TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

FOR
FIRE SPRINKLER INSTALLATION
IN THE WAREHOUSES
FOR

MEDICAL STORES LTD- HEAD OFFICE ON

MUKWA ROAD, LUSAKA

DH ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS LTD

P O BOX 37928
LUSAKA

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM

4.1 SCOPE

The works involves supply, installation and setting to work of an automatic sprinkler
installation as follows:

• A 215 m3 water supply tank providing 60 minutes of usable water cover

• A sprinkler fire pump set consisting of one electric, one diesel and jockey pump, test
arrangement and all controls as per ASIB Requirements
• Sprinkler mains piping up to and including an Installation Control Valve (ICV)
intended to serve two separate sprinkler systems in each Warehouse.
• Sprinkler system within the sprinkler pump house with attendant flow switch wired
to pumphouse control panel.

The sprinkler system will be designed to Ordinary Hazard Group 3 in all areas and to
meet Loss Prevention Council (LPC) Regulations and British Standards 5306-2;1990.

All fire equipment including pumps, fire control panels, flow switches, pressure switches,
diesel fire pump control panels must be fabricated by reputable fire equipment specialists,
specifically to meet the requirements of the L.P.C and ASIB.
No locally assembled equivalents will be accepted.

Where a specific manufacture and type is specified, this shall be provided as indicated,
unless substitution is approved by the Engineer in writing.

Prior to any materials being ordered and prior to any works commencing, full working
drawings of the works must be submitted to the Engineer for approval.

A period of at least two weeks should be allowed for this process.

4.2 PIPING AND FITTINGS

4.2.1 The entire installation shall be executed in solid drawn medium weight plain end steel
piping to SABS 62 1989.

Formed bends made on an approved bending machine and using suitable formers shall
be used in place of specials.

Four types of joints used:

a) Taper screw pipe ends into taper screwed fittings. These may be used for all pipe
connections except as hereafter specified.

b) Grooved union piping system using standard couplings compliant with the
requirements of the Loss Prevention Council. At least one joint shall be provided
in every 18 metres of straight pipe runs, while in short runs, detachable joints shall
be provided in sufficient numbers to enable any length of piping to be removed
without disturbing fixed joints unnecessarily

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 c) Steel flanges to BS 10. 1962, table ‘D’ screwed to pipes. These shall be used in pipes
above 50mm nominal bore for the same purposes as specified in (b) above.

d) Electrical arc welding may be used for the following purposes:

1. For attaching branches to sprinkler distribution provided the requirements of

B.S. 5306-2 are adhered to.

2. For attaching flanges to piping.

No joints shall be made inside masonry or walls.

The centreline of flange bolts shall be at maximum possible angle from the vertical
(e.g. horizontal)

All screwed joints shall be made with an approved con-setting plastic of graphite
compound, applied to male thread portions only.

Before making joints, all burrs and welding scale shall be removed from the pipe ends.

4.2.2 The underground piping shall be galvanized and shall be coated with two applications of
bitumen epoxy and laid with 150mm dry river sand all round.

4.2.3 Supporting Pipes

All pipes shall follow the building surfaces and shall be neatly, rigidly and permanently
fixed, in such positions that space is available for subsequent dismantling and for
domestic cleaning, and further so that dripping on electrical equipment is prevented.

4.3 SPRINKLER POSITIONS

All sprinkler heads shall be positioned as near as possible to the positions shown and to
ensure compliance with the L.P.C. Rules and or B.S. 5306 Part 2, incorporating BS EN
12845.S

Sprinkler heads shall be positioned by any portion of the structure, or other services.

4.4 SPRINKLER HEADS

All automatic sprinkler heads shall be of the conventional type and make approved by
the, L.P.C. Rules and / or B.S. 5306 and shall be of the type actuated by the shattering of
glass or “Quartzoid” bulb when heated. The operating temperature shall be 65/740C. they
shall be suitable for upright, or side-wall installation. All heads shall be brass where
exposed as specified on the bill of quantities.

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4.5 MAIN SPRINKLER CONTROLS (INSTALLATION CONTROL VALVE)

Two Installation Control Valves (I.C.V.) of the size indicated on the drawings and of a
type and make approved by the L.P.C. Rules (Automatic Sprinkler Installations) shall be
fitted in the positions shown, one for each Warehouse.

