According to findings by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire sprinklers are extremely effective in preventing injuries and life loss. In a recent report, NFPA says that sprinkler systems are effective in controlling the fire
in 96% of fires1. But most impressive was the improvement of safety to life. The civilian injury rate is 27% lower, and firefighter injury rate is 67% lower, in a building with sprinklers compared to a building with no sprinkler
system. Also the death rate is 87% lower with sprinklers.
NFPA says that fire sprinklers control fires 96% of the time, when they operate. But sprinkler systems continue discharging water when the fire department arrives. That is because fire departments rely on the continued operation of sprinklers
to help contain and extinguish building fires. When a fire department arrives on-scene, they connect their hoses to fire department connections (FDCs) to supplement the water supply to the sprinklers and building standpipes. This contributes
to the incredible successes in lower injuries and fatalities outlined in the NFPA report.
FDCs, standpipe connections, and fire hydrant outlets are required to be provided with caps or plugs. But often, the locations of these connections and outlets are in public areas, exposing them to vandalism or other damage. When a cap or plug
is removed by a vandal, it exposes the opening to collecting debris, trash, and animal nests. That is why state fire codes now permit the installation of Knox® Locking Caps and Plugs.
Your local fire department is authorized by the state fire code to require locking caps or plugs on FDCs and standpipes. Your state fire code is based on one of the model fire codes developed by the International Code Council (ICC) or NFPA. To
find your local code, do a search using the name of your state (e. g. Massachusetts) and the key words “fire code”. Once you determine which fire code is being enforced, you can look for the following paragraphs to share with your local fire
department.
Fire Department Connections
International Fire Code (IFC), Section 912.4.1, Locking Fire Department Connection Caps. The fire code official is authorized to require locking caps on fire department connections for water-based fire protection systems, where the responding
fire department carries appropriate key wrenches for removal.
NFPA 1, Fire Code, Chapter 13, Fire Protection Systems, Section 13.1.13, The AHJ shall have the authority to require locking fire department connection (FDC) plugs or caps on all water-based fire protection systems.
Standpipes
International Fire Code (IFC), Section 905.11, Locking Standpipe Outlet Caps. The fire code official is authorized to require locking caps on the outlets on dry standpipes, where the responding fire department carries key wrenches for the removal
that are compatible with locking FDC connection caps.
It is becoming common for the local fire inspector to require locking caps where FDCs and standpipe connections have a history of vandalism or where other damage occurs. This tends to happen in areas exposed to public use and where the equipment
is visible to the public. In these areas, the fire department is authorized by the state fire code to require locking caps. Any person can bring an unsafe building condition to the attention of the local AHJ for a determination of making the
locking cap requirement mandatory.
Some fire departments have regulations or policies that mandate the installation of locking caps under certain circumstances. One example is Anchorage Alaska Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division. The fire department has a specific policy
on locking caps, which reads as follows:
Policy #08-005 LOCKING KNOX CAPS ON FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTIONS (FDCs) AND STANDPIPES
References: IFC 912.3.1
Locking Knox caps may be required on FDCs and dry standpipe connections, when a history of vandalism or other public damage has occurred, which threatens to compromise the operation of the fire suppression systems in the building.
Buildings in areas that are subject to high public use and/or visibility may require locking caps or other protections. The Fire Inspector or other responsibility party shall bring the specific building condition to the attention of the Fire
Marshal for a determination before making the requirement mandatory.
Brooks and Knox have compiled a list of cities where the fire department has the Knox Key Wrench and either allows or mandates the installation of Knox Locking Caps. To improve safety for the public and fire departments, Knox Locking Caps are
pre-approved in over 1,000 cities in the US. To download the list of cities go to https://brooksequipment.com/files/KnoxExpressCities.pdf.
The next time you service a customer’s building for safety equipment, check the FDCs and standpipe connections. If they are missing caps or are located in areas exposed to public use or are visible to the public, there is a need to consider locking
caps. Here are three good reasons to install Knox Locking Caps, even if the vandalism has not occurred.
- Ensures that the fire department can connect to the fire sprinkler system and supplement the water supply to the sprinklers
- Ensures the fire department has access to hook up hoses to standpipe connections
- Promotes life safety and helps reduce injuries and fatalities when fires occur in buildings protected with sprinklers
In the event of a fire, maximizing firefighter safety, minimizing injuries, and reducing property losses starts with a building’s fire sprinkler system. Knox Locking Caps protect FDCs, standpipe connections, and fire hydrants from getting vandalized,
damaged, and clogged, ensuring the fire department has quick access. Wherever Knox Locking Caps are approved and installed, safety of occupants, firefighters, and property is enhanced.
Now is the time to work with your customers and the local fire department to determine when and where Knox Locking Caps should be required to maintain the high level of reliability of a building’s fire protection water supply and ensure firefighter
and building occupant safety.
For more information about Knox locking caps, visit our Knox Resource page on the Brooks Website. https://www.brooksequipment.com/KnoxResources/
1NFPA Report, U. S. Experience with Sprinklers, July, 2017, Marty Aherns, https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/files/news-and-research/firestatistics-and-reports/suppression/ossprinklers.pdf