ECN Electrical Forum
Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals

Where the Fire Pump controller came in, Is theres one there now, An Old outdated across the line one. It must be replaced . Now Generator is to be added. since Old FP controller Must be replaced (if required to be FP rated?) & a back up Generator added. Generator no matter what must be sized to Start 125Hp under Head load. Theres a lotta good Minds wondering about this one. Thats why I was wondering how this has been handled across the country. Soft Start, VFD, or multi pumps instead of one larger one also interesting options. Just thought with all theses Great Electrical minds in one place this be a Snap.
I am here like all others to Learn.
Yoopersup

Hi Yooper.

I was just sneaking around the NFPA site.
If this is truly a 'Fire pump'.
Check out NFPA 20- 4.3.2 "system designer"

This takes you off the 'design' hook.
By definition,you are not qualified to design.
(respectfully and technically)

By NO MEANS should this be taken out of context,please!

Thats one way of avoiding dealing with a Question isn't it.
I;m licensed for Plan review so I can approve or deny plans for approval but not design them. In michigan you can if you get a Engineer to sign off on them there fine.
I just asked a Question but so far no answer.
Lets go back to what color is a green ground screw right. Lot easier to deal with. (respectfully)
(I used to carry a Masters from your state years back.)

Hi yooper,
With respect to your considerable electrical experience and knowledge (some of it obtained by hard lessons) there are several things that I think you should consider:

First of all, some members on the site are showing concern for the risk that they see you attempting to take on. I believe that we electricians offer a very valuable service to our communities, because we care about the safety of our fellow citizens and because we collectively know a lot about a very dangerous utility. And we know that it can cause a lot of harm if unleashed or not properly designed and controlled. The recent Detroit residential fires come to mind, for example. So we are worried that you will place yourself at risk of doing something outside of the area that you are insured for. What if your design build system fails at a crucial moment? What if expensive or harmful things are attributed to something that you did? Would it not be better for you to offer to sit on a committee that helps to hire a qualified design firm for the city? Your knowledge would then be invaluable to the process, without you putting yourself in harms way.

The second thing I would like to say is that you are asking for design information from the members here that we are for the most part unable to provide, because we just do not know. Hydraulic systems are just as complicated to design as electrical systems. For this reason, design professionals who work in this field are specialists who contract with utilities or cities. They also carry very expensive insurance to protect them and their companies in case they are found (either correctly or incorrectly) to be responsible for a major malfunction which causes someone harm. Are you willing to do this design-build and take on such risk?

Homer