Fire Pump Wiring Requirements

[moraypa]

Do I understand article 695.6B *Exception?
Our fire pump controller is in the electrical
room where our supply connection is located as well as our backup generator. Reading the above
article, if the supply normal power is located in the same room then the fire rating of 1 hour does not apply. Our main power feed is 3 #10's THHN's to a disconnect then to the fire panel and transfer switch which is in the panel. The generator is in the same room also and also has
3 #10's for the feed. We are having a dispute with the local inspector and his interpretation is different than ours. Please shed some light on the correct wiring for this application. Thanks in advance.

Dick Mowery
Electrician

 

[volt101]

Re: Fire Pump Wiring Requirements

695.6B exception refers to wiring methods after the disconnect, such as running the conductors through the building. The conductors have to be ran like they are considered outside, or have dedicated 1 hr.fire construction, or have an electrical circuit protective system applied to the wiring method. No sense in letting the conductors run trough the burning building if they could catch on fire easily!(now what is going to put the fire out?) The reason that the conductors in the fire pump room does not have to have the fire rating is that the pump room itself already has it! I think that your problem is with 695.3(B)(3)...If the main breaker and/or equipment caught on fire, our generator starts up and supplies power to the pump until it to catches on fire. And again, now what is going to put the fire out? IMO a fire rating between the two sources of power is in order.