SECT-52_VALVES_HYDRANTS_&_ACCESS_FOR_WATER_MAINS.DOC

52.1 GENERAL

52.4 VALVE INSTALLATION

52.5 VALVE BOXES

52.6 AUTOMATIC AIR RELEASE VALVES

52.1 GENERAL

All valves and appurtenances shall be products of well established firms who are fully experienced and qualified in the manufacture of the particular equipment to be furnished. The equipment shall be designed, constructed and installed in accordance with the best practices and methods and shall comply with these SPECIFICATIONS as applicable.

52.2 RESILIENT WEDGE GATE VALVES

52.2.1 GENERAL

All gate valves twenty inches (20") and smaller shall be resilient wedge gate valves. Such valves shall be resilient wedge, manufactured to meet or exceed the requirements of AWWA C509, latest revision, and in accordance with the following SPECIFICATIONS. Valves shall have an unobstructed waterway equal to or greater than the full nominal diameter of the valve.

52.2.2 MATERIAL

The valve body, bonnet, and bonnet cover shall be cast iron ASTM A126, Class B. All ferrous surface inside and outside shall have a fusion-bonded epoxy coating. A two (2) inch wrench nut shall be provided for operating the valve. All valves are to be tested in strict accordance with AWWA C509.

52.2.3 MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS

The valves shall be non-rising stem with the stem made of cast, forged, or rolled bronze as specified in AWWA C509.

Two stem seals shall be provided and shall be of the 0-ring type. The stem nut must be independent of the gate.

The resilient sealing mechanism shall provide zero leakage at the water working pressure when installed with the line flow in either direction.

52.3 BUTTERFLY VALVES

52.3.1 GENERAL

All shut-off valves larger than twenty (20) inches shall be Butterfly valves. Butterfly valves and operators shall conform to the AWWA Standard Specifications for Rubber Seated Butterfly Valves, Designation C504, except as hereinafter specified. Valves, except as specified hereinafter, shall be Class 150A or B.

52.3.2 MATERIAL

The valve body shall be constructed of close grain cast iron per ASTM A126, Class B or equivalent material. All retaining segments and adjusting devices shall be of corrosion resistant material. Valve seats shall be a natural rubber or synthetic rubber compound. Valve seats 30 inches and larger shall be field adjustable and replaceable without dismounting operator disc or shaft and without removing the valve from the line. All retaining segments and adjusting devices shall be of corrosion resistant material. Valves 24 inches and smaller shall have bonded or mechanically restrained seats as outlined in AWWA C504.

52.3.3 FACE TO FACE DIMENSION

The face-to-face dimensions of valves shall be in accordance with above mentioned AWWA Specification for short-body valve.

52.3.4 VALVE SHAFT

The valve shaft shall be turned, ground, and polished constructed of 18-8 stainless steel and designed for both torsional and shearing stresses when the valve is operated under its greatest dynamic or seating torque. Shaft shall be of either a one piece unit extending full size through the valve disc and valve bearing or it may be of stub shaft design.

52.3.5 VALVE OPERATOR

In general, the butterfly valve operators shall conform to the requirements of AWWA Standard Specifications for Rubber seated Butterfly Valves, Designation C504, insofar as applicable.

52.4 VALVE INSTALLATION

All valves shall be inspected upon delivery in the field to insure proper working order before installation. They shall be set and jointed to the pipe in the manner as set forth in the AWWA Standards for the type of connection ends furnished. All valves and appurtenances shall be installed true to alignment and rigidly supported. Any damage to the above items shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the CITY ENGINEER or designee before they are installed.

Valves shall be installed in a vertical and/or plumb position. After installation, all valves shall be subjected to the field test for piping as outlined in Section 51 of these specifications. Should any defects in materials or workmanship appear during these tests, the CONTRACTOR shall correct such defects to the satisfaction of the CITY ENGINEER or designee.

Flanged joints shall be made with hot dipped galvanized bolts, nuts and washers. Mechanical joints shall be made with mild corrosion resistant alloy steel bolts and nuts. All exposed bolts shall be painted the same color as the pipe. All buried bolts and nuts shall be heavily coated with two (2) coats of bituminous paint.

