Dedicated Electrical, ATS Required for Fire Pump?

6/1/2022

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)?

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8 Comments

Glenn Berger

6/1/2022 08:08:57 am

ATS - not required unless multiple feeds are required in order to meet reliability requirements as set forth by the NEC and/or local AHJ.

Connecting to the MDP is atypical. Fire Pumps are typically required to be powered prior to any building disconnect. Check with the local AHJ.

Jesse

6/1/2022 08:24:16 am

Agree with Glenn here. Its an AHJ issue. An ATS isn't necessarily required unless the AHJ says so. But I confess I'm not really sure what you mean by pump "designation".

Todd E Wyatt

6/1/2022 08:29:24 am

2021 IBC requires the "circuits supplying fire pumps" to be protected in (1) of (4) methods :

Section 913 Fire Pumps
[F] 913.2.2 Circuits Supplying Fire Pumps

Cables used for survivability of circuits supplying fire pumps shall be protected using one of the following methods:

1. Cables used for survivability of required critical circuits shall be listed in accordance with UL 2196 and shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
Electrical circuit protective systems shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
2. Electrical circuit protective systems shall be installed in accordance with their listing requirements.
3. Construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
4. The cable or raceway is encased in a minimum of 2 inches (51 mm) of concrete.

Exception: This section shall not apply to cables, or portions of cables, located within a fire pump room or generator room which is separated from the remainder of the occupancy with fire-resistance-rated construction.

The 2021 IBC references NFPA 20 (2019) :

[F] 913.1 General
Where provided, fire pumps for fire protection systems shall be installed in accordance with this section and NFPA 20.

Exception: Pumps for automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3, or Section P2904 of the International Residential Code.

2019 NFPA 20 states the following :

10.8* Power Transfer for Alternate Power Supply.
10.8.1 General.
10.8.1.1
Where required by the authority having jurisdiction or to meet the requirements of 9.3.2 where an on-site electrical power transfer device is used for power source selection, such switch shall comply with the provisions of Section 10.8 as well as Sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3 and 10.4.1.

9.3 Alternate Power
9.3.2* Other Sources.
Except for an arrangement described in 9.3.3, at least one alternate source of power shall be provided where the normal source is not reliable.

A.‍9.3.2 identifies the "characteristics" of a "reliable power source".

Eric R

6/1/2022 08:43:23 am

Maybe someone can help me out here, cause my code searching this morning is drawing a blank.

I could have sworn that there were additional requirements for this situation hidden away somewhere else in the IBC. It's driving me nuts that I can picture the verbiage but cant find it.

The basic gist in my head is that if you have an Institutional occupancy which I believe a hospice would fall under, then the building is likely to have whole building back-up power generation to allow for continued occupancy during a utility power loss. If occupancy would be maintained during the utility power loss than the fire pump would need to be supported by the generator as well with an ATS to continue providing fire protection.

Eric R

6/1/2022 09:00:41 am

Ok, think I found it, though it's not as detailed as I'd like.

IBC Section 2702: Emergency and Standby power systems

IBC 2702.2.8: Essential electrical systems for Group I-2 occupancies shall be in accordance with Section 407.11
407.11 send you back to chapter 27 and also NFPA 99.

I-2 Occupancy is defined as buildings used for medical care on a 24-hour basis for more than 5 persons incapable of self-preservation.

I'm out of time to look into NFPA 99, but I think this is why you would need an ATS. Assuming the building is getting a backup generator which it should per the above requirements.

sean

6/1/2022 08:43:43 am

Dedicated service is required for electrical fire pumps.

If an emergency power supply is provided for the pump then an ats is needed

Darin Golden

6/1/2022 02:09:16 pm

Hi Sean,

This is what I remember but now I can't locate the referenced code/standard sections. Would you mind providing?

Robert Bennett

6/26/2022 05:36:01 pm

Look at NEC section 695. Fire pumps have thier own section. Remind your electrical inspector and discus it with them prior to committing to a requirement.

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Dedicated Electrical, ATS Required for Fire Pump?

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