Fire Pump House versus Fire Pump Room?

6/4/2019

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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3 Comments

PETEY PABLO

6/4/2019 10:49:05 am

When it's infeasible or difficult to obtain a fire-rated separation for pump room walls, you can use a detached pump house at 50 ft. from the building instead. NFPA 20 §4.12.1.1.2.

Outdoor pump houses are favored for diesel engines.

*Joe, I couldn't help myself.

Joe Meyer

6/5/2019 06:20:16 am

Agreed Pete(y). Diesel driven pumps' host of exhaust and ventilation requirements make a pump house an attractive option.

We've only used pump houses where the pump is next to a water storage tank or when it is feeding multiple buildings. Otherwise there is typically a cost efficiency with including the pump room within the footprint of a building.

9/5/2019 11:10:42 pm

Hi Petey,

In my opinion, either the case is OK as long as it considered Extra Hazard !! and provided with Sprinkler system.

All industrial facility, in most cases, these are locate separate/dedicated buildings/Room and other location, can take a call depend of space available.

If if dedicated, it's more safety and reliable but costly.

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