Fire Pump Room Design and Layout per NFPA 20 Basics
- thekuljeet
- May 23
- 3 min read
Introduction to Fire Pump Rooms
A fire pump room (also referred to as a pump shed or enclosure) is a dedicated space that houses fire pumps and related equipment used to deliver water to fire protection systems. This area must be designed per NFPA 20 standards and local authority requirements (AHJ) to ensure safety, functionality, and compliance.
Fire pump rooms typically include:
Fire Pumps: Increase water pressure to meet system demands. May be electric- or diesel-driven.
Jockey Pumps: Maintain system pressure to prevent unnecessary fire pump activation.
Controllers: Manage pump operation, including start/stop sequences and monitoring.
Valves and Piping: Direct water flow, isolate pumps, and facilitate testing and drainage.
Additional Equipment: Flow meters, pressure relief valves, flexible connectors, pressure gauges, and OS&Y gate valves with supervisory switches.
All components must be installed with accessibility and maintenance in mind, with wiring routed properly and controllers positioned per manufacturer guidance.
The pump room must be protected from environmental conditions such as dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures:
Protection Rating: If inside a fully sprinklered building, the room must also be sprinklered. Otherwise, it requires a minimum of 1- or 2-hour fire rating or 50 ft separation from fire hazards.
Ventilation & Temperature Control: Maintain at least 4°C; diesel rooms may need cooling to stay below controller operating limits.
Drainage: Proper sloping of the floor and drainage system is vital to protect equipment.
Lighting: Artificial and emergency lighting must be provided, with emergency lighting capable of lasting at least 2 hours.
Design Process and Layout Steps
Identify Pump Room and Tank Location:
Select pump types: typically 1 diesel, 1 jockey, 1 electric.
Plan room layout and foundations based on pump manufacturer dimensions.
Design Suction Side Layout:
Use a suction header from the water tank with gate valves for isolation.
Avoid unnecessary fittings to minimize friction loss.
Design Discharge Side Layout:
Include check valves and OS&Y gate valves on each discharge line.
Use increasers/reducers as needed for pipe-pump matching.
Connect all discharges to a common discharge header.
Integration to Main Network:
Connect discharge header to building network via a fire alarm check valve assembly.
Provide test lines and pressure relief lines:
Test Line: Includes two gate valves and a flow meter; returns to the tank.
Relief Line: For diesel pumps only; installed before discharge check valve.
Exhaust and Fuel Piping (Diesel Pumps):
Exhaust pipes must be sized per derating factor calculations and vented outside.
Use black steel piping (not galvanized/copper) for diesel fuel lines.
Pressure Sensing and Controllers:
Pressure sensing lines are routed post-check valve to each pump controller.
These help initiate pump operation based on system pressure changes.
Cable Routing and Electricals:
Show cable trays and wiring paths from pumps to controllers.
Emergency lighting must not be tied to engine start batteries.
Fire Department Connections (FDC):
Connect from discharge header to outdoor FDC, including a non-return valve.
Conclusion
Designing a fire pump room requires detailed planning, adherence to NFPA 20, and collaboration with multiple trades. Key aspects include component selection, correct piping, protection features, and electrical layout. Always validate pipe sizes, temperature limits, and flow requirements using NFPA guidelines and manufacturer specifications. With a proper design, the pump room will ensure reliable water delivery for life safety systems in case of fire.
Further information such as pipe sizing, pump capacity calculations, and fuel tank sizing are available in the continued training series. For any further inquiries regarding this topic, as well as for code consulting and fire engineering design support related to your project, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at contact@engineeringfireprotection.com.
Application of any information provided, for any use, is at the reader’s risk and without liability to Engineering Fire Protection (EFP). EFP does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in this blog as applicable codes and standards change over time. The application, enforcement and interpretation of codes and standards may vary between Authorities Having Jurisdiction and for this reason, registered design professionals should be consulted to determine the appropriate application of codes and standards to a specific scope of work.