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

1/2" x 2" Nipple
Select per Table

DESCRIPTION

3/4" x 1/2" 90°
Reducing Elbow

NIPPLES & FITTINGS

1/2" x 1-1/2" Nipple
3
4

1

2

NO.

than TFSBP.

Includes nipple and
tee per Figure 1.

Nipples & fittings

from sources other

may be acquired

1. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

2

1

1

. . . . . . . .

. . . . .3

1

QTY.

1

P/N 52-353-1-005

1/2" Y-STRAINER

RETARD CHAMBER

P/N 52-211-1-002

RETARD CHAMBER DRAIN TRIM

3

RESTRICTION

ASSEMBLY

P/N 92-210-1-005

TO ACCOMMODATE NEW

RETARD CHAMBER TRIM

(SEE FIGURE 2)

ROTATE EXISTING

WATERFLOW

CONNECTION

PRESSURE

ALARM SWITCH

1/2" NPT

3/4" NPT WATER

CONNECTION

MOTOR ALARM

2

2

WITH ALARM TRIM

REFER TO DATA

SHEET 7-3.0

(6"/DN150 SHOWN)

ALARM CHECK VALVE

CENTRAL MODEL F/G

2

4

1

MODEL RC-1

2

8" (DN200) 3/4" x 1-1/2"

3/4" x 4-1/2"

Nipple 4 SizeValve

4" (DN100)
6" (DN150)

3/4" x 6"

ALARM SWITCH

PRESSURE

CONNECTION

WATERFLOW

1/2" Y-STRAINER
P/N 52-353-1-005

VALVE SIZE & TRIM

LENGTHS TO SUIT

ARRANGEMENT

NIPPLE

WITH BASIC TRIM

ALARM CHECK VALVE

(6"/DN150 SHOWN)

REFER TO DATA

GEM MODEL A

SHEET TD1

MOTOR ALARM

POINT

CONNECTION

DRIP FUNNEL

(IF REQUIRED)

P/N 92-210-1-005

ASSEMBLY

(SEE FIGURE 2)

RESTRICTION

1/2" NPT

ALARM SWITCH

WATERFLOW

CONNECTION

PRESSURE

3/4" NPT WATER

MOTOR ALARM

CONNECTION

3/4" NPT WATER

RETARD CHAMBER

REFER TO DATA

WITH ALARM TRIM

GEM MODEL A-3

SHEET TD1-1

REMOVE

ALARM TRIM

REMOVE

ORIGINAL

TO THIS

1/2" NPT

RETARD CHAMBER

P/N 52-211-1-002

MODEL RC-1

TEE PER FIGURE 1)

(INCLUDES NIPPLE &

TFP920

Page 3 of 4

repaired or replaced, at TFSBP’s sole
option. TFSBP neither assumes, nor
authorizes any person to assume for it,
any other obligation in connection with
the sale of products or parts of prod­ucts. TFSBP shall not be responsible
for sprinkler system design errors or
inac curate or incomplete information
sup plied by Buyer or Buyer’s repre­sentatives.

In no event shall TFSBP be liable, in
contract, tort, strict liability or under
any other legal theory, for inciden­tal, indirect, special or consequential
damages, including but not limited to
labor charges, regardless of whether
TFSBP was informed about the pos­sibility of such damages, and in no
event shall TFSBP’s liability exceed an
amount equal to the sales price.

The foregoing warranty is made in
lieu of any and all other warranties,
express or implied, including warran­ties of merchantability and fitness for
a particular purpose.

This limited warranty sets forth the
ex clusive remedy for claims based on
failure of or defect in products, materi­als or components, whether the claim
is made in contract, tort, strict liability
or any other legal theory.

This warranty will apply to the full ex­tent permitted by law. The invalidity,
in whole or part, of any portion of this
warranty will not affect the remainder.

Limited
Warranty

Products manufactured by Tyco Fire
Suppression & Building Products
(TFSBP) are warranted solely to
the original Buyer for ten (10) years
against defects in mate rial and work­manship when paid for and properly
installed and maintained under nor­mal use and service. This warranty
will expire ten (10) years from date
of shipment by TFSBP. No warranty
is given for products or com ponents
manufactured by companies not affili­ated by ownership with TFSBP or for
products and components which have
been subject to misuse, improper in­stallation, corrosion, or which have
not been installed, maintained, modi­fied or repaired in accordance with
ap plicable Standards of the National
Fire Protection Association, and/or
the standards of any other Authorities
Having Jurisdiction. Materials found by
TFSBP to be defective shall be either

FIGURE 4

MODEL RC-1 RETARD CHAMBER

WITH CENTRAL MODEL F/G ALARM CHECK VALVES

FIGURE 5

MODEL RC-1 RETARD CHAMBER

WITH GEM MODEL A ALARM CHECK VALVES

may be acquired
from sources other

Nipples & fittings

tee per Figure 1.

