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IBC 3008.1 states that when elevators are used for occupant self‑evacuation, all passenger elevators for general public use must comply with Sections 3008.1–3008.10.
The language is unclear: does this require full 3008 compliance for every passenger elevator in the building, or only for the elevators specifically designated for occupant self‑evacuation (e.g., those serving levels above 420 ft / 128 m)? How is this typically interpreted in super high‑rise buildings where adding an additional exit stair is not feasible? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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For a Paint Booth, mixing paint is taking place inside the space (1 gallon), and all applicable code items are in place, such as ventilation and sprinkler system (etc.).
If the mixer is pneumatic, is it required to be intrinsically safe? Looking for code or standard reference guidance either way. Thanks in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When a new fire pump controller is installed or replaced, is an acceptance test required?
I suppose I know the answer, but I am looking for a code basis. Thank you. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Assuming a jurisdiction requires sprinkler pipe to be bonded to the building grounding system, would a sprinkler system fed from a fire pump be considered bonded since it is attached to the pump which is already grounded?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can a fire pump room, properly built with only a fire pump and domestic water in it, have the fire pump electrical service meter in the fire pump room?
The local utility is permitting it. This specific example has it meeting reliable power, so there is no emergency feed that could be affected by the meter blowing out. If the meter goes, so does the pump power. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project where the owner just wants to manually turn a switch to transfer from main power to backup power for a fire pump instead of having an Automatic Transfer Switch.
Wouldn't this be considered manual activation under NFPA 20, and not be allowed? I would think this arrangement isn't allowed because that's not automatic transfer. Thanks in advance for your input. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A resident in our area is planning to install ground-mounted solar for an existing home, along with storing the energy produced in batteries. The area for the batteries (ESS - Energy Storage Systems) is a storage room which is accessible only through the inside of their garage. Would this storage area still be considered a "living area" and thus subject to the max 20kWh of ESS per the IFC section 1207.1.1 (table)? Or, could they store more batteries in this area since it's only accessible via the garage area?  We have a fire pump room with three 75 HP main pumps that operate sequentially depending on the flow required.
Can we install all 3 controllers within a single enclosure? If not, what standard, code forbids this? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe If I have a machine with a carbon dioxide extinguishing system in a room equipped with an automatic sprinkler system.
Does the carbon dioxide system panel need to be tied into main fire alarm control panel? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does a fire pump on an NFPA 13D system require backup power?
It seems like it should, but 13D does not say that it has to and does not reference NFPA 20. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Thanks for answering my previous questions; I have another one today.
Is the life safety electrical demand on the generator, for the electrical engineer, based on the normal-duty load (346 bhp), motor load (500 bhp), or the maximum locked-rotor road (572 bhp)? Is there a governing standard that dictates this (IFC/NFPA 20/NFPA 70)? We have a 2,000 gpm, 185 psi rated electric fire pump. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can two electrical boxes be placed in the same stud cavity?
If so, are there restrictions by code? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a requirement that you cannot plug an appliance (such as a refrigerator, microwave, toaster) into a power strip?
I'm specifically concerned with codes related to health care settings. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there an applicable code reference for minimum distance between a fire hydrant and a transformer?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a code or standard that specifies floor clearance in front of a fire pump controller cabinet?
I am installing a fire pump in an existing building which has a controller with a transfer switch. Of course the fire pump room size presents clearance issues. I have clearances I need for sprinkler pipe, but I do not know the working clearances required in front of the cabinets. I do have door swing clearance, but was wondering about a working clearance. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our project is a 16-bed hospice facility. The project site does not have a municipal water supply. The project is under NFPA 13, mostly Light Hazard, and an ancillary storage space in the basement is Ordinary Hazard.
We've designed a water storage tank which is buried outside. The discharge of the tank is approximately 5-feet above the suction side of a fire pump supplying the sprinkler system. I've designated the pump as a sprinkler booster pump and supplied power from an emergency MDP (main disconnect panel). The electrician is asking for a few details concerning the pump designation. Is the fire pump required to have a separate service with a dedicated ATS (automatic transfer switch)? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe There's a project in our jurisdiction that is a warehouse with a detached fire pump building.
They are proposing to feed the controller for the diesel fire pump (in the detached fire pump building) from the service in the main warehouse building. Are there any relevant fire codes or standards that require the controller to be fed from a separate service? Or, at least fed from a service that is "dedicated" to the fire pump building? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a fire barrier, with a fire-resistance rating of 1-hour, that has conduit passing through.
The conduit is not continuous from device to device, only used as a sleeve for the penetration. How long (continuous) does the conduit need to be past the edge of the fire barrier to maintain a 1-hour rating? My concern (however minor) is that the inside of the conduit is not firestopped, only the outside penetration. Smoke could pass through the inside of the conduit and effectively circumvent the fire barrier. Thanks in advance, big fan of the forum. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are time delay intervals associated with a fire pump's energy source transfer?
Is a 2-minute wait time long enough before notating an impairment when the pump doesn't start operating at peak again after shutting down the main power on an annual pump test? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm being asked to provide sprinkler protection for emergency electrical feeders for a highrise hotel. NFPA 70 (2014 Edition) Article 700.10.D.1 states:
"Feeder Circuit wiring shall meet one of the following conditions: 1) Be installed in spaces or areas that are fully protected by an approved automatic fire suppression system." The conduit runs exposed tight to deck, and also through non-sprinklered, non-combustible ceiling cavities. I'm worried that we'll be required to sprinkler the entire concealed space where there is unprotected conduit installed - or would it be acceptable to provide localized coverage? Does anyone have experience with this or know of any guidelines for this application? This is a first for me in my 20-years, historically I've always seen this type of conduit be encased in concrete or handled by one of the other (4) options listed in the NEC. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can a 3-phase, 480 volt electric service inside the fire pump room be reduced down to 208-volt 3-phase with a transformer properly sized for the 6x amps of demand of the the fire pump serving the building?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Are manual pull stations required to have any specific level of illumination at all times provided by emergency lighting?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 20 5.6.2 requires a fully-independent and automatic back up pump for very tall buildings. This project is just under 50 stories with a pump and back up several levels below grade serving the lower zones and another pump and back up several levels above grade serving the remaining zones.
The project’s electrician cannot meet the power requirements for the worst case scenario, which would be all (4) pumps operating at once (if the primaries are running, but not at full capacity). The request is to interlock the primary and back up on the respective level, so only one pump is running on the level at a time (for a max total of two pumps running in the whole building). Would interlocking the pumps on their respective levels still satisfy the requirements of NFPA 20 5.6.2 (copied below)? NFPA 20 5.6.2 Fire Pump Backup. Fire pumps serving zones that are partially or wholly beyond the pumping capability of the fire department apparatus shall be provided with one of the following:
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe As a consultant, what level of detail do you go into for the line voltage (120v) fire alarm plans and wiring?
The line voltage is affected by loads / fuse sizes and affects the disconnect switch size. I'm wondering about the level of detail that an engineer should be showing versus leaving the sizing to the fire alarm and electrical contractors based on their specific system layout requirements. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an exit enclosure that is rated as Class I Division I. My understanding of an accessible route and means of egress, is that it is a "safe" means of egress.
Can an accessible route have a Class I Division I (explosion hazardous classification), or does it need to be purged and pressurized according to Type X requirements? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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