Fire pump normal source

[hhsting]

I have separate electric utility service for fire pump still backup source would be required if normal source is found not reliable. However, normal source reliable guidelines are in NFPA 20 2013 A.9.3.2 and also handbook blue commentary in NEC 2014 Section 695.3 there are 4 but only list 2 below:

1. The source power plant has not experienced any shutdowns longer than 4 continuous hours in the year prior to plan submittal. If the normal source power plant has been intentionally shut down for longer than 4 hours in the past, it is reasonable to require backup generator.

2. Power outages have not routinely been experienced in the area of the protected facility caused by failures in generation or transmission.

We are the AHJ their is no one we have done this in electrical department and was wondering how all you have verified or other AHJs verified the above two conditions reliable normal source: letter from utility, letter from engineer of record, websites research if so which ones or other means?

 

[hhsting]

I have separate electric utility service for fire pump still backup source would be required if normal source is found not reliable. However, normal source reliable guidelines are in NFPA 20 2013 A.9.3.2 and also handbook blue commentary in NEC 2014 Section 695.3 there are 4 but only list 2 below:

1. The source power plant has not experienced any shutdowns longer than 4 continuous hours in the year prior to plan submittal. If the normal source power plant has been intentionally shut down for longer than 4 hours in the past, it is reasonable to require backup generator.

2. Power outages have not routinely been experienced in the area of the protected facility caused by failures in generation or transmission.

We are the AHJ their is no one we have done this in electrical department and was wondering how all you have verified or other AHJs verified the above two conditions reliable normal source: letter from utility, letter from engineer of record, websites research if so which ones or other means?

I tried searching own my own but I was not able to find anything. I am really stuck on this one. Sorry for my ignorance. How has everyone able to verify above two items and is the utility source mostly by default considered reliable? Where is my buddy Electrofelon?

 

[electrofelon]

I tried searching own my own but I was not able to find anything. I am really stuck on this one. Sorry for my ignorance. How has everyone able to verify above two items and is the utility source mostly by default considered reliable? Where is my buddy Electrofelon?

It is an interesting question, I do not know. I do not have much experience with fire pumps. Can POCO provide an outage history for a given location?

 

[jim dungar]

Can POCO provide an outage history for a given location?

I believe this is another example that proves the NEC is not a design manual for the untrained.
In my opinion the reliability of the service, for determining the requirements for fir pumps, should be made by the Fire Marshall, insurance/risk company, or other NFPA standards.

Once the decision has been made as to the need for a backup, then the NEC steps in with how it needs to be installed.