#Los angeles fire sprinkler design code
#Los angeles fire sprinkler design series

РІР‚СљThe vertical was a bit over psi, but the horizontal was under psi,РІР‚Сњ Buscher states. The vertical pump and the horizontal split pump were a perfect tag team for the Wilshire Grand Center. We had to be sure that together we actually delivered the combined performance.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљThen there was a lot of coordination between our Morton Grove, Illinois, plant where we make the split case pumps and the Lubbock, Texas, plant where we make our turbine pumps. РІР‚СљWe had to run a lot of calculations to predict that we could meet the requirement,РІР‚Сњ Buscher says.

#Los angeles fire sprinkler design code

Los Angeles code requirements demanded an exact set of redundant fire pumps on each level, meaning six total pumps were installed. It required plenty of sizing and theoretical planning on the pump curves, especially in the high zone.

#Los angeles fire sprinkler design series

There is a high zone with vertical turbine pumps and a low zone with A-C Fire Pump 8200 series horizontal split-case pumps that are specified in the building. РІР‚СљBy getting the number of pumps down to six there was no need for an additional emergency generator, saving project cost,РІР‚Сњ he explains.Р”Р„fter the design was ready to go the team had to make sure it would work as planned. NFPA 20 requires shutoff head to not exceed 140% of the design pressure and canРІР‚в„ўt be below 65% at 150% of the rated flow.РІР‚СњР”В¬allahan says he sketched out the Wilshire Grand Center design on a napkin and impressed decision-makers with the ability to create a system that required only one fire-pump room.

Because it was so close, we had to hit the design point.

He adds: РІР‚СљThis is a tall building, so that factor alone got us close to the 300-psi limit per pump. РІР‚Сљ(Therefore), both pumps need to be spot-on the factory curve when operating in the field,РІР‚Сњ Buscher says. РІР‚СљBecause of the requirements of the city of Los Angeles for maximum pressure, we had a lot of back and forth on pump selection,РІР‚Сњ Buscher notes.Р”В«uscher states city officials would immediately fail the facilityРІР‚в„ўs acceptance test if one gauge read even one hair more than 600 psi as the pumps are churning.Р”В¬allahan, Buscher and their respective teams designed a system featuring two pumps working in series.