Fire Rating for Diesel Pump House Near Barge?

8/18/2022

We are designing a barge loading/unloading slip. The product will be used motor oil. The barge slip will be protected by fire monitors. These will be supplied by a fire water pump house.

Due to space limitations, the pump house will be within a 50-ft radius of the corner of a barge (potential fire source).

The pump house will enclose two diesel pumps and day tanks and will be sprinkler protected. Only three walls of the pump house will fall within the 50-ft circle.

Question 1) NFPA Table 4.13.1.1.2 would dictate a 2-hour fire-resistance rating needed, but the IBC would lead you to believe a 1-hour rating is required. Can someone clarify which is required?

Question 2) Do all the walls and the roof need to meet the rating?

The simple solution would be to make everything a 2-hour rating. However, the pump house will have a 10'x10' door, roof hatches, and ventilation louvers. Placing these on the wall opposite to the fire source and outside of the 50 ft. circle would greatly simplify the design.

Thank you in advance!

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6 Comments

Chris Nelson

8/18/2022 08:19:39 am

4.14.1.1.2 calls out 4.14.1.1.3 which states:
Fire pump units supplying a local application fire protection system(s) shall be physically separated from the hazard being protected in a manner that will prevent a fire associated with the hazard from directly exposing the pumping unit.

A4.14.1.1.3 has some decent direction which may be helpful:
A.‍4.14.1.1.3
This section allows for the installation of special hazard fire protection systems such as local application water mist inside buildings that may or may not be otherwise protected. The concern is to assure that a fire associated with the process being protected does not cause an immediate failure of the pumping system. It is not the intent of this section to provide protection for the entire building or to protect the process area from an exposure fire involving that building section.

I would think you application doesnt cause immediate failure to the pump system but you know more about it than I do.

8/18/2022 08:23:00 am

But to answer your questions
1) NFPA 25 is the more restrictive so that should be used.

2) The intent is to separate the fire pump from the hazard so I say if the roof of the fire pump house could be affected, its best to rate it.

Franck

8/18/2022 10:40:14 am

The sprinkler protection would protect from a fire originating inside the pumphouse to possibly limit the damages.
But in your case, your assessment is that you have a fire exposure to tour pumphouse from the outside.
This means that it would be beneficial to provide adequate passive protection.

The 2 hours fire rating is for all exposed surfaces. This means also the roof if it is exposed by an outside fire.
By providing the access door to a wall not exposed would certainly help your design (2 h rated fire doors are not easily found for pumphouse access)

Glenn Berger

8/18/2022 11:16:03 am

The IBC provides minimum requirements. NFPA 20 should be followed as it has more restrictive requirements.

Todd E Wyatt

8/19/2022 08:52:59 am

SHORT ANSWER
The fire pump room (FPR) will be protected by an automatic sprinkler system (ASPS) per NFPA 13 as an Extra Hazard Group 2 occupancy (based on the diesel engine pump drivers) and (1) wall within 50 feet from the “fire exposure” (barge) shall be protected by a 2-Hour Fire Barrier (2FB) IF the “fire exposure” is NOT protected by a ASPS or shall be protected by a 1-Hour Fire Barrier (1FB) IF the barge (fire exposure) IS protected by a ASPS per NFPA 20.
Per IBC, the FPR is required to be protected by 1FB and/or 1HA since the FPR is protected by a ASPS.
Depending on the ASPS protection of the adjacent <50 feet “fire exposure”, the FPR shall be protected by 2FB/2HA or 1FB/1HA.

LONG ANSWER
2021 IBC (if this is the applicable, adopted Code) SECTION 913 FIRE PUMPS requires “fire pumps for fire protection systems shall be installed … (per) NFPA 20.”
This section goes on to require the fire pump room (FPR) to be protected by 2-Hour Fire Barriers (2FB) and/or 2-Hour Horizontal Assemblies (2HA) unless (1) the FPR is protected by an automatic sprinkler system (ASPS) then the fire-resistant rated (FRR) assemblies can be reduced to 1FB & 1HA and/or (2) the FPR is physically separated per NFPA 20.

2019 NFPA 20 (referenced by 2012 IBC)
Chapter 4 — General Requirements
4.14.1.2 Outdoor Fire Pump Units.
4.14.1.2.1
Fire pump units that are outdoors shall be located at least 50 ft (15.3 m) away from any buildings and other fire exposures.
4.14.1.2.2
Outdoor installations shall be required to be provided with protection against possible interruption in accordance with 4.14.1.
4.14.1.3 Fire Pump Buildings or Rooms with Diesel Engines.
Fire pump buildings or rooms enclosing diesel engine pump drivers and day tanks shall be protected with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13 as an Extra Hazard Group 2 occupancy.
4.14.1.4 Fire Pump Buildings or Rooms with Electric Drivers.
For buildings that are required to be sprinklered, fire pump buildings or rooms enclosing electric fire pump drivers shall be protected with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with NFPA 13 as an Ordinary Hazard Group 1 occupancy.

4.14* Equipment Protection.
(A.4.14 Special consideration needs to be given to fire pump installations installed below grade. Light, heat, drainage, ventilation, and potential flooding are several of the variables that need to be addressed. Some locations or installations might not require a pump house. Where a pump room or pump house is required, it should be of ample size and located to permit short and properly arranged piping. The suction piping should receive first consideration. The pump house should preferably be a detached building of noncombustible construction. A one-story pump room with a combustible roof, either detached or well protected from an adjoining one-story building, is acceptable if sprinklered. Where a detached building is not feasible, the pump room should be located and constructed to protect the pump unit and controls from falling floors or machinery, and from fire that could drive away the pump operator or damage the pump unit or controls. Access to the pump room should be provided from outside the building. Where the use of brick or reinforced concrete is not feasible, metal lath and plaster is recommended for the construction of the pump room. The pump room or pump house should not be used for storage purposes. Vertical shaft turbine–type pumps might necessitate a removable panel in the pump house roof to permit the pump to be removed for inspection or repair. Proper clearances to equipment should be provided as recommended by the manufacturer's drawings.)
4.14.1* General Requirements.
The fire pump, driver, controller, water supply, and power supply shall be protected against possible interruption of service through damage caused by explosion, fire, flood, earthquake, rodents, insects, windstorm, freezing, vandalism, and other adverse conditions.
(A.4.14.1
A fire pump that is inoperative for any reason at any time constitutes an impairment to the fire protection system. It should be returned to service without delay. Rain, intense heat from the sun, blown freezing rain, blowing sand or dust, flood, rodents, insects, and vandals are adverse conditions to equipment not installed in an acceptable protective building or enclosure. At a minimum, equipment installed should be shielded by a roof or deck.)

Table 4.14.1.1.2 Equipment Protection

Pump Room/House : Fully sprinklered
Building(s) Exposing Pump Room/House : Not sprinklered
Required Separation : 2 hour fire-rated or 50 ft (15.3 m)

Pump Room/House : Fully sprinklered
Building(s) Exposing Pump Room/House : Fully sprinklered
Required Separation : 1 hour fire-rated or 50 ft (15.3 m)

Patrick Nelligan

8/22/2022 12:22:04 pm

I understand everything above and special thanks to @Todd for the in-depth explanation. However, I have one question regarding Diesel Fire Pump Rooms in a fully sprinklered building. Since they must be designed to EH2 which requires a minimum 90-120 minute water supply duration requirement, should not the walls and ceiling meet those minimum requirements as well? Or am I missing something all together? I guess that is two questions. Thanks for you input.

Fire Rating for Diesel Pump House Near Barge?

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