Tyco RC-1 User Manual

Model RC-1 Retard Chamber
For Variable Pressure Wet Pipe Sprinkler Systems
300 psi (20,7 bar)

Tech ni cal Service s: Tel: [phone] / Fax: [phone]

Page 1 of 4 JULY 2009 TFP920

General
Description

The Tyco® Model RC-1 Retard
Chamber is required in installations
that will be subject to pressure varia­tions, as are generally associated with
public water supplies, in order to help
prevent false alarms. The RC-1 is spe­cifically intended for use as a separate­ly ordered item for the Model AV-1-300
Alarm Check Valve ( TFP910). It can,
however, also be used as a separately
ordered item for changing out older
style Retard Chambers used with the
Central Model F/G, Gem Model A, or
Star Model E/F Alarm Check Valves.

The Model RC-1 Retarding Chamber
is a re-designation for the Gem Model
F211 for use with Gem Model F20/
F200/F2001 Alarm Check Valves, as
well as the Star Model S310 for use
with Star Model S30/S300/S3001
Alarm Check Valves.

NOTICE

The Mode l RC-1 Retard Chamber
described herein must be installed
and maintained in compliance with
this document, as well as with the
applicable standards of the National
Fire Protection Association, in addition
to the standards of any other authorities
having jurisdiction. Failure to do so may
impair the integrity of this device.

The owner is responsible for maintaining
their fire protection system and devices
in proper operating condition. The
insta lli ng co ntr actor o r s pri nkl er
manufacturer should be contacted
relative to any questions.

Technical
Data

Approvals

UL and ULC Listed, as well as
FM Approved for use with the Model
AV-1-300 Alarm Check Valves.

UL and ULC Listed, as well as FM,
LPCB, and VdS Approved for use with
the following Alarm Check Valves:

Model AV-1-175
Gem Model F20/F200/F2001
Gem Model A
Star Model S30/S300/S3001

Working Water Pressure

300 psi (20,7 bar)

Construction

The Model RC-1 Retard Chamber
shown in Figure 1 is cast iron, and a
3/4” x 1/2” x 3/4” Tee is provided at
the outlet (top) for connection of a
pressure alarm switch and/or water
motor alarm. The Restriction Assem­bly shown in Figure 2 is provided with
the AV-1-300 trim or ordered sepa­rately for retrofitting other valves. This
assembly is comprised of brass re­strictions assembled to a cast iron or
malleable iron threaded tee fitting. The
screen is stainless steel.

Operation

When water flows steadily into the
sprinkler system due to sprinkler op­eration, the Waterway Clapper in the
Alarm Check Valve opens as shown
in Figure 3. Water is then permitted to
flow into the centrally located groove
in the Seat Ring and out through the
Alarm Port towards the Restriction As­sembly (Figure 2).

When the flow through the Inlet Re­striction of the Restriction Assembly
exceeds the flow out through the Out­let Restriction, the Retard Chamber
begins to fill. Subsequently, the Wa­ter Motor Alarm and/or the Pressure
Alarm Switch activate. The alarms con­tinue to operate as long as the Water­way Clapper remains open. When the
Clapper closes as a result of discon­tinued water flow, water in the alarm
lines automatically drains out through
the 1/8 inch (3,2 mm) drain orifice in
the Restriction Assembly ( Figure 2).

In the case of variable pressure sys­tems, a transient surge in supply pres­sure that is sufficient only to open the
Clapper momentarily will not cause a
false alarm. The volume of the Retard
Chamber is sufficiently large enough
that it will not fill to operate the con­nected alarm devices. Any water in
the alarm line is then automatically
drained, further reducing the possibil­ity of a false alarm due to a successive
transient surge in supply pressure.

3/4" x 1/2" x 3/4"

REDUCING TEE

3/4" x 1-1/2"

END-TO-END

8-1/8"

(206,0 mm)

DIA.

1/2" NPT INLET

CONNECTION

3/4" NPT WATER

CONNECTION

MOTOR ALARM

9-1/8"

(232,0 mm)

WATERFLOW

CONNECTION

PRESSURE

ALARM SWITCH

1/2" NPT

1 GAL.

(3,8 L)

CAPACITY

NOMINAL

NIPPLE

SCREEN

ORIFICE

ORIFICE

WITH 0.125" (3.2 mm)

RESTRICTION FITTING

WITH 0.219" (5.6 mm)

RESTRICTION FITTING

DRAIN

INLET

PRESSURE

WATERFLOW

ALARM SWITCH

MOTOR ALARM

VALVE

RESTRICTION

(3,2 mm)

OUTLET

ORIFICE

RETARD CHAMBER

BEGINS TO FILL

INLET EXCEEDS OUTLET,

RESTRICTION ASSEMBLY

WHEN FLOW THROUGH

ASSEMBLY

1/8"

CHAMBER

RETARD

INLET

ALARM PORT

RING GROOVE AND

THROUGH SEAT

WATERFLOW

MAIN

DRAIN

ALARM ACTUATE

WATERFLOW PRESSURE

CHAMBER OVERFLOWS,

ONCE RETARD

WATER MOTOR

ALARM SWITCH AND

WATERFLOW

TO SYSTEM

WATERFLOW

TO WATER

7/32"

ORIFICE

(5,6 mm)

UPON SPRINKLER
FLOW, WATERWAY

CLAPPER OPENS

GAUGE

GAUGE

SUPPLY

PRESSURE

PRESSURE

SYSTEM

CHECK

VALVE

ALARM

TFP920

Page 2 of 4

Installation

The Tyco® Model RC-1 Retard Cham­ber must be installed in accordance
with the specific instructions provided
with the Tyco® Model AV-1-300 Alarm
Check Valve (TFP910). The standard
trim for these Alarm Check Valves in­cludes all necessary components in­cluding the Restriction Assembly
shown in Figure 2.

s)NTHECASEOFRETROlTTING#ENTRAL

Model F/G Alarm Check Valves, re­fer to Figure 4.

s)NTHECASEOFRETROlTTING'EM-OD-

el A Alarm Check Valves, refer to
Figure 5.

s)NTHECASEOFRETROlTTING3TAR-OD-

el E/F Alarm Check Valves, refer to
Figures 6 and 7.

Apply pipe thread sealant sparingly to
male threads only.

Care and
Maintenance

Responsibility lies with the owner for
the inspection, testing, and mainte­nance of their fire protection system
and devices in compliance with this
document, as well as with the appli­cable standards of the National Fire
Protection Association (for example,
NFPA 25), in addition to the standards
of any authority having jurisdiction.
Contact the installing contractor or
product manufacturer regarding any
questions.

Automatic sprinkler systems should
be inspected, tested, and maintained
by a qualified Inspection Service in
accordance with local requirements
and/or national codes.

Specific consideration must be given
to cleaning the Screen within the Re­striction Assembly, as well as the Y­Strainer. More frequent cleaning than
that required by NFPA 25 may be nec­essary as determined after the first in­spection and is a function of the wa­ter quality with respect to water borne
debris.

NOTICE

Bef ore c los ing a f i re pr ote cti o n
system control valve for inspection
or m aintenanc e wor k o n th e f ire
protection system that it controls, obtain
permission to shut down the affected
fire protection system from the proper
authorities, and notify all personnel who
may be affected by this action.

After placing a fire protection system
in service, notify the proper authorities
an d a dvis e those responsible for
monitoring proprietary and/or central
station alarms.

FIGURE 2

RESTRICTION ASSEMBLY

FIGURE 3

MODEL RC-1 RETARD CHAMBER

OPERATION

FIGURE 1

MODEL RC-1

RETARD CHAMBER