Standpipes are an essential component of building safety, present in various forms such as wet or dry systems. Wet systems are constantly filled with water, whereas dry systems are air-filled until needed. Additionally, standpipes can be categorized as manual or automatic, depending on whether they are serviced by the fire department or a building’s fire pump system.

In this blog, we focus on a specific type of system—the manual dry standpipe—as recent revisions to NFPA 14 have introduced significant changes. Although not the most common, manual dry standpipes are typically found in parking garages or buildings currently under construction.

The latest edition of NFPA 14 now mandates the monitoring of these systems. Monitoring is usually achieved by maintaining air pressure within the standpipe, which helps detect if a hose valve has been opened or if there has been any damage or disconnection in the piping. This development has been implemented in various jurisdictions, including Boston and New York.

One of the most notable incidents that influenced this change occurred during the demolition of 7 World Trade Center in New York. A fire broke out, and when the fire department arrived, they connected to what was assumed to be a functional fire department connection (FDC). Unknown to the responders, the FDC had been disconnected from the system, causing water to be mistakenly directed into the basement instead of reaching the firefighters in the stairwell. This tragic oversight resulted in two line-of-duty deaths.

In Massachusetts, with the adoption of the 780 CMR 10th edition, these updated NFPA 14 requirements for monitoring standpipes have been mandated statewide.

If your project requires a standpipe design or you have any questions about these new regulations, please do not hesitate to contact our office. We are here to ensure your building meets current safety standards and is equipped with the most effective fire protection systems.