Each year, it is required that fire suppression systems undergo a flow test. This test assesses the flow rate of the fire line being tested to determine if it complies with industry standards. When a fire line has a low flow rate, it is more likely to result in a failed flow test.

Numerous factors can cause a pipeline’s low flow, including the type of pipeline system, the pipeline material, and the product it transports. Typically, fire line systems are comprised of metallic pipelines, with the most common material being cast iron. And the main cause for low flow in cast iron pipes is tuberculation.

Keep reading to learn about tuberculation in fire line systems and how American Pipeline Solutions can help clean and prevent tuberculation.

Causes For Failed Fire Line Flow Tests and Next Steps

What Causes Tuberculation in Fire Lines?

The main cause for low flow in a fire line is tuberculation. Tuberculation is commonly found in metallic pipes, such as cast iron or ductile iron pipes. The reason that tuberculation is unique to metallic pipes is due to the way it forms.

Tuberculation is the result of chemical reactions in your fire line system. Specifically, tuberculation is caused by the chemical reaction between bacteria in the fire line’s water and the iron found in the pipe’s interior. This reaction creates a build-up inside of the pipeline known as pipe scale or tuberculation. As the pipeline is used, this build-up increases and eventually begins to disrupt the pipeline’s flow.

How to Detect Tuberculation

The signs of tuberculation in a pipeline can manifest in numerous ways. The most telling sign of a tuberculated fire line is low flow.

When addressing the low flow rate of a fire line, American Pipeline Solutions first performs a visual inspection of the pipeline. This visual inspection is necessary to detemine the cause of the low flow rate. With tuberculated pipes, this visual inspection also helps the APS team determine the thickness of the tuberculation in the pipeline.

Once APS has determined the cause of your fire line’s low flow, our next steps address this cause.

Determining the Best Cleaning Approach

While replacing your fire line is a surefire way to address tuberculation, it is not necessarily cost-effective. In addition, you will likely face the same tuberculation issue without the proper prevention protocols in place.

Rather than replacing your firelines, American Pipeline Solutions can clean out the tuberculation in your existing line.

First, APS examines the drawings and as-builts of a fire line to determine what cleaning approach would work best for a client. After performing a site visit, APS creates a comprehensive proposal that illustrates our recommended solution in descaling their fire line.

Descaling Your Fire Line

APS addresses tuberculation in firelines with pigging, rotary head technology, and Picote mechanical equipment. The cleaning method that is used will depend on the characteristics of a particular fire line.

Typically, pigging is not the first method used when descaling a fire line. Due to the build-up’s toughness, most foam pigs will come apart instead of removing the pipe scale.

APS uses unique Picote mechanical equipment to apply a stronger force to remove pipe scale successfully. This process also uses less water to remove scale build-up than pigging or rotary head technology.

Preventing Scale Build-Up and Low Flow

Once the tuberculation restricting your fire line’s flow is removed, the line’s flow rate will return to normal. It is necessary to clean your line every five years to maintain your fire line’s flow rate. Without this routine maintenance, you will face a similar issue in the future as tuberculation builds back up in your line.

Thankfully, there are preventative measures you can take to stop tuberculation build-up from reoccurring in your line. The most cost-effective method to prevent tuberculation is epoxy coating.

One reason that epoxy coating is more cost-effective than repiping your fire line is due to each method’s completion time.

Repiping your fire line can take several weeks to complete as you remove and replace your line. During that time, your fire lines will be out of operation. Rather than undergoing the time-consuming process of repiping, you can coat your newly cleaned pipelines. By coating your pipelines, you can address and prevent future signs of tuberculation for up to 50 years.

Looking to improve the low flow of your fire line?

Contact American Pipeline Solutions today to learn about our fire line tuberculation cleaning and prevention solutions.