Residential Multipurpose Fire Sprinkler Systems - City of Bonney Lake

City Hall
“The city of Bonney Lake’s mission is to protect the community’s livable identity and scenic beauty
through responsible growth planning and by providing accountable, accessible and efficient local
government service’s.”
Residential Multipurpose Fire Sprinkler Systems
Multipurpose fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in one and two family residences per the following:
I. General
1. Contractors shall demonstrate compliance with State Sprinkler license requirements for NFPA 13D systems.
Note: Homeowners are exempt from State licensing installation requirements. However, the designer of the
system and plans are required to be a licensed professional.
2. The system shall meet all manufactures requirements for installation.
3. Fire sprinkler plans will be reviewed and approved by East Pierce Fire and Rescue.
4. System monitoring is not required on one and two family homes (See II g).
5. Developments with model home(s) will have the initial review performed on the models only. Inspection will be
required as below on all units.
6. Sprinkler drops shall be limited to 36” maximum.
7. Water treatment/filtration systems shall have an automatic bypass as required by NFPA 13D.
8. Sprinkler systems shall be designed to IRC Appendix R or NFPA 13D.
9. Sprinklers shall be separated from heat sources (fireplace, wood stove, oven, kitchen range top, et cetera) as
required by the sprinkler manufacturer's installation instructions. Distances shall be measured in a straight line from
the nearest edge of the heat source to the nearest edge of the sprinkler
10. Sprinkler piping shall comply with all requirements for cold water distribution piping. The sprinkler piping shall
connect to and be a part of the cold water distribution piping system.
11. Nonmetallic pipe and tubing, such as CPVC and PEX, shall be listed for use in residential fire sprinkler systems.
12. Piping shall be protected from freezing. Where sprinklers are required in areas that are subject to freezing, dryside-wall
or dry-pendent sprinklers extending from a nonfreezing area into a freezing area shall be installed.
13. The area of coverage of a single sprinkler shall not exceed 400 square feet and shall be based on the sprinkler
listing and the sprinkler manufacturer's installation instructions.
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14. Sprinkler discharge shall not be blocked by obstructions unless additional sprinklers are installed to protect the
obstructed area. Sprinkler separation from obstructions shall comply with the minimum distances specified in the
sprinkler manufacturer's instructions.
15. Pendent sprinklers within 3 feet of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire or similar object
shall be considered to be obstructed, and additional sprinklers shall be installed.
16. Sidewall sprinklers within 5 feet of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire or similar object
shall be considered to be obstructed, and additional sprinklers shall be installed.
17. A means to drain the sprinkler system shall be provided on the system side of the water distribution shutoff valve.
18. Sprinklers shall be installed to protect all areas of a dwelling unit.
Exceptions:
a. Attics, crawl spaces and normally unoccupied concealed spaces that do not contain fuel-fired appliances do not
require sprinklers. In attics, crawl spaces and normally unoccupied concealed spaces that contain fuel-fired
equipment, a sprinkler shall be installed above the equipment; however, sprinklers shall not be required in the
remainder of the space.
b. Clothes closets, linen closets and pantries not exceeding 24 square feet in area, with the smallest dimension not
greater than 3 feet and having wall and ceiling surfaces of gypsum board.
c. Bathrooms not more than 55 square feet in area.
d. Carports; exterior porches; unheated entry areas, such as mud rooms, that are adjacent to an exterior door; and
similar areas.
e. Garages without warm ceilings (room above) need only have one sprinkler covering the garage/house door.
II. Plan submittal.
1. Provide floor plan scaled drawing (1/4” = 1’) showing all of the following:
a. Size/type of sprinkler heads.
b. Location/coverage of sprinkler heads.
c. Size/type of sprinkler piping.
d. Complete isometric diagram of water piping system including sprinkler heads.
e. Drainage fixture units of all fixtures including sprinkler heads.
f. Type and location of all valves check valves, shutoff valves, et cetera.
Note: Backflow prevention devices are not required on this type of system. Stand alone systems are
not allowed per BLMC 13.04.110 M #1
g. Exterior bell or horn and strobe on address side and audibility on the inside (smoke alarms).
h. Size/type of sprinkler heads.
i. Two family units require a separate meter for each unit (Each sprinkler system shall not serve more than one
dwelling). No exceptions.
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j. All products used for the fire sprinkler system shall be new and listed as required by NFPA 13D and WAC 51-
51-60105
k. The fire sprinkler system shall be installed per NFPA 13 D and WAC. 51-51-60105
l. Minimum of 1” meter and 1 ½” service line to the building is required (see exception to #3 in common
questions below).
III. Rough Inspection.
1. All system components shall be in place at the time of rough pipe inspection.
2. Tenting insulation is required for all fire sprinkler piping that is installed in the attic space.
3. Bucket test will be required for the two most remote heads flowing at the same time.
Note: No part of the system shall be covered until it has been inspected and approved.
IV. Final Inspection.
1. The system shall be in service at the time of final inspection.
2. All heads and escutcheons shall be in place.
3. On completion of the final, all handles shall be removed or locked in place.
Exception: Monitored systems.
