Fire Pump service switch protection

[Magic Gorge]

I'm looking over NEC 695 and I'm still a bit fuzzy about the protection requirements for a fire pump. What I've got is a non-fused Square D general duty safety safety switch right next to the utility meter, which is about 25ft from the fire pump controller. (Also has gen-side feed, and everything seems to check out there)

This is actually a multi-part question, first concerning short-circuit: The switch by itself doesn't have any general withstand rating, correct? With protection it would be a minimum of 10kA, so does it even require OCPD?

For conductor sizing: The FLA is 155 amps, so what's the minimum amp capacity for the feeder cables?

Next, would be OCPD sizing: The LRA of the pump/jockey combined is about 950A, so would a 1000A fuse be practical? Lastly, the switch nameplate shows a rating of only 200A, would it also need to be replaced? Or is everything fine as-is?

Sorry for the loaded question, but it seems that all of it needs to check out, any help is appreciated!

 

[tom baker]

You don’t need or want the sq d switch
The fire pump controller it’s own disconnect.
Feed from the meter straight to the fp.
Run 2nd set conductors from Meter to service disconnect and then to jockey pump, and other loads
Check voltage drop per art 695
Fire pump is sacrificial in a fire. It has no overload protection

 

[d0nut]

It seems like people always want to over complicate fire pump feeds and end up getting into trouble. There is a simple, lazy way to make sure you are compliant. It won't work for every project, but will work for most.

1. Buy a service rated, transfer switch, fire pump controller with the fire pump. Add a soft start or similar option if you are worried about needing to oversize the generator to start the fire pump.
2. Size your service conductors for the required voltage drop during motor starting and route them outside the building to your fire pump controller. If they have to route through the building, encase them in concrete.
3. Profit.

 

[infinity]

What is the purpose of the non-fused disconnect? I could using a fused disconnect because of the 25' of SEC's run inside of the building.