Rubber-gasketed fittings shall be permitted to connect pipe in fire-exposed areas where the foam-water system is automatically controlled. Which statement best describes this allowance?

• A. They are prohibited.
• B. They are permitted only if corrosion-resistant.
• C. They are permitted.
• D. They are allowed only for non-fire-exposed areas.

Answer: (C)

In foam-water systems, rubber-gasketed fittings are allowed in fire-exposed areas as long as the foam-water system is automatically controlled. The automatic control reduces the window of time the system is exposed to fire conditions and ensures proper activation and operation of the foam/water mix, which mitigates the risk to gasketed joints under fire exposure. This means you don’t have to change to inherently corrosion-resistant fittings just because the area is fire-exposed, provided the system design ensures automatic control and correct compatibility with the foam concentrate. The key idea is that automatic control addresses the conditions that would otherwise make rubber-gasketed joints unacceptable in fire-exposed zones.