Pump Controllers Need Clearance per NFPA 70?

4/1/2020

I am dealing with an extremely small fire pump room with limited wall space for the controllers. The only available space to route some of the wet main piping will be directly above the fire pump and jockey pump controllers.

Do the requirements from NFPA 70 concerning dedicated electrical space apply to fire pump controllers and the fire pump piping?

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9 Comments

sean

4/2/2020 10:22:30 am

yes, fire pump controllers are also a disconnect.

FIREPE

4/2/2020 10:49:50 am

Sean does it sway your opinion that a fire pump controller is a NEMA rated enclosure? My understanding is everything in the fire pump room should be designed to get wet to some extent (hence the floor drain). I agree you will still need working clearances in front of it. I have seen many pump rooms with piping above the controller.

sean

4/2/2020 11:11:31 am

I am looking at the handbook for NEC Section 110.26 (E)1(c) says you can have the sprinkler piping above the equipment so long as it conforms to the section which requires 6 feet of dedicated electrical space above the equipment. So if your controller is 6' tall AFF and the pipe is run at 10' AFF it does not comply, but run the pipe at 13' or more AFF then it complies.

Wayne Ammons

4/2/2020 01:04:17 pm

I don't have access to the NEC handbook, but even if the sprinkler piping can be installed at least 6 ft. above the dedicated electrical space, wouldn't you still need to provide some sort of leak protection? Would NEMA rated control panels void this requirement?

Colin Lusher link

4/3/2020 12:04:30 am

Sean is right, as long as the bottom of the pipe is 6-ft+ above the top of the controller you meet NEC requirements for dedicated electrical space, and no leak protection is required, regardless of the NEMA rating.

Wayne Ammons

4/3/2020 07:37:45 am

Thanks for all the responses!

After reading NEC (2017 Ed.) Section 110.26(E)(1)(a) and (b), it seems that there can't be any foreign systems, with or without leak protection, located within the 6 ft. zone above the panel, and any foreign systems located above the 6 ft. zone must still be provided with leak protection? I have a project where sprinkler piping will run above the 6 ft. zone but will be directly over the controller panels, so I want to make sure I am interpreting this correctly and bring this up to the project team sooner rather than later.

(a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone.

Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone.

(b) Foreign Systems. The area above the dedicated space required by 110.26(E)(1)(a) shall be permitted to contain foreign systems, provided protection is installed to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign systems.
(c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler protection shall be
permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies
with this section.

Colin Lusher link

4/3/2020 03:55:52 pm

Wayne,

I stand corrected...thank you! Yes, looks like piping above the dedicated space still requires leak protection.

But doesn't note (c) seem to state that fire sprinkler piping is allowed WITHIN the dedicated space, i.e., within 6-ft of the top of the panel, as long it has leak protection?

Colin Lusher link

4/3/2020 12:13:04 am

Although I personally feel like I wouldn’t be too worried for the pipe to be closer than that due to the NEMA rating, and have also seen it in the field a few times

Wayne Ammons

4/3/2020 06:18:23 pm

Colin,

I am leaning toward interpreting note "c" as saying sprinkler protection is allowed in the "dedicated equipment space", i.e. the electrical room, and not the "dedicated electrical space"?

(E) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, switchgear, panelboards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage.

(c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler protection shall be permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section.

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