Fire Pumps 101

Purpose
This session will cover basic pump design and pump application, review basic fire pump room design, and review NFPA 20 including new changes in 2003 along with existing code information.

Types of Fire Pumps

Split Case Fire Pumps Inline Fire Pumps Vertical Turbine Fire Pumps

Split Case Fire Pump Models

Split Case Fire Pump

Split-Case Design simplifies maintenance and repair.
Removable Top Casing Half

Lower Casing Half, Base Mounted, with Discharge and Suction Flanged 5 Connections

Split Case Design Features

Bypass lines to stuffing box are within castings (except 490 series) Integrally cast bearing arms (except 490 series) Oversized shafts Line boring of assembled casings
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Split Case Design Features

Computer controlled machining Line boring of assembled casings Oversized shafts

Split Case Benefits

Ease of Installation and Maintenance Longevity and Durability Serviceability Reliability
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Split Case Applications

Electric Split Case Capacities from 250 to 5000 GPM Warehouse Hospital Manufacturing plant University or large school Office High Rise
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Split Case Applications

Diesel Fire Pumps Remote field locations that do not have electricity Hospitals 100% back up

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Split Case Applications

Vertical Split Case Capacities to 2500 GPM Space Savings, Retrofits Good Specification Item!
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Vertical In-Line Fire Pumps

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Vertical In-Line Fire Pumps

Computer controlled machining Back pull-out feature No base, coupling, or guard Self-venting
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In-Line Fire Pump Cutaway

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Vertical In-Line Benefits

Requires less space than split case pump of the same capacity Less expensive Motor can be serviced without disconnecting suction & discharge flanges from piping
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Vertical In-Line Applications

Capacities to 1500 GPM Small schools Churches Parking garages
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Vertical Turbine Fire Pumps

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Vertical Turbine Design Features

No priming Adaptability to water level Adaptability to various driver combinations Compact footprint No alignment necessary Minimal maintenance

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Vertical Turbine

Fire Pumps
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Vertical Turbine Applications Vertical Turbines Applications where city water is not available Ponds and lakes to utilize water supply Only pump approved for suction lift conditions
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Jockey Pumps

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Purpose
The jockey pump or pressure maintenance pump is intended to maintain the system pressure only. It is generally sized about 1% of the flow of the main fire pump. The jockey pump prevents the main fire pump from starting when small leaks for packing drips occur throughout a system. The set pressure is generally 15 to 20 PSI above that of the main fire pump.
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Jockey Pumps
Regenerative Turbine Pumps Vertical Multi-stage

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Fire Pump System Components

Electric Fire Pumps
Pump, base, coupling & guard Electric motor Controller - motor Suction and discharge gauges Automatic air release valve Casing relief valve
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Fire Pump System Components

Diesel Fire Pumps
Pump, base, coupling & guard Diesel engine & fuel tank Controller - engine Suction and discharge gauges Automatic air release valve Batteries, racks & cables Cooling loop Commercial grade muffler, flexible exhaust connector & fittings

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Fire Pump Accessories

Testing Accessories Test manifold with hose valves, caps and chains Flow meter
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Fire Pump Accessories

Accessories that are not included but may be required: Main relief valve Waste cone
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Electric Motor Drive

Maximum BHPr of pump shall not exceed the nameplate rating of the motor by more than 15% at the rated voltage. No overload is permitted on TEFC or explosion-proof motors having a 1.0 SF.
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Diesel Engines
The engine must be specifically labeled for fire pump service by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

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Electric Fire Pump Selection Table

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Diesel Fire Pump Selection Table

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Packaged Fire Pump Systems

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Packaged Systems
Accommodate all styles of pumps,electric or diesel Designed specifically to meet the particular application requirements Built to NFPA 20 Standards
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Single source responsibility

Why Packaged Fire Pump Systems?

Manufacturer takes full responsibility for all aspects of design and engineering

Less time required on the job site Fixed cost

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Buildings
Single Point Electrical Connection Ventilation
A/C Louver & Exhaust Fan

Combustion Air
D/C Louver

Emergency Lighting Exterior High Pressure Sodium Light Ceiling Hatch for Vertical Turbines PE Stamp Available

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Engineering team located at the factory Aurora is a proven leader in Fire Pumps All systems are hydrostatically tested Facilities capable of full performance test Third party listed with ETL
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Why Aurora Pump Pumps Packaged Systems?

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Basic Pump Room Layout

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Hear No Evil - Speak No Evil - See No Evil

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NFPA Pump Room Layout

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Suction Piping

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Pump Rotation

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All Pump Salesmen Are Not Created Equal!!!

