Requirements for Doors on a Fire Pump House?

11/22/2021

We have a pump house that is 250-ft away from primary building. I was told that we have to maintain a 42-degree temperature inside the pump house.

Although we are in Jacksonville Florida it still gets down to the mid twenty's here and there.

The doors are in really bad shape and need replaced to hold in the heat.

What are the requirements for replacement doors on a pump house? Do they need to be vented?

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7 Comments

Glenn Berger

11/22/2021 08:39:20 am

The requirement for the provision of vents in the door needs to be coordinated with the mechanical design.

Since the fire pump building is 250 feet away, standard double doors should be okay.

Jesse

11/22/2021 08:48:35 am

Normal doors should suffice.

Todd Wyatt

11/22/2021 08:50:37 am

Insulation can be surface-mounted onto existing hollow metal (HM) doors so they meet the necessary R-value. Supplemental heat could also be added to the pump house to maintain the minimum interior temperature.

CJ Bonczyk

11/22/2021 08:56:08 am

Double doors are fine. However, note that NFPA 20 states the pump room itself (if diesel) has requirements that the vents meet the requirements of 20 § 11.3.2 and subsequent annex information for locations. If the pump room is strictly electric you will want to make sure it has some sort of supply and return air. This allows the reduction of humidity inside the pump house that would damage the electrical components, and in Florida I'm sure humidity can be a problem.

There was article years ago that addressed fire pump room ventilation requirements very well. Reference code for any additional updates in the standard.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nfpa-20-ventilating-protecting-fire-rated-pump-rooms-trumbature/

Alex

11/22/2021 09:18:36 am

Standard double doors should suffice. Work with the mechanical engineer to confirm R value and requirements to maintain proper temperature.

Franck

11/22/2021 09:58:05 am

As already indicated, you can have any kind of door as the pumproom is separated from other buildings.
If the pump is a diesel, you need ventialtion for your pumproom, but it is not necessarily located on the door (it can be on the walls). If you have freezing conditions, I would suggest vents that open only when the pump start operating.

Regarding the door, it may seems obvious, but it is better to say it anyway: it needs a lock (and possibly a contact door alarm with report to the gatehouse) in order avoid malicious acts and arson.

sean

12/31/2021 06:44:46 pm

doors should not have vents as you still need to maintain the fire rating of the fire pump room, wall vents with a damper will be a better fit

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Requirements for Doors on a Fire Pump House?

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