Includes nipple and

. . . . .13 3/4" x 3-1/2" Nipple

than TFSBP.

2

1

1/2" x 1-1/2" Nipple

NIPPLES & FITTINGS

Reducing Elbow

3/4" x 1/2" 90°

DESCRIPTION

1

2

NO.

. . . . .

. . . . . . . .31

QTY.

1

DISCARD EXISTING

STAR MODEL E

REFER TO DATA

SHEET 2-1.1.20

ALARM CHECK VALVE

WITH ALARM TRIM

(SEE FIGURE 2)

2

SEPARATE

CHAMBER

EXISTING 1/2"

TO FACILITATE

UNION HALVES

ASSEMBLY OF

NEW RETARD

RETARD CHAMBER DRAIN TRIM

TRIM

RETARD CHAMBER TRIM

TO ACCOMMODATE NEW

ROTATE EXISTING

MOTOR ALARM

CONNECTION

3/4" NPT WATER

1/2" NPT

ALARM SWITCH

PRESSURE

CONNECTION

WATERFLOW

P/N 92-210-1-005

ASSEMBLY

RESTRICTION

MODEL RC-1

P/N 52-211-1-002

RETARD CHAMBER

1/2" Y-STRAINER

P/N 52-353-1-005

2

2

3/4" x 2" NIPPLE

REMOVE AND

3

1

2

2

(SEE FIGURE 2)

TO ACCOMMODATE NEW

RETARD CHAMBER TRIM

ROTATE EXISTING

RETARD CHAMBER DRAIN TRIM

(6"/DN150 SHOWN)

REFER TO DATA

SHEET 2-1.1.10

ALARM CHECK VALVE

WITH ALARM TRIM

STAR MODEL F

TO FACILITATE

TRIM

NEW RETARD

ASSEMBLY OF

CHAMBER

UNION HALVES

EXISTING 1/2"

SEPARATE

REMOVE AND

DISCARD EXISTING

3/4" x 2" NIPPLE

1/2" Y-STRAINER

P/N 52-353-1-005

3

1

2

MODEL RC-1

RETARD CHAMBER

P/N 52-211-1-002

2

PRESSURE

MOTOR ALARM

RESTRICTION

ASSEMBLY

CONNECTION

P/N 92-210-1-005

2

CONNECTION

ALARM SWITCH

3/4" NPT WATER

WATERFLOW

1/2" NPT

QTY.

. . . . . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . .3 3/4" x 3-1/2" Nipple

Includes nipple and
tee per Figure 1.

Nipples & fittings

than TFSBP.

from sources other

may be acquired

2

1

NO.

Reducing Elbow

NIPPLES & FITTINGS

DESCRIPTION

3/4" x 1/2" 90°

1/2" x 1-1/2" Nipple

1

2

1

1

3

1

© 2009 TYCO FIRE SUPPRESSION & BUILDING PRODUCTS

, 451 North Cannon Avenue, Lansdale, Pennsylvania 19446

TFP920
Page 4 of 4

FIGURE 6

MODEL RC-1 RETARD CHAMBER

WITH STAR MODEL E ALARM CHECK VALVES

FIGURE 7

MODEL RC-1 RETARD CHAMBER

WITH STAR MODEL F ALARM CHECK VALVES

Ordering
Information

Orders for the Tyco® Model RC-1 and
additional components, as applicable,
must include the description and Part
Number (P/N).

RC-1

Specify: Model RC-1 Retard Chamber
w/galvanized steel fittings,
P/N 52-211-1-002.

Separately Ordered Parts for
Retrofitting Other Valves

When retrofitting according to Figures
4, 5, 6, or 7, the Restriction Assembly,
Y-Strainer, and associated pipe nipples
and fittings must be ordered separately
to complete installation. Pipe nipples
and fittings can be acquired from
sources other than TFSBP.

Specify: 1/2 inch Y-Strainer,
P/N 52-353-1-005.

Specify: Restriction Assembly,
P/N 92-210-1-005.