1 Scope
1.1This Section covers listed controllers for stationary fire pumps, including electric-motor-driven controllers, diesel-engine-driven controllers, and combination controller/power-transfer-switch units, complete with enclosure, sensing, alarm interface, and automatic test provisions.
1.2The controller shall be furnished as a factory-assembled, factory-tested, listed unit matched to the pump driver, motor horsepower, and available power supply at the point of installation.
NOTE The fire pump driver, casing, impeller, and pump assembly are specified in
Fire Pumps and are outside this Section.
(1.3) NOTE Aboveground and underground fire protection piping, check valves, OS&Y valves, flow switches, and pressure gauges are specified in
Fire Protection Piping and
Underground Fire Service Mains.
(1.4) NOTE The jockey (pressure maintenance) pump controller is a separate listed product category and is not a listed fire pump controller under UL 218. (1.6)
1.7Where a jockey pump controller is furnished, it shall be coordinated with the main fire pump controller but specified independently.
2 Referenced Standards
2.1Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or a more recent edition is required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard |
Title |
| NFPA 20 |
Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection |
| UL 218 |
Fire Pump Controllers |
| NFPA 70 |
National Electrical Code (Article 695, Fire Pumps) |
| NFPA 72 |
National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code |
| UL 1008 |
Transfer Switch Equipment |
| NEMA ICS 14 |
Application Guide for Electric Power Converters |
| IEEE 141 |
Recommended Practice for Electric Power Distribution for Industrial Plants (Red Book) |
| CSA C22.2 No. 263 |
Fire Pump Controllers (tri-national, with UL 218 / NMX-J-626-ANCE) |
NOTE The 2025 edition of NFPA 20 expanded automatic and remote testing requirements for both electric and diesel controllers; specifications written to the 2019 or earlier edition shall be reviewed and updated to the currently adopted edition before procurement. (2.3)
3 Submittals
3.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review before fabrication or procurement:
- Product data for the controller, including listing marks, voltage and horsepower rating, enclosure type, short-circuit current rating, and method of starting.
- Shop drawings showing enclosure dimensions, line and load terminal arrangement, control wiring, alarm and supervisory contact assignments, and field connection points.
- Wiring diagrams (point-to-point and schematic) distinguishing factory and field wiring.
- Manufacturer's listing documentation confirming UL 218 (and UL 1008 where a transfer switch is integral) compliance.
- Power-supply coordination data, including available fault current at the controller and the controller short-circuit current rating, with supporting study reference.
☑ Product data (rating, enclosure, SCCR, starting method)
☑ Shop drawings (enclosure, terminals, control wiring)
☑ Wiring diagrams (factory vs. field)
☑ Listing documentation (UL 218 / UL 1008)
☑ Power-supply / fault-current coordination data
3.2The Contractor shall submit the following informational submittals:
- Field acceptance test report per NFPA 20, including the controller functional test and the pump churn/flow test witnessed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
- Manufacturer's certified factory test report confirming UL 218 production-line testing.
- Coordination record confirming the quantity and assignment of supervisory output contacts agreed with the fire alarm contractor.
☑ Field acceptance test report (NFPA 20)
☑ Factory test report (UL 218)
☑ Alarm-contact coordination record
3.3The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
- Operation and maintenance manuals, including the manufacturer's weekly and annual test procedures.
- Settings record listing the as-commissioned pressure setpoints, timer settings, and alarm assignments.
- Warranty documentation.
☑ Operation and maintenance manuals
☑ As-commissioned settings record
☑ Warranty documentation
4 Quality Assurance
4.1The controller shall bear the listing mark of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory under UL 218 for the specific type, voltage, and horsepower furnished.
NOTE A non-listed general-purpose motor controller, soft-starter, or transfer switch shall not be substituted for a listed fire pump controller. (4.2)
NOTE Substituting a non-listed motor controller is a common value-engineering proposal; it will be rejected by the Authority Having Jurisdiction and the property insurance carrier, and it voids the fire pump system listing. (4.3)
4.4The controller manufacturer shall be regularly engaged in the production of listed fire pump controllers and shall provide field service support within the project region.
