Blaze Through the Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) Exam 2025 – Ignite Your Career Now!

The minimum amperage requirement for disconnecting means for fire pumps rated at 100 hp and over is based on the electrical load that the pump will draw during operation. For a 100 hp fire pump, the current draw can be significant, requiring a disconnecting means that can safely handle that load.

In this case, a disconnect rated at 1000 A provides the necessary capacity to ensure safe operations, accommodating potential inrush currents when the pump starts, as well as continuous operation currents during its normal running state. Safety and compliance with National Electrical Code (NEC) guidelines necessitate that disconnecting means be rated higher than the maximum expected load to prevent overheating and potential failure.

This rating ensures that the electrical infrastructure can handle the demands of the pump, promoting both reliability and safety in fire protection systems. The other amperage ratings would be excessive for most fire pumps rated at 100 hp, leading to unnecessary costs and potentially complicating the installation process. Thus, the choice of 1000 A aligns with standard practices in fire protection system design.