Underground Fire Line Installation in St. Louis
Kuesel installs underground fire lines, the private fire service main that runs from the water main to the building's fire riser, on commercial and industrial sites across the St. Louis region. Our own union crews lay it with the rest of the site utilities, coordinate it with the fire sprinkler contractor, and flush and hydrostatically test it before the riser connection.
What a fire line scope includes
- Connection to the water main, built to the water provider's standards
- Underground fire line from the main to the building riser
- Fire hydrants and valves on the line
- Thrust blocks or restrained joints where the design calls for them
- Flushing and hydrostatic testing
- Repair of existing fire mains
Where our work stops
We install the line and stop where the building trades take over. The riser connection, the test and the hand-off point are agreed with the fire sprinkler contractor before the pipe is in the ground.
Testing before the hand-off
NFPA 24, the standard for private fire service mains, calls for the underground line, including hydrants and lead-ins, to be flushed before it is connected to the sprinkler piping, and for a hydrostatic test at 200 psi, or 50 psi above working pressure if that is higher, held for 2 hours. The test is commonly witnessed by the local fire authority. The project specifications and the authority having jurisdiction set what applies on your job.
Fire main repair
When an existing fire main fails, we excavate, repair or replace the damaged section and restore the surface. At a big-box retail store in St. Peters, MO, Kuesel replaced 16 LF of 10-inch ductile iron fire main, made a new 10-inch flange-and-spigot reconnection, and removed and replaced the concrete floor and sidewalk to reach it.
For a water main break, see water main break repair.
Coordinated with the rest of the site
Fire lines share the ground with water, sanitary, storm and conduit. Because we install the other site utilities ourselves, the fire line is sequenced with the rest of the underground work. Before digging near existing lines we expose them with vacuum excavation, every excavation starts with a locate request, and trenches are protected to OSHA excavation standards.
FAQ
- Who installs the underground fire line, the site contractor or the sprinkler contractor?
- It depends on the contract. Kuesel installs the underground fire line from the water main and agrees the hand-off point at the riser with the fire sprinkler contractor before work starts.
- What testing does a new fire line need?
- Under NFPA 24 the line is flushed before it is connected to the sprinkler piping and hydrostatically tested at 200 psi, or 50 psi above working pressure if higher, for 2 hours. Your specifications and the local fire authority set the final requirements.
- What do you need to bid a fire line?
- Send the plans with the utility sheets, the specifications, the water provider's requirements and the geotechnical report through Request a Bid.