Fire Department Connections FDC | UL ULC FM Listed | Valve-Atlas

Fire Department Connections (FDC): UL, ULC and FM Listed Supply

ValveAtlas supplies UL Listed, ULC Listed and FM Approved fire department connections (FDC) for sprinkler siamese inlets, standpipe inlets, combination sprinkler-standpipe inlets and wall-mounted or freestanding free-wall configurations on projects in Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston and London. FDCs are the connection point where fire department apparatus augments or replaces the building water supply during a fire response.

This page is the technical reference for specifying engineers, architects, EPC firms and mechanical subcontractors selecting FDCs on fire protection systems governed by NFPA 13 Section 16.12, NFPA 14 Chapter 6, BS 9990 Section 9 (UK inlet breeching), Approved Document B and the NYC Mechanical Code.

FDC configuration matrix

Configuration	Type	Inlets	Listings	Typical size
Sprinkler FDC (2-way siamese)	Flush-wall or exposed-wall	2 x 2½” NST female swivel with cap	UL, ULC, FM	4″ discharge connection
Standpipe FDC (2-way siamese)	Flush-wall or freestanding	2 x 2½” NST female swivel with cap	UL, ULC, FM	4″ or 6″ discharge connection
Combination sprinkler-standpipe (4-way)	Flush-wall or freestanding	4 x 2½” NST on two manifolds	UL, ULC, FM	6″ discharge connection
Large-diameter pumper FDC	Freestanding	4″ or 5″ Storz with cap	UL, FM	6″ discharge, NYC high-rise standpipe
UK inlet breeching	BS 336 / BS 5041	2 x BS 336 Type A instantaneous female	LPCB, BS EN 671	4″ discharge

FDC installation requirements

Location on the building. NFPA 13 Section 16.12.3 and NFPA 14 Section 6.4.5 require the FDC be located on the street-side frontage of the building, within 100 feet of an approved fire hydrant, visible and unobstructed, at 18 to 48 inches above finished grade. Sprinklered parking structures may require an FDC at the curb line.

Check valve behind the FDC. NFPA 13 Section 16.12.6 and NFPA 14 Section 6.4.7 require a listed check valve immediately behind the FDC inside the building. The check valve prevents backflow from the system into the FDC connection, allowing the fire department pump to augment system pressure when pumping in.

Automatic ball drip. Between the FDC and the check valve, a 3/4 inch automatic ball drip discharges to atmosphere to drain the short barrel between hose-off and check valve, preventing freeze damage.

Signage. NFPA 13 Section 16.12.4 requires permanent signage at the FDC indicating “AUTO SPKR”, “STANDPIPE”, or “AUTO SPKR AND STANDPIPE” with system pressure rating and zone covered.

Lightning arrester (optional). In high-lightning-activity regions, NFPA 780 recommends a lightning arrester bonded to the FDC assembly to protect building electronics from strikes on the exposed FDC body.

Connection threading and regional compatibility

North America (Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston). NST (National Standard Thread) 2½ inch female swivel with cap is the default. Some NYC precincts and Boston zones require 4½ inch pumper thread on standpipe FDC; verify with FDNY, Toronto Fire Services, SIM Montréal and BFD.

Large diameter (NYC high-rise standpipe). NYC standpipe on buildings over 150 feet in height may require 5 inch Storz connection for large-diameter supply. FDNY specifications dictate 5 inch Storz on specific high-rise cases; coordinate with the fire department during design.

United Kingdom (London). BS 336 Type A 2½ inch instantaneous female coupling (NOT NST thread). UK inlet breechings per BS 5041 with 4 inch or 6 inch discharge behind the breeching. Two-way breeching standard on riser inlets.

Listings and code acceptance

UL 405. UL 405 covers fire department connections for NST-thread North American service. UL certificate supplied in the ValveAtlas submittal package.

FM Approvals Class 1140. FM-insured properties acceptance. FM Global, RSA, Aviva, Zurich, Allianz, AXA Commercial, Chubb, AIG, Travelers and Intact surveyors accept FM certificate.

ULC listing for Canadian projects. CAN/ULC-S543 recognition. Toronto Fire Services and SIM Montréal acceptance on ULC-listed FDC.