4. A warning sign, with minimum ¼” letters, shall be affixed adjacent to the main shutoff valve and shall state the
following:
“Warning: The water system for this home supplies fire sprinklers that require certain flows and
pressures to fight a fire. Devices that restrict the flow or decrease the pressure or automatically shut off
the water to the fire sprinkler system, such as water softeners, filtration systems, and automatic shutoff
valves, shall not be added to this system without review of the fire sprinkler system by a fire protection
specialist.”
DO NOT REMOVE THIS SIGN
V. Common Questions for Residential Sprinkler Systems.
Note: If you have a question you believe would benefit others, and would like it added to this list please email them to
the Building Official Jerry E Hight at hightj@ci.bonney-lake.wa.us.
1. Are we required to have the residential sprinkler system monitored
No. Instead, we require a bell or horn and strobe on address side of your home (see item II g above). The reason is
to make sure if the system activates and you are not home, someone will see, or hear the alarm and alert
authorities.
2. Are we required to install a backflow device on the residential sprinkler system
No. The reason is that you are installing a complete flow through system. Therefore, the domestic water used for
your home also flows through the sprinkler system.
3. What is the meter size that we are required to install for a residential sprinkler system
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A minimum of one inch (1”) meter (or larger depending on fire flow demands) is required and a one and one half
inch (1 ½”) service line is required from the meter to the home. [The one inch meter cost (SDC fee) has been
reduced to the same cost as a five eights (5/8”) or a three quarter inch (3/4”) meter. The reason the city did this
was to provide the water needed and to provide a price reduction ($10k) to allow the installation of a residential
sprinkler system.]
Exception:
A. Existing 5/8” meters [installed prior to July 12, 2010] may be used if the sprinkler system is designed
for a 5/8” meter. Please note the system can not have a pump and tank design as it would involve a
prohibited backflow preventer. When the fire flow test occurs after installation, it will be based on two
sprinkler heads operating at the same time. However, if after installation the flow test does not pass, then
a 1” or larger meter will need to be installed.
B. A pump and tank system may be allowed with prior approval if all of the following condition are met:
1. The water system is provided from a well on private property.
2. The tank must be a self contained nonsiphonable refillable tank.
3. The tank must be designed for a minimum of ten (10) minutes of fire flow based on hydraulic
calculations for two heads.
4. The system must be designed to IRC Appendix R or NFPA 13D
4. If my existing meter is too small, will I have to replace it with a larger meter If so who pays for it
Meter set installation or replacement is the responsibility of the permitee. Prior to any work the permitee is to
contact the Community Development Engineer for inspection and approval. Once the meter set has been installed
and approved, contact the Public Works Department to request installation of the water meter. Details for the
meter set are available online through the City of Bonney Lake website at http://www.ci.bonney-lake.wa.us/
Note: All meters and meter sets provided and installed on water service connections shall be and remain
the property of the city and shall be removed only by the city.
5. If I share a main supply (1” tap off of the street main) with my neighbor (two meters being supplied by one 1”
water main tap) will it be sufficient to supply both houses
No. Depending on the flow requirements to your house you may need to install a new water main tap and a new
service line to the meter splitters. All new building supply lines from the water meter to the house have to be a
minimum of one and one-half inch (1 ½”).
6. Does a new town house or duplex require multiple water meters
Yes. Each duplex and townhouse style building unit will have a separate water meter and service for each living
unit. There shall be only one water meter installed for each building housing multiple residential units.
7. Can there be dead ends in the residential sprinkler system piping
Dead ends are limited to 36”. Your dead ends should be limited because you are installing a “loop system”. We
typically do not allow any dead ends unless they are unavoidable. Sprinkler systems need to meet the cities’
potable water requirements. The reason is to have the water circulate through all of the piping so there isn’t any
water contamination. You are drinking the same water that flows through your domestic water system and
sprinkler system.
8. Can we use the smoke detectors in the home as a form of notification of fire sprinkler system activation
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Yes. This is in addition to the exterior bell or horn and strobe (see II g above).
9. Do all the sprinkler heads go off if there was a fire in my home
Typically no. Most fires are contained by only using one or two heads to control the fire. The sprinkler heads are
designed to respond quickly. In doing so, the water usage is reduced to the area of the fire.
10. I’m in the city but receiving water from Valley Water District. What is my standard for water service for fire
flow
Valley Water District implements the minimum provisions of the Bonney Lake Development Policies and Public
Works Design Standards while operating within the city limits. Although these standards are minimum you may
want to contact Valley Water District for provisions that they may apply to your project that may be above and
beyond the city’s standards.
11. If I remodel my house or have an addition installed will I have to install fire sprinklers
Yes. If your remodel and or addition exceeds 50% of the market value of your house prior to any work being done
you will have to add fire sprinklers. This is defined as a “Substantial Remodel”. You will be required to install a
1” meter and 1 ½” building service line between the meter and the house for the new sprinkler system as required
for a new home.
If you have any questions please contact:
Barry M Barquest
Assistant Chief-Fire Marshal
Certified Health and Safety Officer
East Pierce Fire and Rescue
18421 Sumner -Buckley HWY E Suite F
Bonney Lake, WA. 98391
bbarquest@eastpiercefire.org
253-863-1800
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