Sprinkler, Occupancy Group for Fire Pump Room?

5/7/2020

Hello Fire Pro People! I am retrofitting an existing stand alone fire pump room.

The existing design had both an electric fire pump and diesel fire pump for back up. We are getting rid of the diesel, and going with just one electric fire pump. The existing building has a sprinkler system, fed from the piping in the Fire Pump room. We would like to get rid of sprinklers. Are they required by code? And can anyone tell me what classification this building is by IBC standards? I read through them all, and I didn't feel that the Fire Pump building fit into any of the categories. Thanks for any love you can send my way!

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7 Comments

Mike

5/7/2020 07:50:14 am

The fire pump room doesn't generally fall under an Occupancy Classification in the IBC. Requirements for protection are listed in NFPA-20. The required room rating is dependent on whether sprinkler protection is provided or not.

Also, if the fire pump room is located within a building that is required to have sprinkler protection, then all spaces must have sprinklers installed. There is no exemption for fire pump room as there is for electrical rooms.

Jonathan Sullivan

5/7/2020 10:16:08 am

Without knowing your building size, construction type, distance to lot line or adjacent buildings, or opening size it's hard to say about the sprinklers. Buildings where IBC is enforced require an occupancy classification, I can't think of an exception to this.
Typically we see U or F-1 for pump houses and similar buildings depending on the jurisdiction. Side note, if you are heating the enclosure and IBC applies, you need to comply with the energy code including the thermal provisions of the envelope, no exception.

Franck

5/7/2020 10:41:33 am

It is a good practice to protect the diesel fire pump room (recommended density is .25 gpm/sq ft over the entire room), preferably with high temperature sprinklers (286°F).
In case of fire in the pump room (it happens with diesel engines), the sprinkler protection will limit the fire spread and will reduce the time out of service for the pump (reliability).
It is largely accepted that electric fire pumps are only equipped with smoke detection when there is no additional hazard/exposure (detached building, for example).
But this point of view is mainly an insurance industry consideration (property damage).
If the room houses both types (diesel and electric), then a sprinkler protection for the entire room is normally advised.

sean

5/7/2020 11:04:38 am

this is a question for a design professional (licensed architect or engineer).

There are many factors in the IBC that dictate sprinkler design. To many to run though everything.

If I was the building official i would need to confirm that the building design does not use any of the sprinklered options.

Julianne Heredia

5/7/2020 11:25:32 am

Take a look at NFPA 20:Table 4.12.1.1.2 Equipment Protection.
These are the essential guidelines for protection of any fire pump room.

Nimal Tissa Wijetunga

5/7/2020 11:29:39 am

As per NFPA 20,

1) Electric driven fire pump only - the pump room shall be considered as OH1 for Sprinler Design.

2) If the diesel engine driven fire pump is also included - the pump room shall be considered as Extra Hazard 2 for Sprinkler design.

Ivonn Ochoa

5/7/2020 12:56:58 pm

Agree with Nimal,

You can check this on sections 4.13.1.3 and 4.13.1.4 of NFPA 20 Ed.2016

Or sections 4.14.1.3 & 4.14.1.4 Ed.2019

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