LPCB and UK acceptance. BS 5041 inlet breeching for UK installations under Approved Document B Section B5 (fire service access). LPCB LPS 1081 equivalent scope.

Substitution matrix from Potter-Roemer, Croker, AMS, Elkhart

Potter-Roemer 5751 FDC. Substitute UL/ULC/FM listed 2-way siamese sprinkler FDC. Same NST thread, same 4″ discharge, same flush-wall configuration.

Croker 6110 FDC. Substitute UL listed 4-way combination sprinkler-standpipe. Same 6″ discharge, 4 x 2½” NST inlets.

AMS (American Metal Supply) 4-way FDC. Substitute UL/FM listed equivalent.

Elkhart 5751 siamese. Substitute UL/ULC/FM listed sprinkler FDC.

Gielle BS 5041 inlet breeching. Substitute LPCB-listed UK inlet breeching for London projects.

Regional stock and delivery for FDCs

Toronto. 2-way and 4-way FDCs in stock at Toronto HQ with caps, chains, signage and automatic ball drips for same-day shipment across Ontario. Toronto Fire Services acceptance under OBC Part 3.

Montreal. Next-day truck freight from Toronto. SIM Montréal acceptance. French-language signage and submittal package.

New York. 2-day truck freight from Toronto. FDNY 4½ inch and 5 inch Storz configurations pre-staged for Manhattan and outer-borough high-rise standpipe construction.

Boston. 2-day truck freight from Toronto. BFD and 780 CMR acceptance.

London UK. UK partner warehouse stocks BS 5041 inlet breechings for central London projects. Air freight on specialty configurations.

Related products for complete FDC trim

Check valves. UL-listed swing check valve immediately behind the FDC inside the building. Ductile iron or brass body, 300 psi CWP.

Automatic ball drip. 3/4 inch automatic ball drip with cast bronze body for the short barrel between FDC and check valve.

Signage. Cast brass or aluminum plates engraved “AUTO SPKR”, “STANDPIPE” or “AUTO SPKR AND STANDPIPE” per NFPA 13 Section 16.12.4.

Gate valves. UV0199 OS&Y gate for system isolation upstream of the FDC loop. See Gate Valves.

Grooved couplings and fittings. UV11 rigid and UV14 flexible couplings, tees and elbows on the FDC feed line. See Coupling Fittings.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between sprinkler and standpipe FDC? Sprinkler FDC augments the sprinkler system water supply during a fire when building pressure is inadequate. Standpipe FDC supplies water to the standpipe risers for fire department hose line connections inside the building. Combination FDC serves both on a single 4-way (4 x 2½” inlet) connection. NFPA 13 and NFPA 14 specify FDC requirements; standpipe FDCs are required on every building with a standpipe system.

How many FDCs does a building need? NFPA 14 Section 6.4.5.2 requires an FDC for every zone of the standpipe system. High-rise buildings with Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3 require separate FDCs per zone. Sprinkler-only buildings typically require one FDC per sprinkler system.

Can an FDC be tested? Yes. NFPA 25 Section 13.7 requires annual inspection of FDC: verify caps present and not damaged, verify threads free of debris, verify signage legible, verify automatic ball drip drains freely, and verify the check valve behind holds pressure. Full-flow testing through the FDC is performed every 5 years per NFPA 25 Section 13.7.3.

What discharge pressure does an FDC support? Standard FDC is rated 300 psi CWP for hose-off pumping. NFPA 14 requires the FDC withstand the maximum pressure developed by the fire department pump (typically 200 to 300 psi). For high-rise standpipe zones requiring higher pressure, verify the FDC pressure class against the pump rating.

Can caps on FDCs be missing? No. Missing caps allow debris entry into the system piping. NFPA 25 Section 13.7 requires caps replaced immediately when found missing. Tamper-proof breakaway caps (locking) are available where vandalism is a concern.

Contact ValveAtlas for an FDC quotation

For FDC quotations, submittal packages for sprinkler, standpipe or combination FDC configurations with FDNY/Toronto Fire Services/SIM Montréal/BFD/London Fire Brigade compatible threading on Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston or London projects, email the project specification and drawings to burakpadr@gmail.com or use the contact form. Standard turnaround is 48 hours.