The installation control valve set shall be complete with proprietary trim and have the
following main components:

▪ Sprinkler stop valve wheel installed below the alarm valve

▪ A water motor alarm gong
▪ An alarm test valve.
▪ A 50 mm bore drain and running pressure test valve.
▪ An alarm shut-off cock, strapped open.
▪ Two 125mm diameter pressure gauges, range 0-10 bars fitted to read supply
pressure and sprinkler respectively and labelled accordingly. Three way shut-off
cocks shall be fitted before each gauge so that, when inadvertently shut-off, the
gauge shall not retain any pressure.
▪ ICV Location signage

4.6 FLOW TEST UNITS

An 80 mm flow test pipe of approved manufacture shall be provided. The discharge

from the test unit shall be piped away to the nearest drain point.

4.7 HYDRAULIC ALARM

A water motor alarm bell shall be provided and installed above or near the main controls
as indicated. It shall be designed to ensure smooth starting after prolonged idleness, using
maintenance free bearings of the anti-friction type.

4.8 DRAIN POINTS

Drain cocks of 50mm diameter minimum bore shall be provided as required to enable
the system to be drained. These shall be of the gate valve type.

4.9 FLOW SWITCHES

An approved vane type waterflow switch (with retard) as model VSR-F by ‘Potter
Electrical Signal Co.’ shall be supplied and installed by the Sprinkler Sub-Contractor as
indicated and on the basis of one unit per Installation Control Valve. A 25mm drain pipe
with test valve shall be fitted just beyond the flow switch to allow for testing and piped
to the nearest drain point.
This is in addition to the flow switch required in the pump house to serve the pumphouse
sprinkler protection.

4.10 ZONE MONITORING VALVES

Will not be required at this stage.

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4.11 NON-RETURN VALVES

Non-return valves shall be of approved type complete with replaceable neoprene seal, or
equal approved.

4.12 FIRE PUMPS

A Containerised Fire Pump set as specified on the drawings shall be by a fully approved
manufacturer.

Two centrifugal fire pumps shall be provided and installed as indicated. The materials
used shall be cast iron castings, bronze impellers, bronze wearing rings, EN 8 steel shifts,
bronze glands, mechanical seals, ball and roller bearings, or equal approved.

An automatic bleed shall be provided between pump discharge and suction to prevent
overheating when pump is operating against a closed discharge.

The pump characteristics shall be in accordance with F.O.C. Rules for OH Group 3
installations having a minimum capacity of 2900 litres per minute against a head of 8.0
bar.

Maximum friction loss, reservoir to valves via pumps 0.5 bar

Pressure loss to design point 3.5 bar
Pressure required at design point 2.0 bar
Static ‘lift’ 1.5 bar
Safety 0.5 bar
Total 8.0 bar

Characteristic curves showing pump capacity; head and efficiency shall be submitted by
tenderers.

The electric pump shall be direct coupled to drip proof squirrel cage rotor indication type
electric motors suitable for Star-delta starting, of ample power and suitable for 380 volts,
3-phase, 50Hz electrical supply.

A Diesel Tank providing a minimum of 8 hrs fuel supply for the Diesel Tank is to be
provided.

A pump motor starter shall be provided and installed in the switchboard(s) specified
below.

Automatic stopping of the pumps shall not be permissible. Stopping shall be manual only.

A red warning light shall be provided in the valve chamber to indicate when the pump is
running.
Both pump sets shall be mounted on substantial steel bases, aligned, doweled, levelled
and bolted.

Gland drains shall be piped outside the pump chamber as indicated.

The pump set shall be manufactured to ASIB/BS/EN standards.

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4.13 PRESSURE MAINTAINING (‘JOCKEY’) PUMP

One only pressure-maintaining pump shall be provided and installed as indicated. This
shall be of the multi-stage, vertical spindle type and shall be suitable for automatic
operation by water pressure switch on the test arrangement specified below. The duty
shall be approximately 40 litres per minute at 5.5 bars.

4.14 SPRINKLER RESERVOIR (175m3 NOMINAL; 215m3 ACTUAL)

The sprinkler system will draw from a 215m3 reservoir located as shown on the drawings.

