Gritty Sprinkler Fitter

Clean agent systems: NFPA 2001 and Minnesota 904.10. Halocarbons vs. inert gases, safety factors, the 10-second discharge, the 85%/10-minute hold, abort vs. manual release, and the six-month container check with the Minnesota tag.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

The alarm side of sprinklers: NFPA 72 and Minnesota 903.4. Waterflow in 90 seconds, tamper switches in two turns, supervisory pressure, level and temperature numbers, test frequencies, and exactly what Minnesota says must be supervised.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Fire pumps, NFPA 20 and Minnesota 913. Suction rules that keep pumps alive (zero psi at 150%, OS&Y only within 50 feet, ten pipe diameters, eccentric reducers), circulation and pressure relief valves, pump room protection, and the acceptance test.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Standpipes, NFPA 14 and Minnesota 905. Classes I, II and III, wet vs. dry vs. manual vs. semiautomatic, pressure limits and PRVs, flow rates, and Minnesota's own modification for non-high-rise buildings.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Halloween special: portable fire extinguishers. Ratings, placement and travel distance, monthly inspections, annual maintenance, and hydro intervals under NFPA 10 and MSFC 906.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Underground private fire service mains: bury depth, thrust blocks and restraint, flushing flows, and the hydro test. Everything that goes in the dirt before the riser.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Water tanks for fire protection, the NFPA 22 way. We dig into tank heating and the 40-degree rule, suction tanks, vortex plates, and the level and temperature supervision numbers that show up on the Minnesota journeyman exam.

The usual: two fitters, a lot of swearing (18+), a lightning round of exam tips, and a war story that is mostly true. Minnesota law wins where it differs, and check your exam's edition.

App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and the 14-day Google Play countdown has started. It should go public in a couple of weeks once Google reviews it. Thanks, testers. We'll tell you the minute it's live.

Google Group: groups.google.com/g/mn-journeyman-exam-testers

Play testing: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mnfireexamprep.app

Seismic protection for sprinkler piping, for the Minnesota journeyman sprinkler fitter exam. Minnesota pins NFPA 13-2016, where this is section 9.3. NFPA 13-2019 moved it to Chapter 18. The big numbers are the same in both editions, and we flag what 2019 added. Whether a building needs seismic protection comes from the building code, the engineer and the AHJ. NFPA 13 covers how to do it. Covered: flexible couplings (2-1/2 in. and larger; 24 in. from riser tops and bottoms; 12 in. above / 24 in. below floors; 1 ft each side of concrete or masonry walls; drops over 15 ft); seismic separation assemblies with four-way braces within 6 ft; clearance (2 in. / 4 in. larger holes, frangible construction, tight fit when the hole is the support, 2 in. and 3 in. clearances); sway bracing (listing, brace-angle load reductions, tension-only, lateral 40 ft / longitudinal 80 ft, 6 ft end distance, riser four-way braces); when lateral bracing can be skipped (6 in. hangers, U-hooks, 75 percent rule); horizontal load (Wp = 1.15 x water-filled pipe, Fpw = Cp x Wp, Cp 0.5 default); zone of influence; brace installation (l/r 300, Schedule 30, no C-clamps); branch line restraint (No. 12 wire, end-sprinkler distances, 6 in. rods, 4 ft sprigs); C-clamp restraining straps; pipe stands. App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and its 14-day countdown to going public on Google Play has started. Expect it on the Play Store in a couple of weeks, once Google finishes its review.

NFPA 13R, sprinklers for low-rise residential buildings (apartments, hotels, dorms, board and care), for the Minnesota journeyman sprinkler fitter exam. Every number comes from NFPA 13R-2016, the newest edition we could verify. Check newer editions if your exam uses them. When Minnesota allows 13R (MSFC 903.3.1.2: up to four stories and 60 ft, podium buildings measured from the podium deck). Covered: purpose; definitions (bathroom, compartment, residential sprinkler); townhouse system arrangement; components; the K-11.2 range difference between 13R and NFPA 13; 175 psi pipe; CPVC and firestop compatibility; copper joints; valve signs and gauges; system types; 52,000 sq ft per riser; residential vs quick-response heads inside and outside units; temperatures and heat sources; ceiling pockets; positioning, fans, soffits, shadow areas; omissions (55 sq ft baths, 24 sq ft closets, balconies, attics, Type V decks); Minnesota fire code attic, balcony/eave and open-corridor rules (903.3.1.2.1 to 903.3.1.2.3); piping, valves, 1 in. drain and test connection; FDC; alarms; four design sprinklers at 0.05 gpm/sq ft; small compartments; garages; no 3,000 sq ft concealed-space penalty; 30-minute water supply; hydro testing; spare sprinklers (6/12/24); plans. App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and its 14-day countdown to going public on Google Play has started. Expect it on the Play Store in a couple of weeks, once Google finishes its review.

NFPA 13D, sprinklers for one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes, for the Minnesota journeyman sprinkler fitter exam. Minnesota pins 13D-2016 (Minn. R. 7511.8000); we map it to 13D-2019. When Minnesota requires house sprinklers (MSFC 903.2.8: R-3 dwelling units of 4,500 sq ft and up, excluding garages) and when 13D is allowed (903.3.1.3); purpose (prevent flashover in the room of origin, help people escape); temperature ratings incl. 2019 high temp; no spare sprinklers; listing exceptions; 175 vs 130 psi pipe and the 80 psi PRV rule; PEX and CPVC; stored water 10 min / 7 min; pumps (1.5 in. off the floor, 240 V); multipurpose systems and the warning sign; water treatment bypass; 5 gpm common pipe add; single control valve; 1/2 in. drain; test connection K-factors; residential heads, sauna high temp, heat source distance table; positioning, fans 3 ft / 5 ft, soffits, shadow areas, bay windows, dry barrel lengths, closets; where heads can be omitted (55 sq ft baths, 24 sq ft closets, garages, attics) and Minnesota's townhouse garage dry head within 5 ft of each door (903.3.1.6.6); freezing options; 15 s dry delivery; 0.05 gpm/sq ft, two design heads, 7 psi; minimum pipe sizes; acceptance tests. App news: the MN Journeyman Exam Prep Android app has enough testers, and its 14-day countdown to going public on Google Play has started. Expect it on the Play Store in a couple of weeks, once Google finishes its review.