Room Rating and Base Required for Fire Pump?

1/5/2021

A couple of questions about an electric vertical inline fire pump:

(1) Is it necessary to build a rated room around a fire pump that is located in a boiler room that is already 2-hour rated construction?

(2) Is it required to have a concrete base poured below a vertical fire pump if we can bolt the pipe flange stand to a concrete floor?

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6 Comments

Craig link

1/5/2021 09:13:27 am

Yes, it is necessary to build a separate rated enclosure around the fire pump. Looking at the 2019 edition of NFPA 20, Section 4.14.1.1.5 specifically notes that rooms containing fire pumps are to be free from storage, equipment, and penetrations not essential to the operation of the pump related components. Boiler equipment is not essential to operation of the pump and therefore may not be located within a fire pump room. The only exception to this is domestic water distribution equipment as identified under Section 4.14.1.1.6.

You must also coordinate the location and access to a fire pump room with the fire department, as identified under Section 4.14.1.1.4. If the pump room is not directly accessible from the exterior of the building, Section 4.14.2.1.1 requires access to be made via a fire-resistant-rated corridor from an enclosed stairway or exterior exit. The fire resistance rating of those portions used to access the pump room shall not be less than that required for the fire pump room per Section 4.14.2.1.2. If the pump room is in the middle of a boiler room, this may be quite difficult to achieve and will require substantial coordination with the architect and other trades.

Glenn Berger

1/5/2021 09:21:08 am

Concur with Craig for the fire pump rating and what can be installed in the fire pump room.

Concerning the base, it is recommended to provide a base - there will be vibration and the floor will crack, which will eventually lead to fire pump failure.

Brian Gerdwagen FPE

1/5/2021 09:39:27 am

The answer for the rated room is good.
The recommendation for concrete base and grouting comes from the pump manufacturer. It is in the drawings they provide with the pump.

Todd E Wyatt

1/5/2021 11:06:57 am

SHORT ANSWER
Rooms containing fire pumps shall be separated from all other areas of the building with either a 2-Hour Fire Barrier (2FB) and/or 2-Hour Horizontal Assemblies (2HA) OR by 1FB/1HA in sprinklered buildings.

LONG ANSWER
NFPA 20 is a referenced standard but the scoping document would be the IBC/IFC. The scoping Codes identify which aspects of the referenced standard are required to be met.

In reviewing 2021 IBC Chapter 35 Reference Standards, this chapter references the 2019 NFPA 20. NFPA 20 is referenced in the following sections : 412.2.4.1, 913.1, 913.2, 913.2.1, and 913.5.

412.2.4.1 : Fire-resistance rating (FRR) of fire pump rooms for airport traffic control towers.

Section 913 Fire Pumps
913.1 Fire Pumps - installation per 913 & NFPA 20
913.2 Protection against interruption of service
913.2.1 Protection of FP rooms with 2-Hr Fire Barrier (2FB) ... Exception #1 permits a reduction to a 1-Hour Fire Barrier in buildings protected by an automatic sprinkler system in non-High-Rise buildings.
913.5 Acceptance Testing

Tony C

1/5/2021 11:20:38 am

I agree with Todd as the IBC/IFC would take precedence.

Additionally referenced in the NFPA 20 (2013 Edition) HB.

4.12.1.1.4 Except as permitted in 4.12.1.1.5, rooms containing fire pumps shall be free from storage, equipment, and penetrations not essential to the operation of the pump and related components.
HB Excerpt: It is the intent of the standard to prohibit the use of a fire pump for the purposes of storage. It is not the intent if the standard to prohibit the installation of other types of equipment such as domestic water distribution equipment as indicated in 4.12.1.1.5. No materials or equipment that add to the combustibility of the space should be placed in the fire pump room. This provision is intended to provide protection to equipment as well as operating personnel.
A. 4.12.1.1.4 Equipment that increases the fire hazard (such a boilers) and is not related to fire protection systems should not be in a fire pump room.
4.12.1.1.5 Equipment related to domestic water distribution shall be permitted to be located within the same room as the fire pump equipment.

Therefore, the pump shall be located separately from any combustion type processes (such as boilers, gas-fired water heaters, etc).

Franck

1/8/2021 10:00:34 am

Boilers represent an exposure to the fire pumps.
As indicated above, it would be acceptable if it was a room housing domestic water distribution, but in your case it should preferrably be fire separated (you need to access the fire pumps in case of fire event on your equipment... What if the fire occurs on your boilers?.

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