The tank will be split into two sections, each section having independent suction, inlet
and drain connections. The tank shall be of galvanised sectional steel as ‘’ Abeco’’ or
equal approved and be split into two distinct sections of equal capacity.

Each tank shall be provided with access ladders and a manhole each to facilitate
maintenance.

Each tank shall be provided with a minimum 50m float valve supplied and connected by
others.

The tanks shall be erected on concrete plinths to details supplied by the Engineer.

4.15 CONTROLS

Both pumps specified in Clause 4.12 and 4.13 above shall be energised for automatic
starting at all times and shall be controlled by three pressure switches connected into a
proprietary sprinkler test arrangement set installed in the pump room as indicated.

The pressure-maintaining pump shall automatically cut in and out in order to maintain
system pressure at approximately 0.5 bars above main fire pump cut in pressure. It’s
prime function is to maintain system pressure and to prevent false alarms.

The duty electric motor driven pump shall start when the system pressure on the pressure
gauge in the pump room falls to approximately set point (to be determined on site) and
shall continue until manually stopped in the pump room.

The standby Diesel driven pump shall start if the system pressure gauge in the pump
room falls a further 0.5 bar and shall continue running until manually stopped.

A Float Switch is to be provided in the Storage Tank to prevent dry running of both
pumps

4.16 ELECTRICAL

4.16.1 General

The complete electrical installation shall comply in every respect with I.E.E. Wiring
Regulation 6th Edition, C.A.S. Wiring Rules No. CC1/64, the local Supply Authority
Regulation and L.P.C. Rules. These shall be regarded as the operative Codes f Practice.

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4.16.2 Fire Pump Switchboard

The switch boards shall be water / dust proof to IP 55 and constructed from 14 S.W.G.
sheet metal with vertically hinged doors all finished in epoxy coating. It shall contain a
main isolator, all starters, protective gear and indicator lights necessary to complete the
installation. All circuits shall be clearly labelled, ferruled, and the following notice shall be
provided:

“SPRINKLER PUMP MOTOR SUPPLY – NOT TO BE SWITCHED OFF

IN THE EVENT OF FIRE”

Wiring between items of electrical equipment including the pressure switches and the
warning light at the valves, shall be carried out using SWA/PVC/SWA. All electrical
equipment and metalwork shall be efficiently bonded and earthed to an earth bar
mounted on the switchboard.

All equipment shall be suitable for operation on 220/380 volt, 3-phase, 50Hz supply.

A suitable electrical supply will be provided and terminated by others at the main isolator
specified above.

Power supply to the new sprinkler control panels shall be provided.

4.17 MONITORING PANEL

A Signal Back to the Main Fire Alarm Panel to indicate the Sprinkler pump is running
must be provided.

4.18 SPARES

The Contractor shall fit a sprinkler spares cabinet (steel cabinet with lock and key) located
adjacent to the I.C.V, containing the following:

• Sixteen automatic sprinkler heads of each type used for the installation.
• One spanner to fit said heads.
• A set of recommended pump spares from the manufacturer

4.19 TESTS

The following tests shall be executed in the completion of the installation in the presence
of the Engineer.

o A static pressure test at the lowest point on each system to 1.5 times the maximum
operating pressure.
o A discharge test on any sprinkler outlet to be decided by the Engineer.

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 o The Sub-Contractor shall provide a hose connection and length of 25 mm hose
to lead the discharge to outside the building.
o Running pressure test as required by L.P.C Rules
o Test of the hydraulic alarm system.

4.20 AS FITTED DRAWINGS AND HYDRAULIC CALCULATIONS

The contractor shall supply one hard copy and one soft copy of the operation manuals,
hydraulic calculations and the as fitted drawings.

Hydraulic calculations of the system will be provided for approval, prior to installation.

In addition, a framed block diagram will be provided indicating the position of each
device and mounted in a robust frame and located on the wall of the room where the fire
control panel is located.

4.21 GUARANTEES AND WARRANTIES

All work performed and all material and equipment supplied and installed shall be
guaranteed for a period of 12 months from date of handover.

The contractor will attend to all defects within this period and provide in house training
and servicing of the equipment as required.

The contractor is to provide a sample service and maintenance contract for approval at
the end of the 12 months guarantee period.

Further to the above the full cost of any replacement of parts, labour etc will be provided
free of charge during this initial one-year period.