Victaulic VicFlex I-VICFLEX.AQC-U, AQC-U Series Installation Instructions Manual

I-VICFLEX.AQC-UINSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

Victaulic® VicFlex™ Style AQC-U Sprinkler Fitting
for Cleanroom Applications

I-VICFLEX.AQC-U_1

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Maximum Working Pressure:

200 psi/14 Bar/1379 kPa (FM Approval)

Maximum Ambient Temperature Rating:

225° F/107° C

Connection to Branch Line:

1 inch/25 mm NPT/BSPT

Minimum Bend Radius:

6 inch/152 mm (FM Approval)

Maximum K-Factor of Sprinkler to be Connected to the Style AQC-U:

5.6 US/80 metric

Maximum Number of 90° Bends:

Refer to the “Style AQC-U Friction Loss Data” section below

Style AQC-U Friction Loss Data

Length

inches/mm

NPT/BSPT

Sprinkler End

inches

Maximum

Number

of 90° Bends

Equivalent Length

of 1-inch /33.7-m m

Schedule 40 Pipe

feet/meters

36

½ 2

24.0

915 7. 3

48

½ 3

31.5

122 0 9.6

72

½ 4

46.6

1830 14. 2

* M+W Zander Facility Engineering GmbH is a company of the
M+W Group
‡ SBB Gorilla Grid is a product of SBB, Inc.

Flexible Hose Bend Characteristics:

NOTE: For out-of-plane (three-dimensional) bends, care shall be

taken to avoid imparting torque on the flexible hose.

90°

OR

OR

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

Minimum

Bend Radius

2X

Minimum

Bend

Radius

2X

Minimum

Bend

Radius

WARNING

• Read and understand all instructions before attempting to install any Victaulic® VicFlex™ products.

• Wear safety glasses, hardhat, and foot protection.

• These installation instructions are intended for an experienced, trained installer.

• The user shall understand the purpose of these products, c ommon industry standards for safety,
and the potential consequences of improper product installation.

• It is the system designer’s responsibility to verify suitability of stainless steel flexible hose for use
with the intended fluid media within the piping system and external environment.

• The effect of chemical composition, pH level, operating temperature, chloride level, oxygen level,
and flow rate on the stainless steel flexible hose shall be evaluated by the material specifier to
confirm system life will be acceptable for the intended service.

Failure to follow these instructions could cause improper sprinkler operation and product failure,
resulting in death or serious personal injury and property damage.

Victaulic® VicFlex™ Style AQC-U Sprinkler Fittings connect the branch line directly to the sprinkler and are FM Approved for use with the
M+W Zander Facility Engineering GmbH* and SBB Gorilla Grid‡ cleanroom ceiling systems. Other cleanroom ceilings can be evaluated on a
case-by-case basis by contacting Victaulic.

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I-VICFLEX.AQC-U / Victaulic® VicFlex™ Style AQC-U Sprinkler Fitting for Cleanroom Applications / Installation Instructions

IMPORTANT INSTALLATION INFORMATION

• The installer shall wear proper cleanroom attire during installation
of the Victaulic® VicFlex™ Style AQC-U. Contact the building owner
or their representative to confirm requirements for the specific
cleanroom application.

• Victaulic® VicFlex™ products shall be installed according to
current, applicable National Fire Protection Association (NFPA
13, 13D, 13R, etc.) standards or equivalent standards. Victaulic®
VicFlex™ products are intended to be installed in wet, dry, or
preaction actuated systems. Deviations from these standards or
alterations to Victaulic® VicFlex™ products or sprinklers will void
any Victaulic warranty and will impact system integrity. Installations
shall meet the provisions of the local authorit y having jurisdiction
and local codes, as applicable.

• Victaulic® VicFlex™ Style AQC-U Sprinkler Fittings shall not be
intermixed with other manufacturer’s flexible sprinkler products.

• Refer to the specific Victaulic product submittal for applications

and listing information. In addition, when installing Victaulic
FireLock® Automatic Sprinklers with Victaulic® VicFlex™
Sprinkler Fittings, refer to the I-40 Installation and Maintenance
Instructions for details on sprinkler installation requirements.
Submittals and installation instructions can be downloaded at
victaulic.com.

• Size the piping system to provide at least the minimum required
flow rate for the sprinkler system.

• Per NFPA requirements, flush the system to remove foreign
material. Continue to flush the system until water runs clear.

• DO NOT install sprinkler system piping through heating ducts.

• DO NOT connect sprinkler system piping to domestic hot water
systems.

• DO NOT install sprinklers and sprinkler fittings where they will
be exposed to temperatures that exceed the maximum ambient
temperature rating for the sprinkler and sprinkler fittings.

• The flexible hose shall not be bent or fluctuated up-and-down or
side-to-side when it is pressurized.

• Flexible hose and fittings have limited flexibility* and are

intended only to be installed with bends not less than their
respective minimum bend radii. DO NOT install flexible hose in
a straight configuration.

• Protect wet piping systems from freezing temperatures.

• If construction is altered, refer to applicable standards to determine
if additional sprinklers are required.

• The owner is responsible for maintaining the fire protection system
in proper operating condition.

• For minimum maintenance and inspection requirements, refer to
NFPA 25 and any other applicable NFPA standards that describe
the care and maintenance of sprinkler systems. In addition, the
authority having jurisdiction may have additional maintenance,
testing, and inspection requirements that shall be followed.

WARNING

• Relocation of Victaulic® VicFlex™ products SHALL be performed
by qualified personnel familiar with the system’s original design
criteria, sprinkler listings/ approvals, and state and local codes
(including NFPA 13 standards).

Failure to relocate this Victaulic® VicFlex™ product properly could
affect its performance during a fire, resulting in serious personal
injury and property damage.

* Reference UL 2443: Section 25.1

CONNECTION TO THE SPRINKLER PIPING
USING AN ADAPTER NIPPLE AND A
STYLE AQC-U SPRINKLER FITTING

WARNING

• The flexible hose shall not be bent or fluctuated up-and-down or
side-to-side when it is pressurized for test.

Failure to follow this instruction could cause improper sprinkler
operation, serious personal injury, and/or property damage.

1. Apply pipe joint compound or PTFE thread sealant tape to the

tapered threads of the adapter nipple, in accordance with the pipe
joint compound or tape manufacturer’s instructions. Using a pipe
wrench, tighten the adapter nipple into the sprinkler piping.

2. Confirm that the seal inside the nut of the Style AQC-U is in place
and is free from damage prior to installation. Connect the nut to
the adapter nipple, as shown above.

• DO NOT use pipe joint compound or PTFE thread sealant tape on
the threads of the adapter nipple. The seal inside the nut of the
Style AQC-U provides the leak-proof connection.

• Tighten the connection nut to a torque of 40 ft-lbs/54 N•m
(approximately ½ to ¾ of a turn past hand-tight). NOTE: To prevent
damage to the seal, tighten the assembly by applying torque only
to the connection nut and DO NOT exceed the specified torque.