SPRINKLER SYSTEMS FOR FIRE PROTECTION

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 15, div. I, ch. 15.24

in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.010 Private fire protection—Authority of department.

15.24.010 - Private fire protection—Authority of department. The department shall have authority to render a special service to private property for private fire protection purposes. (Prior code § 40-1-77)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.020 Automatic sprinkler systems—Connections to water supply.

15.24.020 - Automatic sprinkler systems—Connections to water supply. All persons who may desire to install automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection and to put in connections to the water mains of the metropolitan government for supplying water for fire protection through such automatic sprinkler systems shall be permitted to have such connections. All persons who have, at any time heretofore, installed automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection and have put in connections to the water mains of the metropolitan government for supplying water for fire protection through such automatic sprinkler systems shall be permitted to maintain such connections, subject to the provisions of this chapter. (Prior code § 40-1-78)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.030 Size of connections—Discretion of director.

15.24.030 - Size of connections—Discretion of director. Connections shall not be larger than six inches in diameter of connecting pipe; provided, that buildings of small size or having a ground floor area of four thousand square feet or less may, at the discretion of the director, be limited to a connection of four inches in diameter; provided further, that exceptionally large buildings, situated in isolated locations, may have connections as large as eight inches in diameter, at the discretion of the director. (Prior code § 40-1-79)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.040 Meters—Required when.

15.24.040 - Meters—Required when. A meter of the same size as the tap shall be installed in all cases where the connection made is used or is to be used for any purpose whatsoever, except for testing and except for extinguishment of fires; provided, however, that tanks connected to the automatic sprinkler system may be filled through the connection if and when the tank-filling pipe or bypass is provided with a meter approved by the director. Meters to measure water for tank-filling purposes shall be of the same size as the filling pipe or bypass; provided, that in large plants having complicated yard main system with private fire hydrants, meters may be required, at the discretion of the director; provided further, that in automatic sprinkler equipments not supplied with an alarm attachment, located in the base of each sprinkler riser, designed to ring a fire alarm gong inside or outside of the premises, a meter of the same size as the connection may be required, at the discretion of the director. (Prior code § 40-1-80)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.050 Unmetered connections—Permit required.

15.24.050 - Unmetered connections—Permit required. No unmetered connection for an automatic sprinkler system shall be made with any mains of the metropolitan government until a permit shall have been obtained from the department. Any such connection shall be made only by persons authorized by law and under the supervision of the director. (Prior code § 40-1-81)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.060 Unmetered connections—Bond required—Sworn statement of water use.

15.24.060 - Unmetered connections—Bond required—Sworn statement of water use. Any person granted a permit to make an unmetered connection for an automatic sprinkler system shall, with the filing of the bond required by this division and each renewal thereof, file a written statement, signed and sworn to, that the water supply has not been, and will not be, used for any other purpose than fire protection, and that there has not been, and will not be, made any attachment to any of the pipes connected with the automatic sprinkler system by which water could be diverted therefrom. Such written, signed and sworn statement shall also give the number of sprinkler heads on the entire system, and shall describe leaks, if any have occurred, and the length of time before the same were repaired. (Prior code § 40-1-82)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.070 Unmetered connections—Failure to file bond or statement—Discontinuance of service.

15.24.070 - Unmetered connections—Failure to file bond or statement—Discontinuance of service. On failure to execute any renewal bond or to file with any renewal bond the written, signed and sworn statement required by Section 15.24.060, the department shall have the right to cause the connection to the automatic sprinkler system to be shut off at once. (Prior code § 40-1-83)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.080 Unmetered connections—Inspections.

15.24.080 - Unmetered connections—Inspections. A. The director shall have authority to make, or cause to be made, frequent inspections of all unmetered connections supplying water to automatic sprinkler systems and of all piping connected therewith. The director shall have the right to go upon the premises wherever and whenever any unmetered connections shall have been made, for the purpose of such inspection, and any employee of the metropolitan government working under his direction shall have such right. B. It is unlawful for any property holder or owner or occupant of premises where any such unmetered connections shall have been made to refuse to permit such inspection by the director or his agent or to obstruct the director or his agent in the making of such inspection. (Prior code § 40-1-84)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.090 Bond requirements.

15.24.090 - Bond requirements. All persons desiring to install automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection and to put in unmetered connections to the water mains of the metropolitan government for supplying water for fire protection through such automatic sprinkler systems shall, before making such connections, make application for a permit to the department and file with the department a bond, with some bonding or surety company authorized to transact business in the state as surety thereon, or a personal bond with two or more solvent sureties, to the metropolitan government, in the sum of one thousand dollars, to be approved by the metropolitan attorney, and conditioned to pay any fines that may be imposed for failure to comply with, or for violation of, any of the provisions of this chapter, and to pay for any water lost by leakage and any water consumed for any purpose other than fire protection. Such bond shall be for two years and shall be renewed for a like period at each expiration. The bond may at any time, at the discretion of the director, be declared forfeited for any wilful or intentional diversion of water to any purpose other than fire protection. (Prior code § 40-1-87)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.100 Application—Approval by board of underwriters.

15.24.100 - Application—Approval by board of underwriters. The application to the department for private fire protection shall be upon a form to be furnished by the director of the department and shall be countersigned by an authorized officer or agent of the board of underwriters that this size connection is required. (Prior code § 40-1-88)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.110 Application—Drawings of fire protection system.

15.24.110 - Application—Drawings of fire protection system. The applicant for private fire protection service shall furnish the department with the application for such service, a complete and correct drawing, or set of drawings, showing the location of the premises to be supplied, together with the location of all valves, pipes, hydrants, tanks, sprinkler heads and other appurtenances on the premises to be supplied. Such plans shall remain the property of the department. The applicant shall also furnish the department with drawings showing revisions to piping or appurtenances whenever same are made. (Prior code § 40-1-89)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.120 Gate or control valves required.

15.24.120 - Gate or control valves required. In all connections to automatic sprinkler systems for fire protection, there shall be installed such gate or control valves as may be specified by the director. (Prior code § 40-1-86)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.130 Breaking of drain valve seals prohibited—Exception.

15.24.130 - Breaking of drain valve seals prohibited—Exception. A. All drain valves located below the alarm attachment shall be sealed shut. Except in emergency cases, seals shall not be broken without permission of the department. If seals are broken in an emergency and whenever the seal on any valve or drain has been broken, the owner shall notify the department at once so that they may be resealed. B. Frequent breaking of seals without permission shall be cause for the director to require the immediate installation of a meter approved by him. (Prior code § 40-1-85)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.140 Compliance with department requirements.

15.24.140 - Compliance with department requirements. All fire service connections shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the department. (Prior code § 40-1-90)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 15.24.150 Readiness to serve charge.

15.24.150 - Readiness to serve charge. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the department shall bill and collect from any customer with a private fire protection service connection a monthly readiness-to-serve charge. The charge shall reflect the department's actual costs incurred in providing such service. A written statement of the charge as determined by the department shall be filed with the metropolitan clerk, furnished to each member of the metropolitan council and made available on request to any citizen of Davidson County. The charge may be increased or decreased from time to time upon written notice to the metropolitan clerk and each member of the metropolitan council to reflect changes in the department's actual costs of providing the service contemplated herein. (Ord. BL2007-1457 § 4, 2007)

Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT15WASEOTPUSE_DIVIGERE_CH15.24SPSYFIPRFetched: 10/28/2026