# New Fire Line Tap Connections to Municipal Mains in Denver A fire line tap connection is the new physical connection made between a municipal water main and a property's fire suppression system, using a tapping sleeve and tapping valve so the work can be done on a live main. Denver Sewer and Water performs these connections for new construction, additions, and properties adding fire suppression to an existing building. - Wet taps on live mains using a tapping sleeve and tapping valve. - Tap sizing based on the fire suppression system's calculated demand. - Thrust restraint installed at the tap and along the new lateral. - Hydrostatic testing, flushing, and disinfection before the tap is accepted. - Coordination of permits and inspections with the water authority. ## What Triggers a New Fire Line Tap Connection? New commercial construction with a fire sprinkler or standpipe requirement needs its own dedicated tap sized for that system's demand, which is set through a hydraulic calculation performed as part of the fire protection design. Buildings adding suppression during a renovation or change of occupancy face the same requirement even though the building itself already exists. In some cases a property has an existing domestic tap but no separate fire connection, and adding suppression means bringing in an entirely new tap rather than trying to feed the sprinkler system off the domestic service, which is rarely adequate for the required flow. - New construction with a fire sprinkler or standpipe system. - An addition that increases the building's fire flow demand. - A change of occupancy that triggers a fire suppression requirement. - A renovation adding suppression to a building that never had it. - A site with only a domestic tap that cannot support fire flow demand. ## How the Tap Is Sized Before Installation The fire protection engineer's hydraulic calculation sets the required flow and residual pressure the tap has to deliver. We confirm the main's available capacity at that location through a flow test before committing to a tap size, because the main's actual performance in the field does not always match what a distribution map suggests. - Required flow and pressure from the fire protection design. - Main size, material, and depth at the proposed tap location. - Available flow and pressure in the main at that point. - Utility conflicts along the proposed lateral route. ## How a New Fire Line Tap Connection Is Made 1. **Confirm demand and locate utilities** The required flow is confirmed against the fire protection design and all utilities along the route are located before excavation. 2. **Install the tapping sleeve and valve** A tapping sleeve and tapping valve are installed on the main, and the tap is cut using a wet tap machine without interrupting service. 3. **Run and restrain the lateral** The new lateral is installed from the tap to the building with thrust restraint at all fittings and bends. 4. **Test, flush, and disinfect** The line is hydrostatically tested, flushed, and disinfected, with bacteriological sampling before it is placed in service. 5. **Inspection and acceptance** The completed connection is inspected and accepted by the water authority before the fire suppression system is connected to it. ## What Drives Cost on a New Fire Line Tap Connection Required tap size, set by the fire protection design's hydraulic demand, is the main driver, since larger taps require larger sleeves, valves, and restraint hardware. Distance from the main to the building, depth, and surface conditions along the route add to the scope. Utility conflicts along the lateral route can add time and cost if other buried lines have to be crossed or relocated to make room for the new connection. Call (720) 935-6221 with your fire protection design's flow requirement and we will scope the tap against it. ## Frequently asked questions **How is a new fire line tap sized?** The tap is sized to meet the flow and pressure demand set by the fire protection engineer's hydraulic calculation for the sprinkler or standpipe system, not by a general rule of thumb. We confirm the main can actually deliver that flow before finalizing the tap size. **Does making a new tap shut off water to my neighbors?** No. The tap is made using a wet tap process on a live main, which allows the cut to be made under pressure without interrupting service to the surrounding system. **How long does a new fire line tap connection take to complete?** Timelines vary based on tap size, depth, utility conflicts, and permit and inspection scheduling with the water authority. We give a realistic sequence once the site and the fire protection design's requirements are known. **Do I need a permit for a new fire line tap?** Yes. New taps require a permit from the water authority that owns the main, and the completed work is inspected before it is accepted. We handle that coordination as part of the project. **Can the same tap serve both fire and domestic water?** Generally no. Fire and domestic services are kept as separate taps because they are sized for very different flow demands and are subject to different backflow prevention requirements. **Is Denver Sewer and Water the water utility?** No. Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated company. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We perform the physical tap and coordinate the permitting and inspection process with whichever water authority owns the main. ## Related Fire Line Tap Services - [Fire Line Tap Services in Denver](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/fire-line-tap-services/denver-co) New taps, connections, repair, replacement, backflow, and hydrant work on private fire lines. - [Fire Line Tap Installation and Replacement](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/fire-line-tap-services/fire-line-tap-installation-replacement/denver-co) New tap installation and full replacement of a failing fire line tap assembly. - [Fire Line Tap Excavation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/fire-line-tap-services/fire-line-tap-excavation/denver-co) Machine excavation to expose a tap, sleeve, valve, or lateral for repair or replacement. - [Fire Hydrant Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/fire-line-tap-services/fire-hydrant-installation/denver-co) New private fire hydrant installation tied into a fire line for site protection. - [Water Line Tap Services](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/water-lines/water-line-tap-services/denver-co) New domestic water taps into the municipal main, distinct from a fire line tap. --- Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org. Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/fire-line-tap-services/fire-line-tap-connection/denver-co