We have been told that we cannot use elbows on our proposed new sprinkler system but must use ‘standard bends’. Can you please advise where this is required in the sprinkler rules?

Bends usually have a curve to change direction as against and elbow which is nearly a sharp 90° change of direction. The sprinkler rules BS EN 12845 only differentiate between bend and elbow in Table 23 for equivalent lengths used for hydraulic calculations. Maybe someone is confusing the requirements of BS9990 for Wet and Dry risers where it states: “All changes in the direction of the run of the piping should be made with standard bends, springs or long turn fittings. Elbows should not be used.”