Fire pump feeders

[steve holt]

I have a fire pump being fed by a normal (reliable source) and a backup from an emergency generator. The normal is being fed by a breaker (sized for locked rotor) in a separate section of the main switch gear and is routed directly to the fire pump controller/ATS. The emergency feeder is being fed through a series of breakers starting with the breaker on the generator, which is then routed to a distribution board, which is then routed to another distribution boards and finally to the fire pump controller/ATS. According to my AHJ, the breaker feeding the fire pump has to be isolated from breakers feeding other loads. In the past 26 years I have had some projects where the secondary feeder (emergency) is fed from a separate breaker on the generator, but most are fed through a series of breakers which are not in a separate enclosure. I have read through section 695 over and over but can't get a firm grip as to what the code is saying.
1. Does the breaker on the secondary feeder (emergency) need to be isolated from other loads?
2. If it does, does this only apply to the final breaker, or all breakers along the way?

 

[augie47]

From 695.4(B)(1)
Connection Through Disconnecting Means and
Overcurrent Device [ROP 13-77a].
(1) Number of Disconnecting Means [ROP 13-77a].
(a) General. A single disconnecting means and associated
overcurrent protective device(s) shall be permitted to
be installed between the fire pump power source(s) and one
of the following: [20:9.1.2] [ROP 13-77a]
(1) A listed fire pump controller
(2) A listed fire pump power transfer switch
(3) A listed combination fire pump controller and power
transfer switch



From 695.4(B)(3):

(3) Disconnecting Means. All disconnecting devices that
are unique to the fire pump loads shall comply with items
(a) through (d). [20:9.2.3.1] [ROP 13-77a]
(a) Features and Location. The disconnecting means
shall comply with all of the following: [ROP 13-77a]
(1) Be identified as suitable for use as service equipment
(2) Be lockable in the closed position
(3) Not be located within equipment that feeds loads other
than the fire pump
(4) Be located sufficiently remote from other building or
other fire pump source disconnecting means such that
inadvertent operation at the same time would be
unlikely

 

[DARUSA]

I always tough that the feeder coming from the generator need to be taped from the line side of the generator main breaker but. I have been see a few building with the setup that you described before!!! The only difference was that the generator supply a DPEM panel and from there one of the breaker supply de feeder for FP ATS build into the FP motor control.

 

[brother]

I've seen somewhat of a similar set up for the fire pumps at college campuses. Would 695.3(B)(3) come into play here?