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08/18/15 Page 2 of 2 <br />Michael Harvey Harts Mill: Major Subdivision <br />The adoption of consensus standards and integration into State codes is impossible to <br />predict but it is fair to say it could be years before the mentioned revision to NFPA 24 <br />paragraph 5.2.1 is adopted or even if it will be adopted as proposed. <br /> <br />Engineering has been assured by the Orange County Fire Marshal that, at the appropriate <br />time, his office will require fire-flow testing and hydraulic calculations to demonstrate <br />adequate flow at appropriate pressure for on-site private water mains supplying more than <br />one fire hydrant. While NFPA 24 doesn’t require a line size greater than 6” for private fire <br />service mains supplying private fire hydrants, as the authority having jurisdiction, the Fire <br />Marshal has in place construction standards that require the contractor to apply for a <br />construction permit for private fire hydrant installation. Such construction documents must <br />be submitted to the Fire Marshal’s office for review per section 105.7.11 of the NC Fire <br />Code. The Fire Marshal’s office will look at the proposed installation, analyze current fire <br />flow data from the existing system and compare water flow data with the projected <br />installation and see if it can meet the intended fire flow requirements of the structure(s) <br />serving the private property. If the current and designed system water flows are adequate <br />for the fire flow needs of the property being protected and it is supplied with a 6” line, there <br />is no need to require an 8” main. If the design does not meet the fire flow needs and that <br />need can only be provided by the water system, an increase in the size of fire protection <br />main servicing the private property would be required. <br /> <br />Engineering has reviewed the 07/31/15 letter from Michael M. Hughes, P.E. addressing the <br />recommendation by this division to provide an 8” main at least to the on-site first fire <br />hydrant. This division will continue to investigate, along with the Orange County Fire <br />Marshal, as to how Orange Alamance Water System (OWAS) can continue to add fire <br />hydrants to its system and yet claim that its’ principal mission is the provision of high-quality <br />potable water (only). That being said and having received assurances that our concerns as <br />to adequate fire flow and pressure will be enforced by the Orange County Fire Marshal’s <br />office, we have no objection to the subject property being rezoned to Major Planning <br />Development (MPD-CZ), as proposed. <br />33