Sprinkler code: painting exposed risers red

The fire sprinkler system can be compared to a tree. The trunk is main, it brings water. The branches hold the fruits or the sprinkler head. The code clearly states that all mains and cross main must be painted red. The branches do not have to be painted. The purpose of painting is to enable fire department personell and those of us in the industry to quickly know how your system or “tree” is put together. When walking into a property within seconds we can determine which way water flows. The fire sprinkler piping being painted red speeds up that process and this is a time saving tool in our trade but a critical tool for fire fighters. You as the property owner are familiar with the layout of your property and know how your building is put together. But imagine a total stranger walking in and trying to figure out, either why water is not flowing to the sprinkler heads or how to stop a leak having never visited the property in the past. It’s very common for an inspector or other professional to walk into a property and within seconds to lose his sense of direction after going through a few hallways and stairs. Not knowing which way you are facing. Are you facing the back of the property or the front? Some properties are so subdivides by hallways that you feel you are going in circles just to find your way out. Those red pipes if you can see them are very helpful in giving you a sense of the direction. The larger main pipes lead you toward the source of the water or the street, the smaller pipes away from the street. The code says the pipes must be painted red. But it’s not specific as to what “red” means. Therefore any shade of red is acceptable. This allows you to blend the red to match your decor. Remember only exposed pipes need to painted. If a main or cross main is above drop ceiling or not visible it does not have to be painted. As to violation for failure to comply with the requirements of fire sprinkler pipe painting. The Fire Department does enforce the rule and do write it up. We have seen thousands of these violations in our normal course of business. To help us in the industry do our job quicker and to keep the fire department inspector from not writing as much please paint those pipes red. Vincent Boves CitywideFireSprinkler.Com As to violations

nobby69

in Building Code 10 years ago

Please log in, in order to post replies!

6 replies

Newest Oldest

chych | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4895 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4883 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "182671"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B8KToP35t57JKoewXS4okN3RaVL7nq."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "waterston101@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:19"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(182671)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Greetings to everyone who participates in this forum. I have a question about the requirements for painting the exposed sprinkler risers in my building red. The sprinkler system came with the house and it is all exposed piping. The rest of the house, however, has much of its original wooden detail. While I want to maintain absolute safety/legality for the building, I would also like to maintain some of the aesthetic detail. A bright red riser will undoubtedly change the feeling of the old hallways. The requirements in Local Law #58/2009 are clear: all buildings, regardless of occupancy size, must paint exposed sprinkler risers red. I wonder if anyone else has confronted this issue and whether you’ve found any good solutions. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.

resident2 | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4894 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4893 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181002"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BYKCrEpDU34.3RJghRPk8/Xp1XpCve/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "Jamanda1255@Yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:07:33"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181002)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I have experienced plumbers recently stating that the pipes are supposed to be painted red, but when the inspector from FDNY does their inspection, nothing is said. And I have not received any violation for any of them…. yet. Next year they will want them orange or flags attached stating what they are…. New codes for this or that come up all the time, some make sense…others are just make work issues. You can drive yourself crazy if you read all the codes, painting the pipes red does not make sense to me, just make sure none of the sprinkler heads have any paint on them, of any color.

chych | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4890 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4817 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "182671"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B8KToP35t57JKoewXS4okN3RaVL7nq."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "waterston101@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:48:19"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(5) "chych"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(182671)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

thank you so much, resident2! i appreciate hearing this from you.

boredatwork | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4895 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4904 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "2719"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "boredatwork"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BiaWeactc21lMA9OeuKVxu36Aie4Iz/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(17) "bored-at-work-2-2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "nyc372@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/bored-at-work/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-17 21:39:27"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "bored at work"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(2719)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I renovated 10 years ago and left the existing sprinkler system intact. The risers are painted to match the adjacent walls. No notice from any of the inspectors following the renovation. What’s the worst that can happen – You have to paint them if you fail the inspection.

fsmi505 | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4817 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4894 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "28522"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "fsmi505"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtUlCVn6sdQz6qbWSXIW82dNgLMOZE1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "fsmi505"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "fsmi505@aol.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(36) "http://automaticfiresprinklersvc.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:56:33"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "Frank Smith"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(28522)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Hello, how are you? My company provides fire safety protection services for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in the NYC area. We service all fire safety needs including FDNY & INSURANCE testing, inspections, installations, repairs, and violation removal. Please check out our website or contact us for more information. Best Regards, Frank Smith Owner Automatic Fire Sprinkler Service DBA Danielle Louise Inc. A Full Service Fire Sprinkler Company T: 718-983-1858 F: 718-668-1506 tyler@automaticfiresprinkler.net www.automaticfiresprinklersvc.com

fsmi505 | 10 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4890 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4903 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "28522"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "fsmi505"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtUlCVn6sdQz6qbWSXIW82dNgLMOZE1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "fsmi505"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "fsmi505@aol.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(36) "http://automaticfiresprinklersvc.com"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:56:33"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "Frank Smith"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(28522)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Sprinkler code: painting exposed risers red

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Homes on the Market, a Photo Tour of Troy

A Bay Ridge Row House With a Garage and More to See, Starting at $699K

Test Your Knowledge With a Spelling Bee at the Center for Brooklyn History

Generations of Families Keep Coney Island Boardwalk Businesses Alive

Sprinkler code: painting exposed risers red

NEIGHBORHOODS