Pool for High-Rise Secondary Water Supply?

12/28/2021

Can a commercial pool be used as the required secondary water supply to a high-rise sprinkler system?

The 2019 IBC/CBC Section 403.3.3 requires an automatic secondary water supply in certain seismic design categories. This is typically met by installing a dedicated tank that meets the minimum demand for 30 minutes.

I have a developer asking if they can run a feed line to their 100k +/- gallon commercial pool so it can serve this purpose.

Outside of the engineering challenges and value engineering their team must address, I'm wondering if this arrangement is even allowed. I cannot find anything in IBC/CBC, NFPA 24, NFPA 13, etc. that wouldn't allow this. Any help is appreciated.

6 Comments

Mike L

12/28/2021 08:11:05 am

This was a question about a year ago...here is the link to the responses:

https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/swimming-pool-as-fire-protection-water-supply

I would confirm if the chemistry of the pool water will work as a fire suppression agent and if Hazen-Williams can still be used in the calculations.

Jack G

12/28/2021 08:11:27 am

I ve done this before for schools, problem being vortex plate, and recovery. Of the 489:high rises I ve installed, only 24 had secondary and tertiary tanks. And they were tanks, not pools.

Alex

12/28/2021 08:21:14 am

Hi,

There was a very good discussion on this topic back in January. Take a look:

https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/swimming-pool-as-fire-protection-water-supply

A few key items:
- The pool will now be treated like a tank, therefor, require additional fulltime requirements and when the pool is drained, your system will be 'impaired'
- Make sure to install proper orifice plates to prevent vortex/ prevent anyone to get stuck during an emergency.
- Since you are in a seismic design category, can the pool withstand a seismic event?

Best of luck with your design!
Alex

Jesse

12/28/2021 10:44:05 am

I seem to remember a discussion about this a while back.

Yes it can, but that doesn't mean it should be done. If it is done, the pool becomes an integral part of the fire protection system as it primary function. As opposed to its primary function being recreational frolicking in the sun.

There are other issues with it such as vortex plates, etc etc etc

If it can be avoided, I would definitely avoid it

Jon Nisja

12/29/2021 06:51:37 pm

As an AHJ, I have allowed an indoor swimming pool as a water source twice and regretted it both times. First of all, you have a major corrosion issue with pool chemicals. Secondly, swimming pools are maintenance-intense and can be out of service for maintenance and repairs for extended periods of time. One case was a secondary school and they would drain the pool in the summer (2-3 months with no water in it).

Can it be done? I suppose with enough precautions for corrosion, automatic filling, vortex / drain considerations, etc.

Should it be done? Probably not. As an AHJ, it is doubtful that I will ever approve another one.

sean

12/31/2021 06:19:26 pm

i think one issue you also have to consider is that the pool then has to be full for occupancy. you cant have the pool be down for maintenance or emptied for weather or any other considerations.

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Pool for High-Rise Secondary Water Supply?

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