Fire Pump Wiring

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mpicco

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I have a unique problem. I need to install a fire pump in one end of an existing building and need to feed it from a unit sub station on the other end of the building. I have no way concrete encase the feed from the unit sub station to the fire pump controller. How do I feed the fire pump controller. I have seen MI cable used before but I do not see by the code that this is approved for the line side of the controller (it is approved for the load side). HELP!!!! :confused:
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

I wish I could run it outside but I can't. It is a multi-story building totally surrounded in concrete.
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

Originally posted by mpicco:I have no way to concrete-encase the feed from the unit sub station to the fire pump controller.
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How about running a conduit along a floor or ceiling area from room to room, and surrounding the conduit with bricks? That is allowed by 230.6(2).

Volt101's idea about a second service would also work: 230.2(A)(1).
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

I thought of that too but the building is fed by two unit sub stations inside the building with no access to a primary feed on that end. One good item is the two unit sub stations are paralleled by two standby generators. The generators have load shedding capability. I was wondering if one of the unit sub stations could act as two sources - (1) the primary utility feed and (2) the parallel feed from the generator. All of the transfering in the unit sub station is done via motorized circuit breakers in the unit sub station. My thought is to add a short circuit disconnecting means off of the unit sub ahead of the main service disconnect and running MI cable to the fire pump controller. What do you think?
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

I wish I could run it outside but I can't. It is a multi-story building totally surrounded in concrete.
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Had a similar problem. We laid the conduit on top of the concrete and against the building. Covered it with the required amount of concrete with a nice finish. It looked like a small step.
However if it conflicts with walkways this wouldn't work.
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

Are these unit substations supplied by the utility, i.e., service equipment?
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

mfpe- I think MI cable would work the best but I do not see that I can use it as the source feed from the secondary of the unit sub transformere to the fire pump controller. It appears that the only place the code allows MI cable is from the fire pump controller to the pump itself. It appears that the source feed needs to be either outside the building, concrete encased, or under the slab (no mention of MI cable). The only option that I see is to use a disconnect with short circuit protection only (as allowed) between the secondary of the tranformer and the fire pump controller and then I can use a one our rated cable (i.e. MI cable).

rbb- The unit sub stations are owned privately by the owner (12,470 to 480 Wye).
 
Re: Fire Pump Wiring

How About A Diesel Powered Fire Pump
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Or propane or natural gas. With all that concrete I'd hate to see a diesel spill. In my limited experience it is hard to clean diesel from concrete.
 
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