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NEC Rules For Fire Pumps PDF
NEC Rules For Fire Pumps PDF
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NEC Rules for Fire Pumps
Electrical Construction and Maintenance
Mike Holt
By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant
Tue, 20130416 16:30
The general philosophy behind most Code requirements is to provide circuit protection that will shut down
equipment before the supply conductors become overloaded, overheated, and damaged. But Art. 695 is based
on a different philosophy: The fire pump motor must run, regardless of the risk to the conductors.
A fire pump supplies water to a facility’s fire protection piping. If the pump doesn’t run, not only will those
conductors be damaged, but the entire facility will also be in danger of burning down. Consequently, the many
requirements of Art. 695 aim to keep the pump running.
Obviously, the pump is more likely to keep running if its location minimizes exposure to fire, and doing so is an
NEC requirement. This doesn’t conflict with other requirements, but many Art. 695 requirements do. For
example, contrary to what other articles require, the disconnect must be lockable in the closed position
[695.4(B)(3)(a)(2)].
According to the scope statement of Art. 695, it covers the installation of the fire pump supply and controls. It
doesn’t cover the jockey pumps or the internal wiring of the system (Photo).
Power sources
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With the 2011 NEC, the power requirements found in Art. 695 have changed extensively (see SIDEBAR: Power
Source(s) for Electric MotorDriven Fire Pumps). However, as with previous NEC editions, you must supply
power from a reliable source. This source must be able to carry the lockedrotor current of the fire pump
motor(s) and pressure maintenance pump motors, plus the fullload current of associated fire pump equipment
[695.3(A)].
Electric motordriven fire pumps must have a reliable source of power, which is subject to the approval of the
AHJ. It needs to be one or more of the following:
A separate electric utility service [695.3(A)(1)].
A connection located ahead of (but not within) the service disconnecting means [695.3(A)(1)].
An onsite power supply, such as a generator, located and protected to minimize damage by fire [695.3(A)
(2)].
A dedicated feeder derived from a service connection in accordance with 695.3(A)(1) [695.3(A)(3)].
If reliable power can’t be obtained from one of these sources, then it must be supplied by one of the following
multiple sources [695.3(B)]:
1. Individual sources. An approved combination of two or more of the sources from 695.3(A).
2. Individual source and onsite standby generator. An approved combination of one of the sources in
695.3(A) and an onsite standby generator.
Exception to 695.3(B)(1) and (B)(2): An alternate source of power isn’t required where a backup enginedriven
or backup steam turbinedriven fire pump is installed.
If you have:
Amultibuilding, campusstyle installation where the sources just discussed aren’t practicable, follow the
requirements of 695.3(C).
An onsite standby generator as an alternate source, follow the requirements of 695.3(D).
Arrange multiple sources so that a fire at one source won’t cause an interruption at the other source [695.3(E)].
Phase converters are not permitted for a fire pump service [695.3(F)].
Continuity
Circuits that supply electric motordriven fire pumps must be supervised from inadvertent disconnection
whether the conductors connect directly or through a disconnecting means and overcurrent device [695.4].
If you have a direct connection, the supply conductors must directly connect the power source either to a listed
fire pump controller or to a listed combination fire pump controller and power transfer switch [695.4(A)].
If you connect through a disconnect and an overcurrent protective device (OCPD), then you can use a single
disconnecting means and associated OCPD(s) between the fire pump power source and one of the following
[695.4(B)(1)]:
1. Listed fire pump controller.
2. Listed fire pump power transfer switch.
3. Listed combination fire pump controller and power transfer switch.
Select or set the OCPD to carry indefinitely the sum of the lockedrotor current of the fire pump and pressure
maintenance pump motor(s), and 100% of the ampere rating of the fire pump’s accessory equipment.
If the lockedrotor current value doesn’t correspond to a standard OCPD size, then use the next standard OCPD
size per 240.6 (Fig. 1). The requirement to carry the lockedrotor current indefinitely doesn’t apply to fire
pump motor conductors [695.4(B)(2)(a)].
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Disconnecting means
The disconnecting means for the normal power source must be [695.4(B)(3)]:
Identified as suitable for use as service equipment.
Lockable in the closed position.
Not located within equipment that feeds loads other than the fire pump.
Located sufficiently remote from other building or other fire pump source disconnecting means.
