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Home My WebLink About405.008 - Fire Pump Installation LocationsEffective Date: October 2000 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.008 Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 1 of 5 Fresno City Fire Department 400 Prevention Manual SECTION 405.008 FIRE PUMP INSTALLATION LOCATIONS PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or Department) requirements related to fire pump installations, including locations, vandalism, fire exposure, environmental exposure, and fire pump access for firefighting personnel. APPLICATION This policy applies to all fire pump installations within the City of Fresno (COF) and contract service areas and includes both required and voluntary systems. OPERATIONAL POLICY Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined that all fire pump installation locations and fire pumps, etc. shall be in accordance with all of the following requirements: 1. Fire pumps shall be located in an approved location such as an enclosed pump room within a building, or a detached fire pump house directly adjacent to the building(s) served by the fire pump. The fire pump room or house may be of any type of construction permitted for the protected premises as found in the currently adopted California Building Code (CBC). A building permit obtained from the City of Fresno Planning & Development Department (COFPDD) is required for all fire pump rooms/houses. 2. Every fire pump room or house shall have a minimum, clear ceiling height of seven (7’) feet. The room must be sized to provide a minimum of three (3’) feet of clear, unobstructed working space in front of and adjacent to the fire pump, fire pump controller(s), and all associated equipment. Access to all fire pump equipment is required to be unencumbered. 3. Exiting from the fire pump room/house must comply with the currently adopted CBC. Effective Date: October 2000 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.008 Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 2 of 5 4. Every fire pump room/house shall have at least one door which leads directly to the exterior of the building, or the room shall be readily accessible through a minimum, 1-hour fire-resistance rated enclosure. 5. At least one door to the fire pump room/house shall have a minimum width of four (4’) feet. Double doors which together measure a minimum of four (4’) feet or wider may be permitted in lieu of the single door. All doors installed in a fire pump room or house shall meet the fire resistance rating requirements for the room/house. 6. The fire pump room/house must be separated from the protected building by a minimum of one-hour, fire-resistance rated construction. A two-hour fire resistance rated separation is required for all high-rise building installations. 7. Fire pumps shall be located in a dedicated fire pump room/house. Equipment related to domestic water distribution (pumps) may be permitted within the fire pump room at the discretion of the Fire Marshal (or designee). No other electrical, mechanical, or fuel-fired equipment is permitted in the fire pump room/house. 8. Every fire pump room/house shall be equipped with approved automatic fire sprinkler protection. 9. Every fire pump room/house shall be equipped with approved lighting, and approved, emergency egress lighting. 10. The floor of every fire pump room/house must be sloped to a floor drain piped to the exterior of the building. 11. Every fire pump room/house shall be equipped with approved means to maintain the enclosure at a minimum temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 12. Every fire pump room/house shall be equipped with approved ventilation of the fire pump room/house, which includes condensation control. Note: For diesel engine equipped with fire pumps, permit applicants should consult the currently adopted version of National Fire Protection Association 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection for required ventilation and combustion air supply. 13. An approved lock box with keys to access to the fire pump room/house shall be provided at an approved location. Effective Date: October 2000 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.008 Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 3 of 5 14. Every fire pump room/house shall be equipped with an approved means to test fire pump pressure switch settings by a valve with a pressure gauge installed on the discharge side of the fire pump, after the check valve, piped to drain. 15. No storage is permitted in a fire pump room/house. 16. A minimum 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher shall be provided for each electric fire pump within the fire pump room/house. A minimum 4A:40B:C extinguisher shall be provided within the fire pump room/ house for each diesel engine powered fire pump. Portable fire extinguishers shall be maintained as noted in the CFC. 17. Where required by the Fire Marshal (or designee) a remote annunciator shall be installed in an approved location within the fire pump room/house to facilitate testing of various fire pump features which must be supervised by the fire alarm system. 18. While not recommended due to long-term maintenance issues, Underwriters Laboratory (UL)/Factory Mutual (FM) fire pumps and controllers listed for exterior use may be installed subject to the following restrictions: a. The installation must be located a minimum of 50 feet from all buildings, exterior storage, or other exposures. b. A metal canopy must be provided over the pump, controller and pump electrical components which extends a minimum of five (5’) feet beyond all portions of the equipment. The canopy must have a minimum clear height of seven (7’) feet above the pump pad. c. An approved concrete pad extending to the perimeter of the canopy shall be provided. d. Approved vehicle impact protection shall be provided where the installation is subject to vehicular traffic. e. The canopy must be fenced to a minimum height of six (6’) feet in height and be provided with a minimum four (4’) foot wide gate with Fire X-1 padlock installed in series with any other padlocks. f. All pressure- sensing lines and other related pipe two (2”) inches or less in diameter must be insulated or provided with UL/FM listed, heat tape. Heat tape must be listed for fire protection. Effective Date: October 2000 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.008 Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 4 of 5 g. Aboveground steel pipe must be galvanized, or primed and painted with an approved, rust resistant coating. 19. Fire sprinklers are required for exterior fire pump installation, unless omission is formally approved by the Fire Marshal (or designee) Fire sprinklers may be required by the Fire Marshal (or designee) for exterior installations. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE This section intentionally left blank. PROCESS This section intentionally left blank. INFORMATION As noted in the California Fire Code (CFC), the fire code official has the authority to formulate policies they deem necessary based upon local conditions related to all fire pumps, related equipment, and fire pump installation locations. This policy is based on the requirements found in the CFC, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 20, Standard for the Installation of Centrifugal Fire Pumps, as well as the practical experience of the Department with fire pump installations. Permit applicants should familiarize themselves with this policy as it addresses a number of issues related to fire pump installations, and when followed, may reduce fire protection system plan review time. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES California Building Code, Currently adopted edition National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 20, Currently adopted edition Effective Date: October 2000 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer Current Revision Date: 2/13/2025 Section 405.008 Next Revision (1) Date: 2/13/2028 Page 5 of 5 California Fire Code, Currently adopted edition