Fire Pump & Jockey Pump Tap Question

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tmillard

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I searched the forum earlier today for this but couldn't find anything.

We designed a life safety upgrade project for a 14 story apt. building that including adding sprinklers with a fire pump, adding a new fire alarm system and adding a new diesel generator. The project was designed two years ago and currently under construction.

Since the building is a high rise (over 75'), we provided emergency power for the fire pump as well as a separate utility service (both at 208V 3 phase).

- the fire pump is 75HP 208V and is manufactured by Patterson
- the fire pump controller / automatic transfer switch is manufactured by Joslyn Clark and is Wye-Delta closed (not across the line)
- the jockey pump is 1 1/2HP 208V and is manufactured by Patterson
- the jockey pump controller is manufactured by Joslyn Clark

I originally had the tap for the jockey pump after the fire pump controller and before the fire pump in a separate enclosure. Since the motor has 12 leads with 6 that get paired (for wye delta starting), I can't make the tap here now. So now I need to make the tap ahead of the fire pump controller/automatic transfer switch.

So this leads to my two questions:

- is emergency power required for the jockey pump? I have researched IBC 2006, NEC 695 and NFPA 20 and do not believe it is.
- what is the best way to make the tap ahead of the fire pump controller if it is being fed with parallel sets from the new utility service?

Thanks,

Tom
 
Tom,
The jockey (pressure maintenance) pump does not require emergency power. It is fed in the same way any pump in the building is fed.

You couldn't have had it fed on the output of the FP controller as it wouldn't be able to run unless the FP ran, which is not the sequence of operation.
 
I agree with Ron. It appears to me that 965.6(F) prohibits you from tapping your jocky pump power from the transfer switch or controller.
 
The purpose of a jockey pump is to maintain water pressure in the fire system against normal leaks. Article 695 calls them "pressure maintenance pumps." It needs to have power during normal times and can't be powered off the load side of the fire pump controller.

A pressure switch in the jockey pump controller turns the pump on and off as needed to maintain system pressure. When a sprinkler head goes off or a fire hose valve is opened, the pressure drops further and turns on the fire pump. If the jockey pump has power it will probalby run during the fire, but it won't be doing much.

It does not need to be on the emergency supply, but doing is that way is not prohibited.
 
Thanks for everyones input. Instead of the tap I fed the jockey pump from an emergency fed panelboard that is nearby (I know it's not required by code...)

Tom
 
tmillard said:
Thanks for everyones input. Instead of the tap I fed the jockey pump from an emergency fed panelboard that is nearby (I know it's not required by code...)

Tom
Click to expand...
I think that's a wise choice. Although not required to be fed from an emergency panel, if the jockey pump looses it's power source, in time the pressure loss can result in false alarms.
 
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