Marked “Fire Pump Disconnecting Means.” The letters must be at least 1 in. high. People must be able to
see them without opening enclosure doors or covers [695.4(B)(3)(c)].
What if an onsite generator is the alternate power source? In that case, install its disconnect per 700.10(B)(5)
for emergency circuits, and ensure the disconnect can be locked in the closed position [695.4(B)(3)(a)(2)].
Transformers
If a transformer supplies an electric fire pump motor, size it at least 125% of the sum of the fire pump and
pressure maintenance pump(s) motor loads, and 100% of the ampere rating of the fire pump’s accessory
equipment [695.5(A)].
Size the primary OCPD to carry indefinitely the sum of the lockedrotor current of the fire pump and pressure
maintenance pump motor(s), and 100% of the ampere rating of the fire pump’s accessory equipment. The
requirement to carry the lockedrotor currents indefinitely does not apply to fire pump motor conductors.
Secondary overcurrent protection is not permitted [695.5(B)].
Power wiring
Service conductors and conductors supplied by onsite power production facilities must be physically routed
outside buildings [695.6]. Install them per Art. 230. If these conductors cannot be routed outside of buildings,
then encase them in 2 in. of concrete or brick [230.6(1) or (2)].
Keep fire pump supply conductors entirely independent of all other wiring. They can supply only those loads
directly associated with the fire pump system. Make sure they are protected from potential damage by fire,
structural failure, or operational accident [695.6(A)(2)]. You can route fire pump conductors through a building
by one of the following methods [695.6(A)(2)(d)]:
Encase them in a minimum 2 in. of concrete.
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Run them within an enclosed construction dedicated to the fire pump circuit(s) and having a minimum of
a 2hr fireresistive rating.
Use a listed electrical circuit protective system protected by a firerated assembly listed to achieve a
minimum fire rating of 2 hr and dedicated to the fire pump circuit(s).
Conductors supplying only a fire pump motor must have a minimum ampacity of at least 125% of the motor full
load current rating as required by 430.22 [695.6(B)(2)], as shown in Fig. 2. If these conductors also supply
related equipment, such as another fire pump motor, pressure maintenance pumps, and associated fire pump
accessory equipment, they must have a minimum ampacity of at least 125% of the sum of the fire pump motors
and pressure maintenance motors fullload currents — and 100% of the associated fire pump accessory
equipment [695.6(B)(1)].
Wiring from the fire pump controller to the fire pump motor (not installed through a building, as covered in
695.6(B)) must be in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, electrical metallic tubing, liquidtight
flexible metal conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit Type B, listed Type MC cable with an impervious
covering, or Type MI cable [695.6(D)]. This requirement also applies to the control wiring [695.14(E)].
The voltage at the line terminals of the fire pump controller, when the motor starts (lockedrotor current), must
not drop more than 15% below the controller’s rated voltage [695.7(A)].
In addition, the voltage at the motor terminals must not drop more than 5% below the voltage rating of the
motor when the motor operates at 115% of the fire pump fullload current rating [695.7(B)].
Regardless of the voltage drop calculations, size the branch circuit conductors no smaller than required by
[695.6(B)].
GFCI
Groundfault protection of equipment is not allowed on fire pump equipment [695.6(G)]. The NEC doesn’t
prohibit you from installing GFCIprotected receptacles in a fire pump location for portable equipment or other
outlets required by the NEC to be GFCI protected.
In summary
Because the circuit protection requirements of Art. 695 differ from — and philosophically conflict with — the
NEC’s other circuit protection requirements, correct application can be confusing. The central question to
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answer when installing fire pumps and related equipment is, “How do I make sure the pump runs no matter
what?”
Remember, the fire pump must be kept in service, even if doing so damages or destroys the pump. It’s better to
run the pump until its windings melt than to save the fire pump and lose the facility. The intent of Art. 695 is to
save the facility.
SIDEBAR: Power Source(s) for Electric MotorDriven Fire Pumps
Section 695.3 is the most heavily revised portion of Art. 695 in the 2011 NEC. Three key revisions worth noting
include:
Feeders originating from a separate service (or a connection upstream of the service) are now addressed
and permitted as a power source.
The provisions for multiple sources have been expanded to address onsite standby generators and
combinations of services and onsite generation. The use of a generator as an alternate source has also
been addressed.
Lastly, phase converters are now specifically prohibited as a power source for fire pumps.
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