4.5Where the controller includes an integral automatic transfer switch, the transfer switch portion shall be listed under UL 1008 and the combined unit shall be listed under UL 218 as a combination controller/power-transfer-switch.
4.6The controller short-circuit current rating shall equal or exceed the available fault current at the point of installation, as determined by the project short-circuit study.
NOTE Generator-fed systems can present unexpectedly high X/R ratios; the available fault current used to verify the controller short-circuit current rating shall reflect both the utility source and the alternate (generator) source. (4.7)
5 Power Supply and NEC Article 695 Compliance
5.1The controller and its power supply arrangement shall comply with NFPA 70 (NEC) Article 695 for disconnecting means, overcurrent protection, conductor sizing, voltage drop, and source separation.
5.2The fire pump branch-circuit overcurrent device shall be sized to carry the locked-rotor current indefinitely and shall not open within 2 minutes at 600% of the motor full-load current.
5.3Fire pump branch-circuit conductors shall be sized at not less than 125% of the motor full-load current.
5.4Voltage at the controller line terminals shall not drop more than 15% below the controller-rated voltage during motor starting under locked-rotor conditions.
5.5Voltage at the motor terminals shall not drop more than 5% below the motor-rated voltage when the motor is running at 115% of full-load current.
NOTE A fire pump fed from a transformer shared with other large motor loads can satisfy a steady-state voltage study yet fail the 15% starting limit; the starting voltage drop shall be evaluated at the fire pump locked-rotor condition, not at normal building load. (5.6)
5.7Where two power sources are provided, the normal and alternate source conductors shall be routed with physical separation in accordance with NEC 695.6(B) so that a single fault, fire, or physical event cannot disable both sources.
NOTE Routing normal and alternate power conduits through the same raceway or the same portion of the building defeats the redundant-source requirement and is a frequent field error; the two sources shall maintain independent routing. (5.8)
5.9The available fault current at the controller and the controller short-circuit current rating shall be coordinated with the Engineer of Record before procurement.
208 V, 3Φ
240 V, 3Φ
480 V, 3Φ
600 V, 3Φ
2400 V, 3Φ (medium voltage)
4160 V, 3Φ (medium voltage)
● Single utility source
○ Utility normal + generator alternate
○ Utility normal + separate utility alternate feeder
6 Controller Type and Method of Starting
6.1The controller type and method of starting shall match the pump driver and the horsepower and voltage of the motor as scheduled.
NOTE Across-the-line (full-voltage) starting is the default electric method; it is the simplest, most reliable arrangement and is acceptable where the resulting inrush does not exceed the 15% starting voltage-drop limit at the line terminals. (6.2)
NOTE Reduced-inrush starting (wye-delta, part-winding, or solid-state soft-start) is used where full-voltage inrush would violate the starting voltage-drop limit or exceed the capacity of the supply; it limits inrush current at the cost of added components. (6.3)
NOTE Variable-speed (VFD) controllers listed under UL 218 maintain a constant discharge pressure across a range of flow and require an inverter-duty rated motor. (6.4)
6.5A VFD fire pump controller shall be coordinated with Electric Motors to confirm inverter-duty motor selection. 6.6A limited-service controller may be used only for an across-the-line, squirrel-cage motor rated 30 hp or less at 600 V or less, and only where accepted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
NOTE A limited-service controller shall not be used for high-rise buildings or high-hazard occupancies. (6.7)
6.8The controller horsepower and voltage rating shall equal or exceed the pump motor nameplate horsepower and voltage.
NOTE Specifying a controller horsepower or voltage that does not match the motor nameplate forces a custom or substitute unit and generates avoidable requests for information. (6.9)
6.10The controller horsepower and voltage rating shall be verified against the final motor nameplate before the controller is released for procurement.