52.5 VALVE BOXES

Units shall be adjustable, cast iron, minimum interior diameter of five (5) inches, with covers cast with the applicable inscription in legible lettering on the top, "SEWER", “REUSE” or "WATER". Reuse valve boxes shall have purple square covers. Boxes shall be suitable for the applicable surface loading and valve size. Valve boxes not in the pavement shall have around their tops concrete pads, which will be flush with the finished grade at valve site (top of the curb or above is necessary) with minimum dimensions of twenty-four (24) by twenty-four (24) by six (6) inches with reinforcement. Reinforcement shall be #4 bars and concrete shall be Type 1, 3000 psi or fibermix. Round aprons twenty-four (24) inches in diameter by six (6) inches thick may be substituted for square pads. All valve pads are to have a two (2) inch PVC pipe with a brass cap for tracer wire access. A three (3) inch bronze identification disk identifying at a minimum the utility type, valve size, number of turns to open, and direction of turn to open shall be installed on all valve pads.

Care shall be taken while constructing valve boxes to ensure that valve stems are vertical and the cast iron box has been placed over the stem with base bearing on compacted fill and top flush with final grade. Boxes shall have sufficient bracing to maintain alignment during backfilling. Contractor shall remove any sand or undesirable fill from valve box prior to final inspection.

52.6 AUTOMATIC AIR RELEASE VALVES

The air release valves for use in water mains shall be installed as shown on the STANDARD DRAWINGS. The air release valve shall be manufactured by "Val-Matic Valve and Manufacturing Corporation," and sized according to the pipe flow. The valves shall have a cast iron body, cover and baffle, stainless steel float, bronze water diffuser. Buna-N or Viton seat and stainless steel trim. Valves shall be provided with a vacuum check to prevent air from re-entering the line. The fittings shall be threaded.

52.7 FIRE HYDRANTS

52.7.1 MATERIAL

Fire hydrants shall have a 5-1/4 inch valve opening and shall comply with AWWA Standard C502 for fire hydrants for water works service, unless in conflict with this ARTICLE in which case this manual shall apply. Each hydrant shall have 6-inch mechanical joint ends with harnessing lugs ("dog ears") and shall open by turning to the left (counter-clockwise). Fire hydrant shall be of ample length for 3-1/2 foot depth of bury. It shall be provided with two 2-1/2-inch hose nozzles and one 4-1/2-inch pumper nozzle, all having National Standard hose threads (N.S.T.). Nozzles shall have caps attached by chains. Operating nuts shall be AWWA Standard (pentagonal, measuring 1-1/2-inch point to flat). Fire hydrants shall be equipped with "0-Ring" packing. Hydrants shall be dry-barrel type without drains or plugged drains.

The hydrant shall be installed with mechanical joint valve and hydrant tees and hydrant connecting pieces of appropriate length to provide the correct location and placement as shown on the plan. The use of PVC pipe and threaded rods shall be prohibited.

Hydrants shall be Mueller A-423, American Darling B84B, or approved equal.

52.7.2 PAINTING

All iron parts of the hydrant both inside and outside shall be painted, in accordance with AWWA C-502. All inside surfaces and the outside surfaces below the ground line shall be coated with asphalt varnish. They shall be covered with two coats, the first having dried thoroughly before the second is applied.

The outside of the hydrant above the finished ground line shall be thoroughly cleaned and thereafter painted with one coat of paint of a durable composition, and one additional coat of silver paint. The threads and operating nut shall not be painted.

52.7.3 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Hydrants shall be plumb and shall be set so that the lowest hose connection is, at least eighteen inches (18") above the surrounding finished grade. All hydrants shall be inspected in the field upon delivery to the job to ensure proper operation before installation. The resetting of existing hydrants and moving and reconnecting of existing hydrants shall be handled in a manner similar to a new installation. Hydrant shall be constructed in accordance with the STANDARD DRAWINGS.

52.7.4 LOCATION

Fire hydrants shall be installed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. Final field location of all hydrants shall be as approved by the CITY OF ST. CLOUD FIRE CHIEF. All hydrants shall be located a minimum of five feet (5') and a maximum of twelve feet (12') from the edge of pavement of the adjacent roadway and a minimum of five feet (5') from any physical feature which may obstruct access or view of any hydrant unless otherwise approved by the CITY ENGINEER or designee.

Fire hydrants shall be installed in straight alignment, at equal distances, from the back edge of curbing or the right-of-way / property line to facilitate the installation of sidewalks and/or other improvements.