What it is
The Ames 4000SS is a reduced pressure zone assembly in 2½" through 12" on a 300-series stainless body with a bottom-mounted relief valve and, on current units, a flood sensor on the relief. The 5000SS is the RPDA version with a metered bypass RP for fire service. NRS or OS&Y gate shutoffs; horizontal installation only.
Length matches the Watts 774 and Ames 2000SS families: 37" at 2½", 40" at 4", 48½" at 6", 52½" at 8". The relief valve is the deep part: 10½" below the pipe centerline through 4", 11½" at 6", 12½" at 8" and up. That is three to four inches deeper than a Colt or a Watts 957.
What matters for the cover
Length puts it a size up from the Colt. At 2½" and 3" the 70 × 40 is the price-list match and clears the 37"–38" body with gates; at 4" the 85 × 40. If a customer says "Ames RP" without a model, ask whether it is a Colt or a 4000SS before you pick.
Depth plus discharge. The relief valve under the body has to drain. Set the cover so the base closes to the pad around the assembly but never seals under the relief port. Ames specifies 12" minimum drain clearance under the relief valve; the cover's base has to leave that side open.
Height. OS&Y stems at 16⅜" above centerline on 2½" and 37¾" at 8" set the height; the relief valve sets the bottom. The 40" and 50" cover heights are built for a pad-mounted stack; a tall riser needs a photo.
5000SS. The bypass adds width on one side. Photos first, especially at 6".
Stocking
The 4000SS shows up on commercial domestic service and the 5000SS on fire lines in Ames territory. Fire protection distributors stock the 85 × 40 and 100 × 50; plumbing houses the 70 × 40 and 85 × 40. It shares covers size for size with the 2000SS double check, which sits in the same body without the relief valve.
Ordering
Name the size and the shutoff type, and say 4000SS rather than "Ames RP" so it is not confused with the shorter Colt. With OS&Y gates the 70 × 40 covers 2½" and 3", the 85 × 40 the 4", the 100 × 50 the 6", the 120 × 50 the 8". A 5000SS needs the bypass-side photo.
