CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 18-011
Issued: December 20, 2018
CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal Information Bulletin 18-011
Issued: December 20, 2018
NFPA 25, 2011 Edition Tentative Interim Amendments, TIA 11-5 for the 2013 California Edition
The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to eliminate the need to open energized electric fire pump controller panels. The problem is the probability of an arc flashes occurring during the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Electric Fire Pumps.
Labels warning of the hazard of arc flashes have been found to be virtually nonexistent for current fire pump installations and the conventional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issued to inspectors is not adequate to protect against the hazards posed by arc flashes. Arc flashes can produce temperatures as high as
35,000 Degrees Fahrenheit and blast pressures exceeding 2,000 lb/ft2.
Inspectors are encouraged not to open energized electric fire pump controller panels.
Based on the safety hazards identified in TIA 11-5 for NFPA 25, 2011 Edition, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is recommending adherence to the changes proposed by the National Technical Committee. These revisions and safety concerns will be addressed in future code adoption processes.
The following are the revisions to NFPA 25, 2011 Edition and are recommended to be followed for the 2013 California Edition (shown with cross out and under line):
Note: References 1 and 2 of the National TIA are not Applicable in California.
A.4.8.6 WARNING: NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, includes electrical requirements that discourage the installation of a disconnect meansand limit overcurrent protection in the power supply to electric motor-driven fire pumps. This is intended to ensure the availability of power to the fire pumps. Where equipment connected to those circuits is serviced or maintained, the service person could be subject to unusual exposure to electrical and other hazards. It could be necessary to establish special safe work practices and to…
NFPA 25, 2011 Edition Tentative Interim Amendments, TIA 11-5 for the 2013 California Edition
The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to eliminate the need to open energized electric fire pump controller panels. The problem is the probability of an arc flashes occurring during the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Electric Fire Pumps.
Labels warning of the hazard of arc flashes have been found to be virtually nonexistent for current fire pump installations and the conventional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issued to inspectors is not adequate to protect against the hazards posed by arc flashes. Arc flashes can produce temperatures as high as
35,000 Degrees Fahrenheit and blast pressures exceeding 2,000 lb/ft2.
Inspectors are encouraged not to open energized electric fire pump controller panels.
Based on the safety hazards identified in TIA 11-5 for NFPA 25, 2011 Edition, the Office of the State Fire Marshal is recommending adherence to the changes proposed by the National Technical Committee. These revisions and safety concerns will be addressed in future code adoption processes.
The following are the revisions to NFPA 25, 2011 Edition and are recommended to be followed for the 2013 California Edition (shown with cross out and under line):
Note: References 1 and 2 of the National TIA are not Applicable in California.
A.4.8.6 WARNING: NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, includes electrical requirements that discourage the installation of a disconnect meansand limit overcurrent protection in the power supply to electric motor-driven fire pumps. This is intended to ensure the availability of power to the fire pumps. Where equipment connected to those circuits is serviced or maintained, the service person could be subject to unusual exposure to electrical and other hazards. It could be necessary to establish special safe work practices and to…