Specific Requirements for Fire Pump Location?

11/4/2020

I have a project where the fire pump room is located on a third floor level.

Are there any specific requirements regarding the location of a fire pump? Is this location acceptable?

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4 Comments

Mike

11/4/2020 10:08:17 am

Fire department access, pump room fire rating, location of test header piping and test header for fiction loss purposes. Is the pump diesel or electric? More information and details are needed for the forum to provide accurate responses.

11/4/2020 10:21:42 am

see NFPA 20:4.14.2 2019 ed.

Franck

11/4/2020 10:33:56 am

Just in case...

4.14.2 Equipment Access.
4.14.2.1
The location of and access to the fire pump room(s) shall be pre-planned with the fire department.

4.14.2.1.1
Except as provided in 4.14.2.1.1.1, fire pump rooms not directly accessible from the outside shall be accessible through a fire-resistant-rated corridor from an enclosed stairway or exterior exit.

4.14.2.1.1.1
Fire pump units supplying only local application fire protection systems shall be accessible by a path that is not subject to exposure from a fire in any hazard protected by the fire pump.

Franck

11/4/2020 10:31:05 am

Good practice is to have the fire pump accessible in case of fire.
In your case, if there is a fire in the building, the fire pump will not be accessible and this is not a good recommended location (except if you have a separate safe access to the pump room).

Another issue may be the water supply itself. If it is a booster pump, taking suction from the city water supply, there is no big issue, but if you take suction from a tank, there might be some issues (where to locate the tank, height difference between the tank and pump for suction head...).

You have some information in NFPA 20 in chapter 4.14 (2019 Edition)

Some extracts:

4.14 * Equipment Protection.
4.14.1 * General Requirements.
The fire pump, driver, controller, water supply, and power supply shall be protected against possible interruption of service through damage caused by explosion, fire, flood, earthquake, rodents, insects, windstorm, freezing, vandalism, and other adverse conditions.

4.14.1.1 * Indoor Fire Pump Units.
4.14.1.1.1
Except as permitted in 4.14.1.1.3, fire pump units serving high-rise buildings shall be protected from surrounding occupancies by a minimum of 2-hour fire-rated construction or physically separated from the protected building by a minimum of 50 ft (15.3 m).

4.14.1.1.2 *
Except as permitted in 4.14.1.1.3, indoor fire pump rooms in non-high-rise buildings or in separate fire pump buildings shall be physically separated or protected by fire-rated construction in accordance with Table 4.14.1.1.2.
(see table in NFPA 20)

4.14.1.1.4
The location of and access to the fire pump room shall be preplanned with the fire department.

The Annex section also has some interesting information:

A.‍4.14
Special consideration needs to be given to fire pump installations installed below grade. Light, heat, drainage, ventilation, and potential flooding are several of the variables that need to be addressed. Some locations or installations might not require a pump house. Where a pump room or pump house is required, it should be of ample size and located to permit short and properly arranged piping. The suction piping should receive first consideration. The pump house should preferably be a detached building of noncombustible construction. A one-story pump room with a combustible roof, either detached or well protected from an adjoining one-story building, is acceptable if sprinklered. Where a detached building is not feasible, the pump room should be located and constructed to protect the pump unit and controls from falling floors or machinery, and from fire that could drive away the pump operator or damage the pump unit or controls. Access to the pump room should be provided from outside the building. Where the use of brick or reinforced concrete is not feasible, metal lath and plaster is recommended for the construction of the pump room. The pump room or pump house should not be used for storage purposes. Vertical shaft turbine–type pumps might necessitate a removable panel in the pump house roof to permit the pump to be removed for inspection or repair. Proper clearances to equipment should be provided as recommended by the manufacturer's drawings.

A.‍4.14.1.1
Most fire departments have procedures requiring operation of a fire pump unit during an incident. Building designers should locate the fire pump room to be easily accessible during an incident.

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