Swimming Pool as Fire Protection Water Supply?

1/28/2021

I am currently working on an existing high rise building that requires a fully automatic sprinkler system to be added and the AHJ is requiring a water tank to be added on the property to serve as a secondary supply.

There is no room for a secondary supply.

Can a pool be used to substitute a water storage tank that will supply the building through fire pumps?

What codes could back up this option?

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17 Comments

Yasser Amer link

1/28/2021 09:25:19 am

As stated in Fire protection Handbook, The developed sources of water supplies adapted for fire fighting are limited only by the innovation of the fire department. Developed sources include cisterns, swimming pools, quarries, mines, automatic sprinkler system supplies, stationary tanks, driven wells, and dry hydrants.
Page 13-41.

Glenn Berger

1/28/2021 09:27:44 am

Using a swimming pool as a water supply is a consideration that I had never thought to use. Need to have an understanding of chemicals being used in the swimming pool and its potential effects on sprinkler piping. I am sure others will be contributing and curious on their opinions.

sean

1/29/2021 07:00:24 am

I think the concern is not about not how the agents affect firefighting but that the water can be drawn without injury if someone was in the pool.

Thomas Jones III

1/28/2021 09:28:04 am

You may want to look into NFPA 1142. I have personally never designed a system like this but I have seen it done before.

Josh Gilliam

1/28/2021 09:32:50 am

I would say be mindful of the fact that there are times that pools are drained for maintenance and whatnot. If the pool is enclosed, that would be more helpful than say a rooftop pool for obvious reasons. If you find code and present to the AHJ, I'd like to know what you find out.

1/28/2021 09:50:49 am

One AHJ's 2 cents,

We have allowed large swimming pools to be used in some rural, low-rise, non-residential applications, with a draft hydrant installed per NFPA 1142. Pool maintenance has to be coordinated with the FD, similarly to when a sprinkler system or fire alarm system is out of service.
I would never allow a swimming pool to be used as a fire pump supply for a high-rise structure. A well or other source would have to be developed as a permanent, reliable water source for the fire pump.

1/28/2021 09:55:47 am

PS: While I would not let the pool be connected to the fire pump at all, the AHJ may allow you to install a draft FDC on the pool per NFPA 1142, as an auxiliary water supply option only.

James

1/28/2021 09:57:50 am

My guess is, though, this isn't an NFPA 1142 application since a high-rise would typically be in a dense urban area. Don't know the OP intent, but I don't think 1142 would get pulled in.

James

1/28/2021 09:58:19 am

To your point on rural applications, yes and I agree that's a pretty sound approach.

1/28/2021 02:36:49 pm

NFPA 1142 contains the guidelines for draft/dry hydrants. The AHJ in the posted scenario should be able to determine whether they can/should apply it, sounds like they are...creative. =)

Chris Geer

1/28/2021 09:57:00 am

Years ago I recall someone mentioning that if the sprinkler system activated, and a fire pump was involved, anyone who may be in the pool at the time of activation would be sucked into the suction piping...

Bruce Seiler

1/28/2021 09:57:36 am

We have installed a system utilizing a pool as a primary and secondary supply. The concern is always will the pool be full at all times or will it be drained and unused. Pre-cautions should also be put in place that when the pool is drained, the system is considered impaired. Time frames for filling should be considered the same as a tank. There was project that utilized a pool for the supply and near the end of the project there was a fire which burned the entire building. The sprinkler was installed and complete, however the pool had not been filled.

The pool is a great option to use when a tank is not an option, it just comes with some intentional planning on the owner's part.

CJ Bonczyk

1/28/2021 10:30:28 am

NFPA requires that the sprinkler system must have one automatic water supply. NFPA does not prohibit its use as a means of a water supply if the pool is sufficient in size to meet the demand of the most demanding system (i.e. standpipe or sprinkler) and meets greater of the two duration requirements. A pool is similar in design to a UG water basin being the supply which would be pumped by a vertical shaft turbine pump or similar.

Considerations:
Please note that it will be required to be inspected, tested, and maintained per NFPA 25. Also, if the pool is still utilized for public usage other items must be addressed with the building owner and the AHJ. The owner also must have SOP's and safety regulations during any operation of the pump(s). The pumps will draw water to the suction orifice and an orifice plate should be installed to prevent any vortex drafts. The suction inlet size, location, and orientation will need to be coordinated as well.
Chlorine is an important consideration due to its corrosive properties on fire sprinkler system components and can be detrimental to the system over time thus the building design team should be heavily involved to confirm if this design will be acceptable for the client. Currently NFPA has not printed any data reports to my knowledge that quantifies an unacceptable level of chlorine concentration exposed to internal fire sprinkler system components. You can simply see the effects just in an exposed sprinkler system in a swimming pool room how wax coated sprinklers are required and the exterior of the pipe corrodes faster than normal. This highly chlorinated water will deteriorate fire pump system components and fire sprinkler system components prematurely. During any testing and maintenance where the chlorinated pool water is discharged to any storm drains careful consideration and operation should be pre-coordinated with the owner and AHJ as well. A documented agreement with the owner and AHJ should be drafted outlining the precautions of any possible issues for this system design, future maintenance, life safety concerns, and local environmental impacts. Lastly the responding fire department will need to be aware of the design so that when trucks are rolled the responding department will know how to proceed accordingly since the system is atypical.

Pari

1/28/2021 10:46:55 am

Instead of pool you have an option to use Section 914.3.1.2 of IFC: Fire pump can be supplied from two water main located in different streets. if project located in corner lot and can be supply from two different main.

Marc Vieno

1/28/2021 11:36:06 am

This is the solution that most new high-rises in Portland use.

The other solution I've seen is a single tank, but double-size with a partition to separate the volumes.

Dave L.

1/28/2021 10:48:20 am

I addition to the concerns above, the pool's ability (or inability) to withstand a seismic event.

Tati Naga Sai Chandu

1/29/2021 01:28:10 am

As per the NBC-2016 section 7 classification of buildings it has mentioned based on the type of building what storage, How much of water required. But i am sure you need to convert it as a dedicated water sours with standers water storage capacity based on the NBC-2016 or NFPA. Automatic sprinkler system supplies, stationary tanks, driven wells, and dry hydrants.
Page 13-41.

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