Fire Tank Heater and Heat Tracing on Emergency Power?

[faresos]

Hello Everyone,

Do the fire tank heaters (2-10KW) and associated heat tracing for exposed pipes are required to be on emergency power or it can be on standby power? I have an emergency generator with two ATS's ; Emergency & Standby and would like to know if there is any code requires these heaters to be on emergency power in lieu of standby power.

Thank you!

 

[charlie b]

Your question essentially boils down to whether any code or governmental authority cites these items as requiring emergency power. For that, I have no fact to give you. My belief is that standby power should suffice. The related emergency situation would be a fire in the building. If the heat tracing had kept the pipes warm enough before the fire started, they wouldn't freeze while water is flowing through them for the time it takes to put out the fire.

But hey, let's not let logic get in the way of rules. So does anyone know the relevant rules?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I am not sure, but since there is a possibility of an extended utility outage, that could result in loss of fire protection because of frozen pipes if the utility outage occurs in cold weather, I think the heat trace should be on the emergency power system.
I did a quick look in NFPA 13 and did not find a requirement for the power source for heat trace used on fire protection systems. There are requirements that the heat trace be specifically listed for use on fire protection systems and it also requires electrical supervision of the heat-tracing system shall provide positive confirmation that the circuit is energized.

 

[d0nut]

I am not sure, but since there is a possibility of an extended utility outage, that could result in loss of fire protection because of frozen pipes if the utility outage occurs in cold weather, I think the heat trace should be on the emergency power system.
I did a quick look in NFPA 13 and did not find a requirement for the power source for heat trace used on fire protection systems. There are requirements that the heat trace be specifically listed for use on fire protection systems and it also requires electrical supervision of the heat-tracing system shall provide positive confirmation that the circuit is energized.

I realize it isn't quite the same situation, but couldn't this logic be extended to any sprinkled building in a cold weather climate? Given enough time without power during cold weather, all sprinkler piping would be at risk of freezing.

 

[gadfly56]

I am not sure, but since there is a possibility of an extended utility outage, that could result in loss of fire protection because of frozen pipes if the utility outage occurs in cold weather, I think the heat trace should be on the emergency power system.
I did a quick look in NFPA 13 and did not find a requirement for the power source for heat trace used on fire protection systems. There are requirements that the heat trace be specifically listed for use on fire protection systems and it also requires electrical supervision of the heat-tracing system shall provide positive confirmation that the circuit is energized.

I would tend to disagree. Given the likely time for well-insulated, heat traced pipe to freeze, you aren't going to need a 10-second response time for e-power to kick in.

Heat trace power for sprinkler pipes is going to be monitored by the heat trace controller, or it should be. That controller will have a "power fail" output monitored by the fire alarm control unit which will report the condition as a supervisory signal to the central station. The central station will have a call list, and the individuals on that list should be trained to take appropriate action.

 

[charlie b]

Keep in mind that not being on emergency power does not mean that it will not have power during an extended utility outage. My take is that optional standby would be appropriate.

 

[faresos]

Thanks you all for your responses. I still think optional standby power can be used since there is nothing in specific tells us it needs to be on emergency. As a matter of fact, I couldn't find anywhere where even it tell us we have to use back up generator to power these heaters as long we have a reliable power source.