OK, I'm at the book. Let's get the exact text so we all have it in front of us.
NFPA 25 2008 edition (next edition is 2011) Handbook David R. Hague, PE, CFPS 8.3.3.6 (Text) Safety. Section 4.8 shall be followed for safety requirements while working near electric motor-driven fire pumps. (Commentary) Work near electric motor-driven fire pumps requires a licensed and qualified electrician using the appropriate safety equipment such as gloves, protective clothing, and a face shield. Due to the voltages present in a typical fire pump controller, NFPA 70E considers it as a motor control center (MCC). Therefore protective equipment…must be worn when opening the controller. 4.8 Safety 4.8.1 Confined Spaces 4.8.2 Fall Protection 4.8.3 Hazards 4.9 Electrical Safety Seems like the committee needs to get their references correct first. Then it appears that Mr. Hague has overstepped a bit in his interpretation. So end game: Commentary is not code. Look to the laws of the state you are working in and the opinion of the AHJ, and ultimately the AG if you disagree and what to take it to the highest authority, rather than an the opinion of the author offered in the commentary section of a handbook. No matter how knowledgeable that author may be unless his opinion carries the weight of a legal opinion it is just opinion. On Wed, Apr 7, 2010 at 9:49 AM, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > And the reference to a licensed electrician? > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone > > ----- Reply message ----- > From: "Bob Caputo" <[email protected]> > Date: Wed, Apr 7, 2010 12:36 PM > Subject: NFPA 25 QUALIFICATIONS FOR WORKING ON FIRE PUMP > To: <[email protected]> > > NFPA 70E - is the standard they are quoting for electrical safe practices in > the work place and that standard requires the appropriate PPE (Personal > Protective Equipment) when working on energized electrical circuits. This > includes the proper head cover shield which resembles that worn by bee > keepers, rubber and leather gloves and a rubber mat upon which to stand > while wearing appropriate shoes. > > There may be 1,000 ways to die but electrocution isn't the one I'd choose > (I'm still hopeful to be shot by a very young jealous husband) > > The recommendations provided in the NFPA 25 Handbook are intended to provide > a precautionary advisory that we shouldn't stick our mitts into stuff we > don't really know enough about, lest we be severely injured or killed.... > > Have a nice day. > > Bob Caputo > > Oh, yeah - the opinion stated above is a personal opinion which may not be > considered an interpretation of the NFPA 25 standard nor does this reflect > the opinion of NFPA, etc... > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Roland > Huggins > Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 8:13 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: NFPA 25 QUALIFICATIONS FOR WORKING ON FIRE PUMP > > NFPA 25 does point out that one needs to take appropriate precautions > - see section 4.9. The Handbook identifies other standards to apply > for safety precautions. > > Roland > > On Apr 7, 2010, at 7:53 AM, Tom Duross wrote: > >> I think that might be an item in OSHA. I was told last summer by an >> electrician to step away during a start-up that I need full non- >> conductive >> apparel in addition to ear-eye-head protection. He said it was in >> NFPA (I >> looked in 70 and 20) but I think it might have come up in a training >> class. >> Tom >> >> >> I have never heard this even suggested at the NFPA 25 meetings. Since >> the text in 25 does not even suggest it, I would put it down as an >> over-zealous editor in the Handbook. I will pursue clarification of >> this with NFPA for the next edition of the Handbook (which we just >> finished working on). >> >> Roland >> >> On Apr 6, 2010, at 3:57 PM, [email protected] wrote: >> >>> NFPA 25-8.3.3.6 Handbook commentary states that a licensed >>> electrician should perform work near fire pumps. >>> Is the Committee trying to establish that only licensed electricians >>> should perform work on or near controllers, or that an electrician >>> should always be present? >>> Can someone please clarify what the commentary is implying or >>> stating? >>> >>> Forest Wilson >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sprinklerforum mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum >> >> For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] >> >> To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] >> (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Bates Technical College Tacoma, WA Member: SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
