[AT] sprinkler systems

[K7jdj at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/7/2011 4:46:16 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
mogrits at gmail.com writes:

How are they gonna work off a well anyway? Or is everyone going to need a  
huge tank and a pumphouse in their backyard?

Yes, here where I lived in near Seattle (King County)  new  construction 
for the past several years must have a specific measured water  flow, I 
believe based on the area that requires protection.  Some  installations do 
require large storage tanks.  The one I saw (about 1000  gallons) was installed 
under the house in a quasi daylight basement.

Where public water is available it is sometimes necessary to install  
commercial size water meters and larger that normal piping.  They use both  dry 
and wet charged systems.  The dry systems are installed in non  heated areas 
and the wet ones only in those areas that are heated.  Many  issues with 
piping installed in attics to protect from freezing as well as crawl  spaces.

These requirements are only in place if there are issues with  fire truck 
access.  If you are more than a certain distance from a road  (I'm not sure 
what that distance is) you must have a 20 foot road/driveway that  will meet 
standards to support the weight of the fire truck and have a provision  for 
the truck to turn around. This 20 foot requirement can sometimes be  
difficult to get on property that was subdivided years ago. 

The fire  Marshall is God for new construction.  May people and 
organizations thought  they could get waivers or work around the Marshall but they have 
lost.
 
Gary
Renton, WA