Main Drain for Fire Pump Room in Basement?

2/8/2019

I have a wet sprinkler system fed by a combined standpipe/sprinkler riser by municipal water with a "brand new" fire pump in the basement.

Where should the main drain be installed?

The municipal water enters the building and goes through the backflow preventer and then into the fire pump both being located in the fire pump room. After the fire pump, the riser goes to floor #1 and above. On the first floor there is a floor control valve with drain.

I explained to property manager that a main drain is required in the fire pump room to test the adequacy of the water supply and drain the system. The installer agreed with me but explained that is was not part of the drawing and he did not install one because he did not get paid for one.

The property owner consulted with the engineer of record who said that the main drain is not in the fire code. He also said his plans for the fire pump installation were approved by the Department of Building. He also consulted with other more experienced engineers in his firm and was told that no main drain is required on the fire pump piping or in the pump room, but if I wanted to drain the system or perform a main drain test I could do it from the first floor.

Is a main drain in the basement fire pump room required?

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12 Comments

Glenn

2/8/2019 10:18:11 am

Per NFPA-13 8.17.4.1 "Main drain test connections shall be provided at locations that will permit flow tests of water supplies and connections." There is not a specific location given, so the main drain test connection could be located on the first floor.

There does have to be a drain connection in the basement pump room though. NFPA-13 8.16.2.1 states "All sprinkler pipe and fittings shall be so installed that the system can be drained." So if there is no drain connection in the basement that is incorrect.

The main drain test is a qualitative test of water supply performance. It is performed annually to monitor for changes in the water supply.

MArk

2/8/2019 10:29:41 am

NFPA 20 2013 ed
4.12.7.2 Pump rom shall be provided with a floor drain that will discharge to frost free location

Mike

2/8/2019 10:31:36 am

I think the appropriate reference for the fire pump drain is NFPA 20.

vincent boves link

2/8/2019 08:04:25 pm

Hi Glen,
I agree with you that NFPA-13 8.17.4.1 gives no specific location. But being that the purpose of the annual main drain test is a qualitative test of the water supply performance basically to monitor for changes in the water supply, given that a fire pump has been installed in the basement of the building near the entry point of the water supply, and with all the check valves, and components between the basement and the "first floor" wouldn't it make more sense from a design standpoint to put the main drain in the basement, close to the water entry point for quick and better quality readings? As I pointed out to a colleague "if your need to scratch your right ear, it's best to use your right hand not the left hand" I really appreciate your help.

2/8/2019 10:30:38 am

If you have pdf of the standard, you can do a search for "drain"

NFPA 20

4.12.1.5 Provisions shall be made for discharge to a drain.

4.13.7* Drainage.
4.13.7.1 Floors shall be pitched for adequate drainage of
escaping water away from critical equipment such as the pump,
driver, controller, and so forth.
4.13.7.2 The pump room or pump house shall be provided
with a floor drain that will discharge to a frost-free location.

TBH, this isn't your problem. Mechanical or plumbing engineer should have provided a drain. But no doubt it's going to be a long argument.

Looks like mechanical engineer missed it.

Plan approval does not relieve any party to the code standards.

I have seen concrete floors be cut and excavated in order to install a standpipe drain.

Good luck!!!

Rusty Scott

2/8/2019 10:41:24 am

When you say main drain in the pump room, are you referring to a floor drain? I typically coordinate with plumbing to have a 3" or 4" floor drain especially when a BFP is in the pump room. Also typically fire pump test water is typically routed to an outside test header. That way water is discharged outside of the building. Some jurisdictions allow the test header to be located in the fire pump room and allow the use of hoses to be run out of the building.
If you're referring to the main drain off of the floor control assemblies, they are run to outside the building to drain to grade typically. NFPA 13-2013 8.16.2.1 & A.8.16.2.1 says all sprinkler pipe and fittings shall be installed so that the system can be drained. Which sounds like the basement pump room piping is not meeting that. If you only have the one pipe existing to the first floor a "drain 90" paired with globe valve can be used for draining the system (not testing). Sounds like if it's in a basement you could drain it to a bucket/trash can and carry the water out. (typically sprinkler installer move).

Hopefully this helps.

VINNY BOVES link

2/8/2019 07:44:33 pm

Hi Rusty,
When I say main drain, I refer to the requirement of the 2" main drain that is required anytime you use municipal water. The purpose of the main drain is to drain the sprinkler system when needed but most importantly to test the quality of the water supply. If the curb valve outside in the street is closed or closed by the water supplier and not completely reopened doing the required main drain test tells you either that there is a restriction in the pipe or that the curb valve is not opened all the way.
The closer the main drain is to the supply pipe the better and quicker you can get a reading. In the example I provide a fire pump in the "fire pump room" where the water supply enters the property from the street and no main drain was installed in the "fire pump room" which by the way is also where the backflow preventer is located.

Dewayne Martinez

7/11/2019 08:08:53 am

Wouldn't the yearly fire pump test also test the "quality" of the water supply?

Doug J

2/8/2019 07:40:20 pm

I think main drain is the wrong terminology. There needs to be a low point drains to get the excess water out of the pipe for repairs around the fire pump. Just because the plans being approved by the Ahj does not eliminate you from installing a code compliment system.

JAL

10/21/2020 12:18:15 pm

Related question:

What QUANTITY of water is usually expected at a fire pump floor drain/sink?

At the drain, I'm thinking my highest expected discharge water from the fire pump will be from casing relief valves (1 per pump).
There'll also be a low-point drain, and will also provide means of draining out a 60,000 gal tank.

Does anyone know where I find this information?
Fire Pump manufacturer Rep. maybe?

Landon "Wood Expert" Edgington link

1/12/2021 04:32:48 pm

This would be very useful for people that are just getting their new homes or even just planning to get one. Thanks for that!

Best Mortgage Brokers in Sydney link

5/14/2023 08:24:49 pm

Your blog post about placing fire pump in basement was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. Keep up the amazing work!

Main Drain for Fire Pump Room in Basement?

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