I am designing a project to install an emergency generator, feeding emergency power to an entire building. The building has a fire pump, located in another building outside. The fire pump is currently fed from a connection ahead of the main service disconnect. My question is, where should I connect the new automatic transfer switch? I would like the generator to also supply emergency power to the fire pump, in case of a prolonged electrical outage. Would the NEC permit the new transfer switch to be connected ahead of the fire pump connection? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!
Fire Pump Connections
- Thread starter zeppmann
- Start date
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- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
I believe that you will avoid a lot of potential problems by adding a second, service rated, transfer switch just for the fire pump. The fire pump supply also should not share a common breaker with the generator output to the main transfer switch.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
Better yet, switch out the current pump controller for one with an ATS built in. Land the POCO feed and generator feed, let the controller do the rest. Oh yeah, that'll run about $25,000 or so, depending on the size of the fire pump.
In the long run this might well be the wisest choice. When you take into account the requirement for protection of conductors on the load side of the TS prior to the controller and changing to an ATS controller eliminates a lot of design headaches.
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