F. Provide primary power to fire pumps protecting health care occupancies serving inpatients
from the life safety branch of the essential electrical system as defined in NFPA 70.
G. Provide jockey pumps to supply no less than 3.8 L/s (60 gpm). This will allow the jockey
pump to supply the flow equivalent of one sprinkler to permit water flow switch testing and
will permit tests to be performed without shutting down the fire pump. Jockey pump shall
maintain pressure as required to prevent the fire pump from operating to maintain system
pressure.
Note: Assuming a pressure of 125 psi is maintained on a system, a 60 gpm jockey pump
will provide enough water to handle the water flow testing of the flow switches without
the need to shut down the fire pump . Some installations with fire pumps can not test
water flow switches without shutting down the fire pump due to hammering open dry
pipe valves or discharging water onto roads or sidewalks during the winter seasons. A
larger jockey pump ensures that the fire pump will be in service when needed.
H. Design electrical feeders to the fire pump to comply with NFPA 20. Feeders must be outside
the building except in the fire pump room and electrical room of origin.
5.4 Duration:
A. Non-Sprinklered Buildings: Fire flows as required by Table 5.0 shall be available for a
duration of 60 minutes minimum for favorable conditions and 120 minutes minimum for
unfavorable conditions.
B. Sprinklered Buildings: Fire flows shall be available as required by NFPA 13 for the required
occupancy classification. However, duration for health care occupancies shall not be less
than 60 minutes.
5.5 Distribution System: Installation shall comply with NFPA 24 and NFPA 1141 except as follows:
A. Mains shall be 200 mm (8 in) minimum. Mains supplying fire hydrants only (laterals) shall be
permitted to be 150 mm (6 in).
B. Provide valves in underground water distribution lines to isolate leaks, etc., and maintain
adequate water supply to buildings. Locate isolation valves so not more than four discharge
points (sprinkler systems, hydrants, or standpipe systems) will be taken out of service by one
break in the line.
C. To increase available water flow and reliability, loop water distribution piping and provide dual
feeds when cost effective. Avoid dead-end mains. A second connection to the public water
utility system or an elevated water tank may provide redundancy.
D. For high rise buildings over 22.9 m (75 ft), provide a secondary on-site water supply (sprinkler
demand plus 6.3 L/s (100 gpm) hose for 30 minutes) in seismic zones 3 and 4 as defined by
UBC.
5.6 Hydrants: Design installation to comply with NFPA 24 and NFPA 1141 except as follows:
A. Contact the responding fire department for hydrant requirements.
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