● Electric motor
○ Diesel engine
● Across-the-line (full voltage)
○ Wye-delta (reduced inrush)
○ Part-winding (reduced inrush)
○ Solid-state reduced voltage (soft-start)
○ Variable speed (VFD, UL 218)
○ Limited service (across-the-line, ≤30 hp)
7 Diesel Engine Controllers
7.1A diesel engine controller shall be a listed unit providing automatic and manual engine start, dual-battery management, integral battery chargers, and the alarm and supervisory functions required by NFPA 20.
7.2The controller shall provide two independent battery banks, each sized to provide a minimum of six complete engine start attempts.
7.3Each battery bank shall be served by a dedicated integral battery charger matched to the engine manufacturer's battery specification.
NOTE The diesel controller battery charger and cable sizing shall be coordinated with the engine manufacturer; a mismatch between the controller charger and the engine OEM battery specification causes start failures and is a frequent field problem. (7.4)
7.5The controller shall initiate the automatic weekly test cycle and shall record the engine run for the documented test duration.
8 Pressure Sensing and Start/Stop Control
8.1The controller shall sense system pressure through a dedicated sensing line connected to a stable point on the pump discharge header and shall start the pump automatically on a pressure drop below the start setpoint.
NOTE A sensing line tapped at a surge-prone point produces nuisance starts and controller fault alarms. (8.3)
8.4The sensing-line tap location shall be selected to read stable static pressure, away from locations subject to water hammer or surge.
8.5The pump start setpoint shall be set below the system residual (no-flow) pressure by the margin established by the Engineer of Record, typically 10 psi.
8.6The controller shall be configured for manual stop unless automatic stop on pressure recovery is specifically accepted in writing by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
NOTE NFPA 20 generally requires that the pump not stop automatically on pressure recovery, and many Authorities Having Jurisdiction reject automatic-stop configurations. (8.7)
8.8The pump stop mode shall be confirmed with the Authority Having Jurisdiction early in design before the controller is specified.
● Manual stop only
○ Automatic stop on pressure recovery (AHJ approval required)
9 Automatic Transfer Switch Provisions
9.1Where a generator serves as the alternate power source, the controller shall include either an integral listed automatic transfer switch or be paired with a separate listed fire pump power transfer switch.
9.2The transfer switch furnished for fire pump service shall be listed under UL 1008 and, where integral, the combined unit shall be listed under UL 218; a general-purpose transfer switch not listed for fire pump service shall not be used.
NOTE Omitting the transfer switch from the controller specification when a generator is the alternate source, or substituting a general power transfer switch, is non-compliant with NFPA 20 and is a common scope gap. (9.3)
9.4The transfer switch arrangement shall be defined in the controller specification where a generator serves as the alternate power source.
9.5The transfer switch shall sense loss of the normal source, transfer the controller to the alternate source, and retransfer to the normal source on its restoration, in the sequence required by NFPA 20.
● None (single source)
○ Integral combination controller/ATS (UL 218 + UL 1008)
○ Separate listed fire pump power transfer switch
10 Alarm and Supervisory Interface
10.1The controller shall provide dry-contact alarm and supervisory outputs for interface with the fire alarm and building automation systems in accordance with NFPA 72 Chapter 17 and NFPA 20.
10.2Each alarm and supervisory output shall be a dry contact rated for not less than 0.5 A at 24 V DC.
10.3The quantity, type, and labeling of supervisory output contacts shall be coordinated with the fire alarm contractor's input module schedule before procurement.
NOTE Failing to coordinate the contact count and type with the fire alarm contractor results in field wiring changes and fire alarm panel reprogramming. (10.4)
10.5The alarm-contact coordination record shall be completed and accepted before the controller is released for procurement.
10.6At a minimum, the controller shall provide supervisory outputs for pump running, phase reversal or loss, loss of power or transfer to alternate source, low suction pressure, high pump room temperature, and controller trouble.
