Allow Temporary Industrial Pump for Highrise?

7/23/2026

I wanted to get your thoughts on temporary fire pumps. We are in warm weather season here in MA, and a building wants to use a temporary fire pump to alleviate a fire detail that is on the building.

If this wasn't a high-rise, I honestly feel more inclined, but being that it is, I am more hesitant.

I wanted to see if others have used them, and if so, what evidence did you bring to AHJs/Fire Depts?

The client shopped around on their own accord and found an industrial end-suction centrifugal pump used for sewage bypass and general construction dewatering, which doesn't seem to be generally used for Fire Protection applications.

Thanks in Advance!

Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

12 Comments

M.Newell

7/23/2026 08:09:11 am

There are companies that rent out listed fire pumps that are in connex or trailers that you can hook up to buildings. I would push for FP pump personally.

Jesse Cecil

7/23/2026 08:11:08 am

I'd have severe reservations about this. Anything used in fire protection, even temporarily has to be listed for such use. If this industrial pump is not listed for fire protection, it shouldn't be used. There are applications of course, where I've used tempeorary pump installations. But each time, the pump, controllers, etc have been adequately listed.

Chad

7/23/2026 08:11:36 am

I would require an FPE to sign off on whatever is going in. Obviously temporary non-listed equipment is better than nothing if it’s going to be out of service for an extended period of time

But frankly, I don’t think I’d let the fire detail be in lieu there of. I would require a detail to operate it in case it didn’t start, regardless.

Glenn Berger

7/23/2026 08:24:29 am

1) I do not like anything that is "temporary" associated with a fire protection or life safety system. The question does not specify any type of duration.

2) Need to understand what is this "alleviate a fire detail" that is being discussed.

3) Pumps used as fire pumps must be approved/listed as fire pumps.

Too many red flags here

Wes

7/23/2026 08:31:30 am

This sounds like at least a partially-occupied highrise, and looking to avoid Fire Watch. Without knowing the particulars it would be difficult to justify removing a Fire Watch by a non-listed, possibly non-automatic (certainly not to code) fire pump situation.

I'd want to consider a few things (1) is what we're providing truly better, (2) are we addressing risk here in a way that's materially better, and (3) is such a stance defendable if something fails?

7/23/2026 09:02:40 am

I also don't understand why this pump is needed. Are you saying they dont have enough pressure so their sprinkler system is not working so theyre on fire watch and they want to use this pump to provide pressure so they dont have to do fire watch anymore?

I had a similar issue, but the highrise was a hotel and they needed to replace their only fire pump because it was starting to fail. We also didn't love the idea of fire watch for a building this large that was always occupied.

They initially asked about a pump like you described and we said no for the reasons already mentioned. They then found a diesel pump that is housed in a trailer and listed. The bigger issues we ran into were how to connect the fire pump because the original fire pump was underground, how to monitor everything, and how to get power to everything.

Jack G

7/23/2026 09:50:47 am

Whether the temporary pump must be listed depends on the AHJ. They must review and approve the pump and the set up.
An Fpe should also review and seal the drawings.
Tempory pumps do not have a specific listing category because there are no dedicated ul, fm or nfpa 20 standards listed for them.
The temporary should mirror permanent stationary requirements.
Proper sizing for the water supply backlog prevention and power sources must be integrated.

Jack G

7/23/2026 10:01:00 am

I use Godwin Diesel pumps which are in a conditioned trailer and come with all the hook ups and backflow prevention and hoses. . I normally supply the system thru the fdc similar to a fire department pumper truck. I then feed hoses from a hydrant for the supply. Or I Supply thru the existing test header . Rarely do I go inside and connect to the pump suction flange and spigot piece.

Mark Harris

7/23/2026 10:50:38 am

Was not cheap but in 2021 had lead time issues on a fryer water mist system pump and needed a temporary solution. Rented from Xylem. Trailer diesel. This was an industrial plant so temporary piping was much easier than a high rise basement pump. Here is link to what I think was the provider:
https://www.xylem.com/en-us/products--services/rental/temporary-fire-protection/temporary-fire-protection-faq/
In my case the building fire sprinkler system was fully operational. Needed this so they could start up their donut fryer water mist protection until the permanent watermist system pump shipped and was placed in service.

As others note not much information on the reason for your high rise temporary pump but unless the fire watch includes a connected fire department pumper truck you have a scary situation. Some jockey pumps may be large enough to serve a single sprinkler and at least put the building in alarm if there is a single head flow. Don't know if that is your case.

Ed Berkel

7/23/2026 11:15:45 am

As an AHJ, I would not approve that scenario as it is not listed for the application.

Kyle Wilcox

7/23/2026 12:12:32 pm

To meet NFPA codes you need either a "reliable waterworks system" or a single listed fire pump. In my opinion, a "reliable waterworks system" involves multiple pumps arranged for redundancy, and is designed for its purpose with an engineer's seal on the design.

Would it be beneficial to hook up a temporary unlisted pump to provide water to the fire system? Sure, as long as it doesn't affect firefighter operations.

Should it alleviate other required measures of temporary fire protection such as fire watch? Sadly, no.

Dan Wilder

7/23/2026 08:02:50 pm

We do this as a temp means when a fire pump is no longer working. This is an emergency service and the local AHJ requires full submittal of the existing fire pump and its rating, the temp pump and its rating, most pumps now carry a portable cell communication for monitoring, site plans for connections, estimated duration until the new pump is available, what the building is...it's several pages in total. They also require daily, or twice daily visual inspections, weekly pump runs, full documentation of the "ITM" to be available at short notice (often unannounced inspections). Full flow commissioning with pressure loss and manual startups once onsite.

They fast track the submittal (within days for review and approval, often with additional stipulations). The city then flags the site in their system and puts notes into the nearest couple responding fire houses as to the situation.

I question the current situation as to why now and what does warm weather have to do with needing the temp pump. Is it a supplementation of the current pump or was there a failure that requires the temp pump?

Allow Temporary Industrial Pump for Highrise?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES