Do I need a timer and fireman's switch?

[Crystal Pistol]

Hello TFP Friends,

I am almost ready to start up my pool for the first time and am trying to ensure the equipment is setup properly and meets city inspection requirements. My question is concerning the city requirement that "the pump and heater must be on a timer with a fireman's switch." I am not sure if this is needed because I'm am under the impression that my automation panel (Pentair Intelliconnect) will function as a timer and the heater (Raypak Avia - gas) has a water pressure switch that turns it off if water is not provided. For this reason, I decided not to install the timer + fireman's switch. My understanding of these components could be off-base because this is my first pool and I am still learning.
My questions...
1. Does the Intelliconnect + heater's built-in switch take care of preventing the heater from running without water OR do I actually need to install a timer + fireman's switch to prevent damage? My thoughts was to explain the built-in functionality to inspector when asked about the timer etc.
2. If my current setup (no timer or FS) is fine, should I be okay relying on that? Should I go ahead and have a timer + FS installed to avoid future issues?
My pump and heater is currently wired into Relay 2 on my Intelliconnect.
If anyone has similar equipment, how did you set yours up? I also have an Circupool CR-J swg, is it necessary to have it on a timer switch too. I was planning to program it to work in accordance with the pump's scheduling. I have seen others install a separate timer for swg but not sure if that's necessary. I've read a lot of other posts but all they do is confuse me more. Thanks in advance for your input/recommendations.

 

[ajw22]

The Intelliconnect should qualify as a timer and it controls the Firemans Switch.

You should not have an issue.

 

[1poolman1]

Hello TFP Friends,

I am almost ready to start up my pool for the first time and am trying to ensure the equipment is setup properly and meets city inspection requirements. My question is concerning the city requirement that "the pump and heater must be on a timer with a fireman's switch." I am not sure if this is needed because I'm am under the impression that my automation panel (Pentair Intelliconnect) will function as a timer and the heater (Raypak Avia - gas) has a water pressure switch that turns it off if water is not provided. For this reason, I decided not to install the timer + fireman's switch. My understanding of these components could be off-base because this is my first pool and I am still learning.
My questions...
1. Does the Intelliconnect + heater's built-in switch take care of preventing the heater from running without water OR do I actually need to install a timer + fireman's switch to prevent damage? My thoughts was to explain the built-in functionality to inspector when asked about the timer etc.
2. If my current setup (no timer or FS) is fine, should I be okay relying on that? Should I go ahead and have a timer + FS installed to avoid future issues?
My pump and heater is currently wired into Relay 2 on my Intelliconnect.
If anyone has similar equipment, how did you set yours up? I also have an Circupool CR-J swg, is it necessary to have it on a timer switch too. I was planning to program it to work in accordance with the pump's scheduling. I have seen others install a separate timer for swg but not sure if that's necessary. I've read a lot of other posts but all they do is confuse me more. Thanks in advance for your input/recommendations.

The recommendation for a "fireman's switch" comes from "ancient history" in pool terms. Old heaters retained an enormous amount of heat in the "fire brick," basically compressed kitty litter with fiberglass in it for strength, that lined the combustion chamber. It also made them very heavy.
Shut the pump and heater off at the same time and the next day you would, likely, come out to some very damaged PVC plumbing, filter internals, pump parts, and anything else that the water could get to. So, a small switch was installed on Intermatic timers, a "fireman's switch that would turn the heater off about 20 minutes before the pump. Most old heaters were not electronic and the control was very simple and automation was unheard of.
Virtually all new heaters (some RayPaks don't), and any that have a fan/blower, also have a "cool-down" cycle in their control and the lining of the combustion chamber retains very little heat. The fan will continue to run after the heater stops heating for about 5 minutes in most cases as long as there is power to the heater, so, like a VSP, it should have constant power and not be controlled by a relay.
If the pump can be left on during that cool-down whatever heat that remains in the heater will go to the pool/spa, but that is not really a setting on automation and not a necessity any longer.

 

[Crystal Pistol]

Awesome! I’m so relieved to hear everything is good as I have it. Thank you both for your responses. @1poolman1 I really appreciate the backhistory on why the requirement exists. I’m going to press on and start this puppy up this weekend Wish me luck!!