NFPA 20 permits the demand for a suppression system to be between 90% and 140% of a fire pump's rated capacity (NFPA 20-2019 4.10.1 and Annex A.4.10.1). The pressure demand must always be less than the pressure supplied by the pump's performance curve along this range.

Does this concept apply to standpipes? For instance, could a 750 gpm pump provide 1,000 gpm demand for standpipes since it would be running at 133% of its rated flow?

If it can be done, is it good practice?

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Without the context of a specific project or problem, when would you recommend creating a separate, detached fire pump house versus a fire pump room inside a building?

Is is purely a risk perspective? Do you recommend fire pump houses only when a pump is feeding multiple buildings, or a campus?

I've only had a few projects that used a fire pump house, and it has generally been in retrofit situations or when the pump is next to a water storage tank. In either case the pump house overall cost more than it would have should the fire pump room been within the building (even despite the simple construction of the pump house). Just curious on getting another perspective.

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