☑ Pump running
☑ Phase reversal / phase loss
☑ Power loss / transfer to alternate source
☑ Low suction pressure
☑ High pump room temperature
☑ Controller trouble
SPDT (Form C)
DPDT (Form CC)
11 Enclosure and Environmental Conditions
11.1The controller enclosure shall be selected for the installed environment and shall provide not less than NEMA Type 2 protection for indoor or damp locations as required by NFPA 20.
11.2A NEMA Type 3R enclosure shall be provided for outdoor or unconditioned locations, and a NEMA Type 4 or 4X enclosure shall be provided for wash-down or corrosive environments.
NOTE Specifying a NEMA 2 enclosure in an outdoor pump house or a location subject to hose-down is a frequent error; the actual installed environment often exceeds the NFPA 20 minimum. (11.3)
11.4The controller enclosure rating shall be matched to the actual installed environment and shall meet or exceed the NFPA 20 minimum rating for that environment.
11.5The pump room ambient temperature and ventilation shall be maintained within the controller manufacturer's listed operating range.
NEMA 2 (indoor / damp)
NEMA 3R (outdoor)
NEMA 4 (wash-down)
NEMA 4X (corrosive)
12 Testing
12.1The controller shall provide automatic weekly test capability with local audible and visual indication, and shall support the remote and automatic test provisions required by the currently adopted edition of NFPA 20.
12.2The controller shall be capable of an automatic weekly test of not less than 10 minutes run duration, with the test recorded for documentation.
12.3A factory production-line test of all controller functions shall be performed under UL 218 before shipment, and the certified factory test report shall be provided.
12.4A field acceptance test shall be performed in accordance with NFPA 20 Section 14.2, witnessed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, and shall include the controller functional test and the pump flow test.
12.5The as-commissioned pressure setpoints, timer settings, and alarm assignments shall be recorded and submitted following the field acceptance test.
● Local automatic test only
○ Local plus remote automatic test (NFPA 20-2025)
13 Installation
13.1The controller shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's listed instructions, NFPA 20, and NEC Article 695.
13.2The controller shall be located within sight of the fire pump driver, in the fire pump room, and mounted so the line and load terminals are accessible for service.
13.3Field wiring shall be terminated only at the controller terminals designated for field connection on the approved wiring diagrams, and factory wiring shall not be altered.
13.4The pressure sensing line shall be installed with the isolation and test fittings required by NFPA 20 and shall be connected to the discharge header tap.
13.5Supervisory output wiring to the fire alarm and building automation systems shall be installed per the coordinated contact schedule and supervised in accordance with NFPA 72.
13.6The controller shall be grounded in accordance with NEC Article 695 and the manufacturer's instructions.
14 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
14.1The controller shall be delivered factory-assembled and factory-tested in protective packaging bearing the listing marks and rating data.
14.2The controller shall be stored indoors in a clean, dry, conditioned space and protected from moisture, dust, and physical damage until installation.
NOTE A controller exposed to moisture or contamination during storage shall be inspected and, where required by the manufacturer, reconditioned or replaced before energization. (14.3)
14.4The controller shall be handled and rigged using the manufacturer's designated lifting provisions to avoid damage to the enclosure and internal components.
15 Warranty
15.1The manufacturer shall warrant the controller against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of not less than 1 year from the date of substantial completion.
15.2The warranty shall include parts and field service labor for repair or replacement of defective components.
15.3Where an integral transfer switch is furnished, the warranty shall cover the complete combination controller/transfer-switch unit as a single assembly.
16 Spare Parts
16.1The Contractor shall furnish the manufacturer's recommended spare parts for the controller, including indicating lamps or LEDs, control fuses, and, for diesel controllers, spare batteries as recommended.
16.2A complete record of as-commissioned settings shall be retained with the spare parts and operation and maintenance documentation to support future service.
☑ Indicating lamps / LEDs
☑ Control fuses
☐ Spare batteries (diesel controllers)
☐ Spare control relay(s)