Dedicated Service to Diesel Fire Pump Controller?

2/16/2022

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?

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7 Comments

Todd Wyatt

2/16/2022 08:21:17 am

Yes, circuits supplying fire pumps are required to be protected in (1) of (4) ways per 2021 IBC per 913.2.2 Circuits supplying fire pumps :
(https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IBC2021P1/chapter-9-fire-protection-and-life-safety-systems#IBC2021P1_Ch09_Sec913.2)

1. Cables listed with UL 2196 and have a fire-reistance rating (FRR) of not less than 1 hour,
2. Electrical circuit protective systems having a FRR of not less than 1 hour,
3. Construction having a FRR of not less than 1-hour
4. Cable/raceway encased in a minimum of 2" of concrete.

913.2 Protection against interruption of service requires the fire pump, driver, and controller to be protected per NFPA 20 "against possible interruption of service"

Michael Medley

2/16/2022 09:32:19 am

I'm not sure how chapter 9 could be applicable as that chapter is for "electric drive for pumps" and this question indicates this is a diesel (engine) driven pump. Chapter 12 "engine drive controllers would appear to be the applicable chapter to govern this specific installation arrangement, however, I don't really see any specifics in chapter 12 regarding the actual electrical arrangement for the controller. I would, however, see article 695 of the NEC (NFPA 70) to be applicable and would reference that with regards to the controller of the diesel engine driven fire pump.

ARTICLE 695
Fire Pumps
695.1 Scope.
Informational Note: Text that is followed by a reference in brackets has been extracted from NFPA 20-2013, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection. Only editorial changes were made to the extracted text to make it consistent with this Code.
(A) Covered. This article covers the installation of the following:
(1) Electric power sources and interconnecting circuits
(2) Switching and control equipment dedicated to fire pump
drivers

NFPA 20
"9.1.1 This chapter covers the minimum performance and testing requirements of the sources and transmission of electrical power to motors driving fire pumps."

"12.1.1 This chapter provides requirements for minimum
performance of automatic/nonautomatic diesel engine
controllers for diesel engine–driven fire pumps."

sean

2/18/2022 06:13:37 pm

this does not require it to be a dedicated service

Craig Hanson

2/16/2022 08:39:53 am

Arrangement of power, disconnects and other pertinent information is found in NFPA 20: 9.1*. The power needs to be before the buildings service breaker and an its own shut off needs to be in the pump room. also see NFPA 20: 9.2.3.1

2/16/2022 09:10:04 am

I am not sure if chapters 9 and 10 of NFPA 20 apply to electric service to the diesel fire pump controller. Chapter 12 is for "Engine Drive Controllers" and does not have any specfic language for a dedicated service connection. I would believe that an electrician might still use article 695 of NFPA 70, but I cannot find a direct reference.

Craig Hanson

2/16/2022 09:40:27 am

I misread the question. You are correct.

Jesse

2/16/2022 02:47:40 pm

I'm not aware of any specific requirements in 20 for electrical service to a diesel driven fire pump controller. NEC or IBC may have some.

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Dedicated Service to Diesel Fire Pump Controller?

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