Minimum Ceiling Height for a Fire Pump Room?

8/12/2022

Is there a minimum ceiling height that would be required for a Fire Pump Room?

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6 Comments

schulman

8/12/2022 08:12:23 am

honestly don't think you will find anything in NFPA - somebody please prove me wrong ...

not sure why you put a ceiling in a fire pump room but if you did it better be above 7'-6" or it's not acceptable for humans per the building code and it's gonna be hard to test if humans cant get to it

a bunch of other problems with access to valves and such is likely to pop up at that height too ...

RBriggs

8/12/2022 08:16:47 am

I agree with Schulman, no ceiling height requirements that I know of; but I don't think I have ever seen a ceiling in a Fire Pump room, no need for it.

Glenn Berger

8/12/2022 08:19:09 am

The minimum height of the space is dependent on what is being accomplished in the pump design. Is there a pump bypass provided? Is there a interior round-the-pump metering/testing assembly?

Todd E Wyatt

8/12/2022 08:28:37 am

Minimum ceiling heights depend on the applicable Code and how the AHJ defines a Fire Pump Room (FPR) :

2021 IBC
1208.2 Minimum Ceiling Heights
7’-0” (84”) for “non-habitable/non-occupiable spaces” spaces (e.g. storage rooms)
7’-6” (90”) for “occupiable” spaces (may not be applicable but verify w/AHJ)

HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.
OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting the requirements of this code.

2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
40.2.5.3 Industrial Equipment Access.
40.2.5.3.1
Table 40.2.5.3.1 Industrial Equipment Access Dimensional Criteria
6’-8” (80”) Means of Egress that do not serve more than 20 people (verify if the Ch 40 Industrial Occupancy classification is applicable to the FPR).
7.1.5 Headroom
7’-6” (90”) for Means of Egress (MOE) including Exit Access in "occupiable" areas.

Brian Hoole

8/12/2022 12:42:05 pm

Keep in mind that the door to a pump room should be at least 4 feet wide and 7 feet tall. Of course the door frame requires space so any pump room should have a ceiling of 7'-6" or more just to allow for the door structure.

I am working on a diesel pump house this week for a high rise retrofit: The pump is 75" tall and the tank is a 49" diameter. The tank will end up above the height of the pump for gravity fuel flow. While it could fit in a room 8'-0" we will still need the equipment to move and position components. My ceiling slopes from 9'-6" to 8'-9" and my exhaust has an 8'-11" centerline. All of my piping is on pipe stands and braced for seismic to the floor, because the tin building can't support it.

Whether it is in the code or not I believe a pump room should have a minimum 9'-6" ceiling and 10'-0" if hanging pump piping from the ceiling structure.

Patrick

8/12/2022 06:23:23 pm

And NFPA 70 requirements in the previously issued forum:

https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/working-clearance-for-fire-pump-controller

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Minimum Ceiling Height for a Fire Pump Room?

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