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Use One Pump & Tank to Supply Two Buildings?

5/21/2021

9 Comments

 
I have a project where the consultant is wanting to use a previously-installed 10-story building tank and fire pump to supply a new 14-story building up to its 6th floor, then add a booster pump to carry water to the upper floors.

Is this even acceptable by code?

The new 14-story will be built next to the existing 10-story building.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
9 Comments
Mike
5/21/2021 08:16:31 am

I think the real question is do you want to warranty a system using used equipment?

That seems like a huge risk to me.

Reply
Glenn Berger
5/21/2021 08:19:01 am

Is it the same owner?

This is probably legit, but I would make sure that a current test on the pump is done and the tank inspected.

Reply
Jon
5/21/2021 08:24:00 am

Is a tank required to satisfy the IBC requirement, based on seismic design category, for a secondary "on-site" water supply? If so, it could be argued that a tank for another building is remote and wouldn't qualify as being "on-site". I recommend drawing in the AHJ to get this clarified.

Reply
schulman
5/21/2021 08:29:20 am

we frequently design Sprinkler Systems for agencies (such as a town hall center) where we have several facilities or different buildings owned by the same agency (same owner as someone mentioned above) and use their existing (certified) pumps and water supply .... should really only have one building fire at a time or you are having a very bad day

Reply
Franck
5/21/2021 10:05:21 am

As indicated above, if you have the same owner and same technical maintenance, I would see no reason not to do it.
Just like for a large industrial facility. You have one water supply for all the different buildings, not one dedicated water supply for each building.

On the other hand, if your water supply is coming from an area where you have no input on the maintenance... I won't do it.

Reply
Jacob
5/21/2021 11:27:23 am

I have seen one fire pump serve multiple buildings before, no major code issues, just potentially maintenance issues. I would be interested to understand more the configuration of the pumps and would encourage review of NPFA 20 requirements for series fire pumps which are fairly limiting and typically require series fire pumps are located within the same pump room unless specific requirements are met.

Reply
Casey Milhorn
5/21/2021 02:04:28 pm

What Jacob said. I would think that possibly replacing the existing pump with a slightly larger pump would be more ideal. You may need to install PRV valves all the way to the top of the 10 story, but that's fairly minimal cost. Also, I would take the latest fire pump test report and see if you can meet the demand for the 14 story building. Fire pumps typically overperform a tad bit from the original specs and you never know if the city water has gotten better. The fire pump test report should tell you if you are in the ballpark (and then I would do another one myself anyway just to confirm). I would personally NOT want to add another pump on an upper floor due to the restrictions per NFPA 20. If you get lucky the incoming electrical might be enough to supply a new pump that meets demand (pumps have gotten more efficient and if it's an older pump the cost might be minimal to replace it, no to mention the owner gets a new pump that they don't have to worry about). Again, just have to worry about the new PRVs and adjusting the existing PRVs. Now if the existing pump was designed for only 65 psi, then probably not a chance in heck to avoid upgrading electrical.

Reply
Jay
5/21/2021 06:00:11 pm

See 2016 NFPA 13:8.2.6 Detached Buildings and associated Annex A material.
In my jurisdiction we have permitted two adjacent 4-story apartment buildings under the same owner to be supplied by the same fire pump. We also have a large community College in which all buildings (15+?) are supplied via an underground private fire main that is supplied by a fire pump in one of the buildings.

Reply
Pumping Septic Tank link
5/27/2022 01:01:41 pm

Thank you for sharing this information.

Reply



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  • Blog
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  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
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    • ABOUT
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