During pressure testing of a dry pipe system, what is the acceptable psi loss over the duration of the test?

During pressure testing of a dry pipe system, an acceptable loss of 3 psi over the duration of the test is based on industry standards and practices for ensuring the integrity of the piping system. This acceptable loss is established to account for minor leaks or fluctuations during the testing process while still ensuring that the system maintains enough integrity to function correctly.

A loss of 3 psi indicates that the system is still in a reasonable condition, as it typically allows for minor variations without signifying a major leak or failure. Testing beyond this limit could indicate a problem that needs further investigation, such as significant leaks or issues with fittings and joints. Therefore, maintaining a threshold where no more than 3 psi is lost helps to validate the reliability of the dry pipe system and ensure its readiness for operational use.

Other limits, such as 1 psi, 2 psi, or 5 psi, do not align with the industry's accepted standards for this type of system testing, thus making 3 psi the correct and most acceptable loss during the pressure testing process.