HomeMy WebLinkAbout402.008 - Tracer Wire For Underground Fire Service Mains
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Fire Prevention Manual
SECTION 402.008 TRACER WIRE FOR UNDERGROUND FIRE SERVICE MAINS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Departments (FFD or
Department) requirements for the installation of tracer wire for underground, private
fire service mains.
APPLICATION
All underground permits issued by the Department for underground private fire service
mains.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
the following:
• Tracer wire is required to be installed for all underground permits issued by the
Department.
Tracer wire must meet all of the following requirements:
1. All tracer wire must be solid copper wire; tracer wire must be type TW; blue in
color, minimum #14 AWG, coated in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or High
Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE).
2. All wire-to-wire connections must be protected to provide continuity and taped
to prevent entry of moisture.
3. All tracer wire must be securely attached to each main and each fire hydrant in
accordance with the currently adopted versions of the California Electrical Code
(CEC) and California Plumbing Code (CPC).
Effective Date: December 2018 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 04/30/2024 Section 402.008
Next Revision (1) Date: 04/30/2027 Page 1 of 2
4. All tracer wire must be placed on (or directly adjacent to) the piping.
5. No tracer tape is allowed.
PROCESS
Upon completion of the installation, and prior to issuing a permit final, the permit
applicant must provide the Department with a copy of the completed “Contractors
Material and Test Certificate” from the currently adopted version of National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA), Standard 24, Installation of Fire Service Mains and
Their Appurtenances.
INFORMATION
It is the permit applicant’s responsibility to provide the correct wire for the application
(i.e., open trench or ditch with direct bury, pipe bursting or directional boring).
It is the permit applicant’s responsibility to perform a locate and/or conductivity test to
verify the wire performs per project specifications and the currently adopted versions
of the CEC and CPC. FFD does not perform this testing.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Electrical Code
Current edition
California Plumbing Code
Current edition
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Standard 24, Installation of Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances
(Currently adopted edition with California Amendments)
Effective Date: December 2018 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 04/22/2024 Section 402.008
Next Revision (1) Date: 04/22/2027 Page 2 of 2