NFPA 25 1

[AlarmTec]

Referring to NFPA 25 15.5* Preplanned Impairment Programs.
If a contractor was to enact a predetermined campus power outage for 6 1/2 hours which would certainly prevent the electrical jockey from operating impairing the sprinkler system, what would a contractor doing this be REQUIRED to do by code?

 

[cdafd]

From nothing to a lot

Depends on what the ahj requires

 

[AlarmTec]

Understood.

Maybe the question should be. "If a contractor was to impair the sprinkler the system for 6 1/2 hours by removing the jockey pump from operation, would it be required to notify the AHJ for his/her requirements for the down time?" Where in code would the "yes or no" answer be found?

 

[Sdpaddler50]

AlarmTec,

I am not sure where you are located. In my area, Cal Fire Code 901.7, the local fire department should be notified if any fire systems are removed from service. The systems should be tagged out, and all necessary precautions noted by the fire officials will be enforced. No hot work (cutting, grinding, welding, etc.) will be done, and any processes involving potential ignition sources, or hazardous operations will cease until the fire protection systems are restored.

Key point - hot work is your greatest threat when a fire system is down.

With the above said, some fire departments don't care when you call them, but it is a code requirement.

Secondly, the property insurance company will want to know. If its a large company, Fortune 1000, and they are insured by FM, GAPS, etc then they take these very serious. Their criteria as far as controls/precautions are more stringent than any code.

Lastly, the removal of a jockey pump is technically not an impairment - in my opinion. The jockey is only a pressure maint pump to keep the main pump from cycling due to small pressure fluctuations. Your system will start, and provide water if your main pump is in service with the jockey out of service.

 

[cdafd]

depends on who the ahj is

sometimes the ahj is the business itself, and may have written policy

sometimes the builsing is out in the middle of nowhere and there is no ahj

sometimes as stated the ahj has no policy or does not care, even though they should

some ahj's require a firewatch either firefighter or someone they approve.

if the fire pump is electric, more than likley it will be lost also.


yes most fire codes do address that someone needs to be notified

 

[CKCECB]

What's your jockey pump doing? If it's used to maintain pressure, and it's out, then your fire pump will still kick on and supply the pressure. So are you really impairing the system? If your fire pump run reports as a supervisory, no big deal. But if your fire pump run reports as an alarm (some do), then you'll light up your building if the fire pump kicks on to maintain pressure, even if there isn't a fire.