The document provides standards for approval of waterflow detector check valves. It outlines design requirements such as sizes, pressure ratings, materials and markings. It also describes tests to evaluate head loss, leakage, hydrostatic strength and differential pressure. Finally, it includes reproduction art of FM Approval marks that can be used on approved products to signify they meet the standards.

1. Approval Standard
for
Waterflow Detector
Check Valves
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Class Number 1045
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February 1976
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©2002 FM Global Technologies LLC. All rights reserved.

2. Foreword
FM Approvals are intended to verify that the products and services described will meet stated conditions of
performance, safety and quality useful to the ends of property conservation. The purpose of FM Approval
Standards is to present the criteria for FM Approval of various types of products and services, as guidance for
FM Approvals personnel, manufacturers, users and authorities having jurisdiction.
Products submitted for Approval shall demonstrate that they meet the intent of the Approval Standard, and that
quality control in manufacturing and/or applications shall ensure a consistently uniform and reliable product or
service. FM Approval Standards strive to be performance-oriented and to facilitate technological development.
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For examining equipment, materials and services, FM Approval Standards:
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a) must be useful to the ends of property conservation by preventing, limiting or not causing damage
under the conditions stated by the Approval listing; and
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b) must be readily identifiable.
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Continuance of Approval and Listing depends on compliance with the Approval agreement, satisfactory
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performance in the field, on successful re-examinations of equipment, materials, and services as appropriate, and
on periodic follow-up audits of the manufacturing facility or service/application.
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FM Global Technologies LLC reserves the right in its sole judgement to change or revise its standards, criteria,
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methods, or procedures.
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3. TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. DESIGN ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Sizes .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Rated Working Pressure ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 End Connections ................................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.4 By-Pass Connections For Meter ........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.5 Clearances In Valves With Corrosive Body ...................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Clapper Assembly ............................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.7 Removal of Parts ................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1.8 Performance ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1.9 Differential .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.10 Materials ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.11 Markings ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
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1.12 Head Loss ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.13 Waterway .......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.14 Seat Ring ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3
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1.15 Meter By-Pass ................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.16 Meter ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
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II TESTS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
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2.1 Loss of Head ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Seat Leakage ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
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2.3 Body Hydrostatic ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
2.4 Differential .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
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APPENDIX APPROVAL MARKS .............................................................................................................................................. 5
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4. February 1976 1045
Many water companies require private fire service lines to be supervised in order to detect loss of water through
leakage or misuse.
Detector check valves, with their weighed clappers, direct small flows through a by-pass line that contains a
water meter. Large flows for fire protection lift the clapper and pass unmetered.
FM Approval is based on examination and test of production samples, inspection of the manufacturing or quality
control facilities, and of design and workmanship, uniformity and dependability of production, effectiveness of
quality control, and assurance of service and replacement parts.
These requirements are guides. Mere conformity does not assure approval; other considerations may control. Nor
is strict conformity necessary; devices having different characteristics may be considered and approved if shown
to be essentially equivalent or superior in performance.
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I. DESIGN
1.1 Sizes a se
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Present standard sizes for fire protection service are 4, 6, 8 and 10 inch. Twelve and 14 inch sizes are expected
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in the near future.
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1.2 Rated Working Pressure
Valves shall be designed for a rated working pressure of 175 psig minimum.
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1.3 End Connections
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Present detector check valves have flanged end connections. Other end connections will be considered when and
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if they appear.
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1.4 By-Pass Connections For Meter
1.4.1 The body shall be provided with two bosses on each side in order to permit the installation of either a right
or left hand by-pass line. These bosses shall be furnished with 2 inch maximum threaded pipe outlets for
valves 4 to 10 inch in size. Outlet sizes for 12 and 14 inch valves will be the sizes required by the water
works for their meters, when the valves appear.
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5. 1045 February 1976
1.5 Clearances In Valves With Corrosive Body
1.5.1 The clearance between the periphery of the clapper and the inside of the body in every position of the
clapper from closed to wide open shall be at least 3/4 inch.
1.5.2 There shall be a clearance of at least 1/2 inch between the clapper hub and the inside of the body.
1.5.3 There shall be sufficient clearance between the length of the clapper hub and the faces of the hinge pin
bushings to prevent binding of the clapper when it swings.
1.6 Clapper Assembly
1.6.1 The weight of the clapper shall be located inside the valve body.
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1.6.2 Clapper parts shall be assembled in such a manner that they will not separate in reasonable service use and
abuse.
