Final Post: 5 Moves That Save You Time & Money

💰 Final Post: 5 Moves That Save You Time & Money

Series Part 8 of 8: Houston 3003.4 vs. ASME A17.1 – Pit Flood Detection

We’ve covered a lot of ground in the previous 7 posts, diving into the differences between Houston’s 3003.4 code and ASME A17.1. Now, let’s put that knowledge to work!

Here are our Top 5 Recommendations you can act on today when planning and installing a solution to comply with Houston’s 3003.4 code. These steps can save you time, money, and headaches—especially if Texas adopts a version of A17.3 with pit flood operation requirements in the future:

1. Sensor Placement
   📍 Mount the sensor 6–12 inches above the pit floor.
   This gives your sump pump time to do its job before triggering flood operation and puts you in a strong position for future compliance.
2. Floor Selection
   🏢 Choose the next available landing above the base flood elevation.
   Avoid selecting a floor higher than required, as future code updates may necessitate adjustments to this choice.
3. Notification Placement & Design
   🔔 Install a small jewel indicator in the cab, above the floor selection panel.
   Use red lettering at least 0.25″ high. This setup may already check some future compliance boxes.
4. Reset Method
   🔑 If going external, use a Group 1 key.
   Better yet, the Argus unit includes a reset option from its keypad—saving you from additional install time and cost now, while leaving open your options for the future.
5. What Unit to Use
   🛠️ Go with the Argus A100-PFD Pit Flood Protector.
   It’s firmware-based, not hardware-based. That means if the code changes, you may just need a quick firmware update—not a full replacement.

✅ Get compliant today, and plan ahead. These five steps help you do both—with less hassle and more savings.