge

from nearby objects, from nearby objects, Fire Alarm

including buildings, including buildings, Fire Events

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10/31/22, 8:41 AM A Fire Department Connection Cheatsheet

fences, posts, or other fences, posts, or other Fire Suppression

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8.16.2.4.6, 2007-16 2003 6.3.5.1, 2007-19 Flexible Drops

8.17.2.1, 2019 16.12.1] 6.4.5.1.1] Floor Control Valve

Life Safety

Not more than 100 feet News

(30.5 m) from nearest NICET

Distance to Nearest fire hydrant, unless Passive Fire Protection

No specific guidance.​ ​No requirement.

Hydrant approved otherwise
PE Exam

[NFPA 14 2019 6.4.5.4, Products

6.4.5.4.1] Site Updates

Special Hazards

1.5 – 4 ft above grade

1.5 – 4 ft above grade
Sprinkler Systems

(500 mm – 1.2 m)
(457 mm – 1219 mm)
Standpipes

Height of FDC No specific guidance. [NFPA 13 2002 [NFPA 14 2000 4-3.6, Tools

A.8.16.2, 2007-16 2003 6.3.6, 2007-19 Videos

A.8.17.2, 2019 A.16.12] 6.4.6]

Located within 50 ft
(15.2 m) of street or ARCHIVES
nearest fire October 2022

At nearest point of fire

department access.
September 2022

department apparatus
[NFPA 14 2019 7.12.2.3]
August 2022

accessibility, or at a
Visible and May 2022

location approved by
recognizable from April 2022

Location of FDC ​No specific guidance. the AHJ.

street or nearest fire March 2022

[NFPA 13 2002
department access, or February 2022

8.16.2.4.6, 2007-16
on street side of January 2022

8.17.2.4.6, 2019
buildings.
November 2021

16.12.5.7]
[NFPA 14 2000 4-3.5.1, October 2021

2003 6.3.5.1, 2007-19 September 2021

6.4.5.1] August 2021

July 2021

One for each zone of June 2021

Class I or III May 2021

standpipes, unless fire April 2021

department cannot March 2021

supply high-zone.
February 2021

[NFPA 14 2000 5-12.1, December 2020

2003 7.13.1, 2007-19 November 2020

At least one.
​At least one.
7.12.2.1]
October 2020

[NFPA 13R 2002 [NFPA 13 2002-13 6.8.1, Two (physically August 2020

Number of FDCs
6.6.4.1, 2007 6.7.4.1, 2016 6.7.1, 2019 separated) for each July 2020

2010-19 6.11.1] 16.12.3.1] zone, for high-rise June 2020

buildings or multiple May 2020

attached buildings April 2020

exceeding 900 ft March 2020

perimeter distance.
February 2020

[NFPA 14 2000 5-12.2, January 2020

2003 7.13.2, 2007-16 December 2019

7.12.2, 2019 7.12.2.2] November 2019

October 2019

One 2-1/2” (65 mm) September 2019

Riser 3” or smaller:
inlet for every 250 August 2019

Single 2.5” outlet

At least 1-1/2” (38 mm)

gpm (946 L/min) July 2019

Riser larger than 3”:

[NFPA 13R 2002 standpipe demand, or June 2019

Size of FDC Two 2.5” outlets

6.6.4.2, 2007 6.7.4.2, approved large- May 2019

[NFPA 13 2007-13
2010-19 6.11.2] diameter connection
April 2019

6.8.1.3, 2016 6.7.1.3,

[NFPA 14 2007-19 March 2019

2019 16.12.3.1.3]
7.12.3] February 2019

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10/31/22, 8:41 AM A Fire Department Connection Cheatsheet

January 2019

Size of Feed to FDC Pipe with diameter at Fire Engine, Pipe Must be determined by
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2018

  least as large as the Schedule: 4-inch (100 hydraulically

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riser.
mm)
calculated.

October 2018

[NFPA 13R 2010-19 Fire Engine, [NFPA 14 2007-19 8.2.1]

September 2018

A.6.11] Hydraulically-
August 2018

Calculated: Size of
July 2018

largest riser

June 2018

Fire Boat: 6-inch

May 2018

[NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.3,

April 2018

2007-16 8.17.2.3, 2019

March 2018

16.12.4]
February 2018

January 2018

(2) 2-1/2” threaded

(2) 2-1/2” threaded December 2017

unless fire department

unless fire department November 2017

does not conform to

does not conform to October 2017

NFPA 1963. Must be

NFPA 1963. Must be September 2017

approved regardless.

Type of FDC No specific guidance. approved regardless.

August 2017

[NFPA 13 2002 6.8.2 &

[NFPA 14 2000 2-7, July 2017

6.8.5, 2007-13 6.8.1.1 &

2003-16 4.8.2 & May 2017

6.8.3, 2016 6.7.1.1 &

4.8.2.2, 2019 4.8.2, April 2017

6.7.3, 2019 16.12.3.1.1,

4.8.4] September 2016

16.12.3.3]
August 2016

See NFPA 13;

​See NFPA 14;
July 2016

​ ee NFPA 13R.

S not on suction side of not on suction side of June 2016

Where attached to [NFPA 13R 2002 6.6.4, fire pump.

fire pump.
July 2015

system? 2007 6.7.4, 2010-19 [NFPA 13 2002 [NFPA 14 2000 4-3.3, June 2015

6.11] 8.16.2.4, 2007-16 2003 6.3.3, 2007-19 May 2015

8.17.2.4, 2019 16.12.5] 6.4.3]

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Have a great week!

Rate this (6 Votes)

8/7/2020 10:47:47 am
G PETERSON

Joe,

A little late on the comments for this section but I was searching for an answer to question that was asked
about limited area fire sprinkler systems and if a FDC is required for those. The application that we have is a
single sprinkler head installed in a medical gas closet. From my code research (NFC 2015 903.3.8), it appears
that a limited area system can be run off of the domestic water supply and thus omits a need for the FDC and
other devices associated with a full sprinkler installation. Did not know if you wanted to add a footnote to your
table regarding this or not. Your site has been an invaluable resource to our fire marshal's office and is always
one of the first "go-to" pages for information. Please keep up the great work!

Comments are closed.

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