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1.6.3 Clapper parts including the weight housing shall be corrosion resistant. The weight itself shall preferably
be lead.
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1.7 Removal of Parts
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Replaceable internal parts shall be removable through an opening in the body without having to remove the valve
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body from the pipe line. A suitable cover shall be provided for the opening.
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1.8 Performance
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Valves shall be watertight when subjected to service pressures up to 175 psig acting on the outlet side of the
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clapper with atmospheric pressure on the inlet side.
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1.9 Differential
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The pressure drop across the clapper required to lift it off its seat shall not exceed 2.0 psig.
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1.10 Materials
Materials used in the construction of the detector check valve shall be suitable for the intended application.
Contact surfaces between rotating or moving and stationary parts shall be corrosion resistant.
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6. February 1976 1045
1.11 Markings
The following data shall be cast in raised characters on the valve body or cover or both: manufacturer’s name
or trademark, valve size, directional arrow of water flow, year of manufacture, and rated working pressure.
1.12 Head Loss
The loss in pressure through the valve shall not exceed 3.0 psig for the following rates of water flow.
Valve Size Flow
inches gpm
4 750
6 1500
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8 3000
10 4500
12 6500
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14 9000
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1.13 Waterway
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When wide open, the check valve shall have a waterway equal to the area of the pipe. The toe of the clapper shall
be free to rise above the waterway.
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1.14 Seat Ring
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The seat ring shall be of bronze or other corrosion resistant material.
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1.15 Meter By-Pass
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There shall be a manually operated control valve and a swing check valve in the by-pass line in order that the
meter can be removed for repairs without impairment of the fire protection system.
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1.16 Meter
The sizes commonly used are: 1, 11⁄2 or 2 inch. Ordinarily the size would be determined by the requirements of
the water works having jurisdiction.
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7. 1045 February 1976
II TESTS
2.1 Loss of Head
The valve will be installed horizontally between two flanged test pipes with piezometer rings. The test pipes will
have the same diameter as the valve. The head loss in the test pipe is known.
The head loss between piezometers will be measured for a sufficient number of flows, including the one given
for the valve size under Paragraph No. 1.11.
2.2 Seat Leakage
To determine valve tightness, they will be tested at 30, 60, 100 and 175 psig and its rated pressure (if higher)
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for five (5) minutes at each water pressure. Total water leakage shall not exceed 1/2 pint.
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2.3 Body Hydrostatic
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With the clapper removed or blocked off its seat, the valve body will be subjected to 400% of rated working
pressure for 5 minutes.
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2.4 Differential
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The pressure differential across the clapper needed to lift the clapper from its seat will be measured.
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The valve will be horizontally level. Both flanged ends will be plugged.
An open pipe will be installed vertically in one of two downstream by-pass outlets. The top end will be adjusted
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to be level with the top of the valve cover dome.
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A transparent open pipe will be installed vertically in one of the two upstream by-pass outlets. It will be
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approximately 6 feet long and marked at the point which is level with the top of the other pipe, i.e., the top of
the cover dome.
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Water will be poured into the transparent pipe until it comes to the top of the other pipe. At this time the vertical
distance between the top water levels in the two pipes will be measured. If the distance is X inches, the valve’s
differential = (X times 0.036) psig.
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8. February 1976 1045
APPENDIX
APPROVAL MARKS
REPRODUCTION ART: FM Approval Marks
For use on nameplates, in literature, advertisements,
packaging and other graphics.
1) The FM Approvals’ diamond mark is acceptable
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to FM Approvals as an Approval mark when
used with the word ‘‘Approved.’’
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2) The FM Approval logomark has no minimum
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size requirement, but should always be large
enough to be readily identifiable.
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3) Color should be black on a light background or a
reverse may be used on a dark background.
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For Cast-On Marks
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4) Where reproduction of the mark described
above is impossible because of production
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restrictions, a modified version of the diamond is
suggested. Minimum size specifications are the
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same as for printed marks. Use of the word
‘‘Approved’’ with this mark is optional.
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NOTE: These Approval marks are to be used only in conjunction with products or services that have been
FM Approved. The FM Approval marks should never be used in any manner (including advertising, sales or promotional
purposes) that could suggest or imply FM Approval or endorsement of a specific manufacturer or distributor. Nor should
it be implied that Approval extends to a product or service not covered by written agreement with FM Approvals. The
Approval marks signify that products or services have met certain requirements as reported by FM Approvals.
Additional reproduction art is available through
FM Approvals
P.O. Box 9102,
Norwood, Massachusetts 02062
USA
FM APPROVALS 5