Fire Marshall vs Electrical Inspector..Jurisdiction

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bwaggener

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Traverse City, MI USA
We have the local electrical inspector requiring a generator backup for the fire pump on a job of ours because of the reliable power requirements in the NEC.
We have the local Fire Marshall accepting the Utility source as reliable enough.

Which authority has the ultimate say in this case?

We are located in northern Michigan.
 
Are you the designer or EC?

Please update your profile information.
 
Hmm the EI can refuse the project because it does not pass code.
The FM says good enough but can't override the EIs refusal for Certificate of Occupancy.
Try stepping up through the chain of command for both.

I wonder what the owners Insurance company has to say about it.
 
Either of them can enforce requirements that the other doesn't. Unless they are making contradictory requests you likely need to do what they say. Ultimately the jurisdiction question is one of local law and ordinance and organization, not one we can answer from here.

That's leaving aside whether the EI is correct. But 'the fire inspector already approved it' isn't a strong argument unless they are buddies.
 
In our areas the EI would not make the decision on the need for the Fire Pump. He only only inspect the wiring once the FM, building official, or insurance co required the install
 
bwaggener said:
We have the local electrical inspector requiring a generator backup for the fire pump on a job of ours because of the reliable power requirements in the NEC.
We have the local Fire Marshall accepting the Utility source as reliable enough.

Which authority has the ultimate say in this case?

We are located in northern Michigan.
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If both entities have veto power then you must satisfy both of them. Do they talk to each other? It seems to me that they need to come to an agreement.
 
Since the actual relialable power requirements are found in A.9.3.2 of NFPA 20, and not in the NEC, I expect this call belongs to the Fire Marshal and not the electrical inspector.
 
Being that's the case is there a designer for the project? The reason I ask is, if there is a designer I would send an RFI explaining the predicament and let him hash it out with the two parties.

If you are acting as the designer send a letter to both asking which one carries the biggest hammer.
 
roger said:
Being that's the case is there a designer for the project? The reason I ask is, if there is a designer I would send an RFI explaining the predicament and let him hash it out with the two parties.

If you are acting as the designer send a letter to both asking which one carries the biggest hammer.
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There was an engineer whom was recently fired leaving the project under the Construction Managers purview only.
They are leaning on us for solutions and we have told them its not our job.
And to engage another EE.
Fun, fun!
 
I do some work for convalescent homes/hospitals and have noticed that after the inspector(s) is finished I get more work requests. Also, there are so many inspections, almost every day. So, they have a dedicated employee to usher them around.
 
bwaggener said:
There was an engineer whom was recently fired leaving the project under the Construction Managers purview only.
They are leaning on us for solutions and we have told them its not our job.
And to engage another EE.
Fun, fun!
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Sounds like a real mess. Good luck.

I agree with telling them to hire a new EE, the liability of this would be huge.
 
augie47 said:
In our areas the EI would not make the decision on the need for the Fire Pump. He only only inspect the wiring once the FM, building official, or insurance co required the install
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Reread. It's not about whether a fire pump is needed, it's about whether or not a generator is needed. We could be talking about Article 700 here.
 
gadfly56 said:
Reread. It's not about whether a fire pump is needed, it's about whether or not a generator is needed. We could be talking about Article 700 here.
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more a mental block on my part...substitute "generator" for "fire pump". IMO, it's not the inspectors job to determine the need for either IFP or GEN), simply to inspect for correct install once that determination is made.
 
augie47 said:
more a mental block on my part...substitute "generator" for "fire pump". IMO, it's not the inspectors job to determine the need for either IFP or GEN), simply to inspect for correct install once that determination is made.
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Going out on a speculative limb, here in NJ many of the electrical inspectors are also the electrical subcode official, so it could be his job. It's just he/she should have said something during plan review.
 
augie47 said:
more a mental block on my part...substitute "generator" for "fire pump". IMO, it's not the inspectors job to determine the need for either IFP or GEN), simply to inspect for correct install once that determination is made.
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I agree. and no one is going to install an article 700 generator because the EI said so. Gonna take a higher up.
 
gadfly56 said:
Going out on a speculative limb, here in NJ many of the electrical inspectors are also the electrical subcode official, so it could be his job. It's just he/she should have said something during plan review.
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Plan review! LOL! We had one in Charlotte NC where plan review made us move the fire pump controller outside, then the inspector came out, and wanted it inside!
 
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