NFPA 20 Question 1

[QC1971]

In the 2003 edition of NFPA 20 para. 5.12.1.1 it states that indoor fire pump units shall be physically seperated or protected by fire rated construction. Are the fire pumps to be seperated from each other or from the rest of the building? I do not typically deal with NFPA and have had this explained both ways. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[stookeyfpe]

The intent is that the pump room be separated by either a 1 hour or 2 hour fire resistive assembly, not each individual pump. So if you have a room that houses two fire pumps the walls and floor/ceiling assemblies would be fire rated. I and other code officials have interpreted it in this manner.

 

[cdafd]

Ok I give up what is the " OR 50 feet" note in the seperation column for???


Table 5.12.1.1 Equipment Protection
Pump Room/House Building(s) Exposing Pump Room/House Required Separation
Not sprinklered Not sprinklered 2 hour fire-rated
Not sprinklered Fully sprinklered or
Fully sprinklered Not sprinklered 15.3 m (50 ft)
Fully sprinklered Fully sprinklered 1 hour fire-rated
or
15.3 m (50 ft)

 

[QC1971]

stookeyfpe, Thank You, the interpretation was what I was looking for. In case you are curious about the arguments that were presented for the other point of view they are as follows. 1.The only items referenced by the para. are the pump units and it states that they shall be physically seperated. If they are not to be seperated from each other then what are they to be seperated from? The reasoning behind seperating the pumps is that one fire will not disable both the main and backup fire pumps. As I stated you have answered my question as to the intent, I just thought you might be interested in the other side. Thanks again.

 

[stookeyfpe]

I have yet to see a nonsprinklered pump room. I know they are allowed but I have witnessed fire pumps in series in a single room. Why does one need 50 foot of separation? I don't know but a quick check of the NFPA 20 handbook is in order.

Looking at the section more closely, I believe that the NFPA 20 committee is looking at the separation distance between a stand-alone fire pump building versus the exposure building being protected.

 

[cdafd]

5.12.1.1 Indoor Fire Pump Units. Indoor fire pump units shall be physically separated or protected by fire-rated construction in accordance with

"physically separated"

in a sprinkled building it appears that you can do one hour construction OR seperate it from what ever by fifty feet??

 

[stookeyfpe]

CDA:

I don't think that is the intent. I've got a building that contains an electric and diesel fire pump. Redundant pumps were required by the insurance company. Both pumps were in the same room. The building was fully sprinklered. The room was separated by a 1-hour fire resistive assembly. The pumps were located 5 feet apart for maintenance purposes.

I believe that the intent of NFPA 20 relates to exterior pump buildings, not between each pump. I've got a call into NFPA and have left a voice mail with the staff liaison for NFPA 20.

I also checked Factory Mutual data sheet 3-7N/13-4N that governs fire pumps. They have no such physical separation requirement but require that all pump rooms be protected by an automatic sprinkler system. However they also reference NFPA 20 for compliance. The property I referenced in the first paragraph was insured by one of their underwriters.

 

[cdafd]

my question even though not clear is:

not the seperation of pumps but:

1. do you need a fire rated room or can you provide the fifty feet and the code is silent on fifty feet from what??

becuase the section starts with "Indoor Fire Pump Units" so I take it to mean a fire pump found inside either needs a fire rated room or the option of fifty feet seperation.

Lets put the pump inside a warehouse and ask the same question do you need a fire rated room or can you provide fifty feet seperation from what ever?????