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Fire Pump Governing Bodies

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FM)

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NFPA
NFPA Mission: to safeguard people, property and the environment from destructive fire NFPA Standards and Codes NFPA 20: the standard for Centrifugal Fire Pumps NFPA 20 Performance Requirements: 65% of rated head at 150% of rated flow Shutoff Head does not exceed 140% of rated head NFPA 20 Testing Requirements: Factory Certified Performance Test Field performance test 45 NFPA 20 and Equipment Qualification

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NFPA 20 STANDARD FOR THE INSTALLATION OF CENTRIFUGAL FIRE PUMPS

Mandates the performance of: Fire Pump Driver (Diesel or Electric Motor Drive) Fire Pump Controller

Outlines: Acceptance Testing Performance Maintenance

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Testing Organizations
F.M. and U.L. are testing organizations: All U.L. listed pumps have this label affixed to the pump. All F.M. approved pumps have this label affixed to the pump.
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Underwriters Laboratories
UL lists and approves equipment for fire pump service UL witnesses testing of fire pumps for specific flow rates Follow-up audits
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Factory Mutual
Factory Mutual is an insurer in addition to being an approval agency. Factory Mutual approves and tests all types of fire pump and fire system equipment. Factory Mutual also approves installation & design of fire pump and fire protection systems. This a requirement on an FM insured project.
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Some common regulations that shape what we all do.

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Fire pumps shall have the following rated capacities in GPM, and net pressures of 40 PSI or more. Found in table 5.8.2 of NFPA 20 25 GPM 50 GPM 100 GPM 150 GPM 200 GPM 250 GPM 300 GPM 400 GPM 450 GPM 500 GPM 750 GPM 1000 GPM 1250 GPM 1500 GPM 2000 GPM 2500 GPM 3000 GPM 3500 GPM 4000 GPM 4500 GPM 5000 GPM
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Performance Criteria

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Performance Criteria
Factory and Field Performance 6.2.1 & 2 NFPA 20 Pumps shall furnish not less than 150% of rated capacity at not less than 65% of total rated head. The shutoff head shall not exceed 140% of rated head for any type pump.
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Performance Criteria
Shutoff Head Design Point 150% Point

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Performance Criteria
Each fire pump is hydrostatically tested at: 1.5 x Sum of pumps + Maximum allowable shutoff head suction head
(but in no case less than 250 psi)

Each pump is tested to determine maximum horsepower requirements.

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AHJ
Some decisions are left up to the Authority Having Jurisdiction. In most instances, this is either the State Fire Marshall, or the Fire Chief at the Local Fire Department. Low suction cutoff panels, limited service fire pump controllers, and suction regulating valves are some examples of items commonly regulated by the AHJ.
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Important changes contained in the 2003 edition of NFPA 20

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Changes in the publication itself.

In 2003, NFPA changed to an international format, which changed the chapters throughout the standard. 2003 was also the first year that the four year cycle was used.

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Section 10.5.5
Variable Speed Pressure Limiting Control.
Only two requirements were listed. 1. The equipment be listed for fire service. 2. If the unit failed, the pump would run at full speed.

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Sections 5.18.1.1, 5.7.4.1 & 5.7.4.2

Relief Valves for Centrifugal Pumps
Required? Not Required? Rules that govern? A new requirement!

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Section 5.18.1.3
???

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Section 5.18.1.3
Where a variable speed pressure limiting control driver is installed, a pressure relief valve shall be installed.

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Section 11.2.4.13
Electronic Fuel Management Control
Engines that incorporate an electronic control module (ECM) to accomplish and control the fuel injection process shall have an alternate ECM permanently mounted and wired so the engine can produce its full rated power output in the event of a failure of the primary ECM.
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Section 10.5.2.1.6 (E)

A listed pressure recording device shall be installed to sense and record the pressure in each fire pump controller pressure sensing line at the input to the controller.

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Section 10.8.2.1.5
Where the alternate source is supplied by a generator whose capacity exceeds 225 % of the fire pump motors rated full load current, the controller shall be equipped with the alternate side circuit breaker and isolating switch in accordance with 10.8.2.1.3
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Section 10.1.2.7
State of Readiness
The controller shall be in a fully functional state within 10 seconds upon application of ac power.

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Section 5.12.1.1
Equipment protection.
Indoor fire pump units shall be physically separated or protected by fire rated construction in accordance with Table 5.12.1.1

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Table 5.12.1.1

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Section 10.3.4.4
Means shall be provided on the exterior of the controller to read all line currents and all line voltages within plus or minus 5% of full scale.

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Some New, Some Old, Often Missed Items

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Section 14.2.3
States that all electrical wiring to the fire pump motor, including control inter wiring, normal power supply, alternate power supply where provided, and jockey pump, shall be completed and checked by the electrical contractor prior to the initial startup and acceptance test.
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Section 11.3.2.4.3.1
For radiator cooled engines, the radiator discharge shall be ducted outdoors in a manner that will prevent recirculation.

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How many manual and automatic starts are required by code at the field acceptance test?

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Section 14.2.8.2
As a minimum, no fewer than six automatic and six manual operations shall be performed during the acceptance test.

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Section 14.2.8.3
A fire pump driver shall be operated for a period of at least five minutes at full speed during each of the operations required in 14.2.7 (which is the field acceptance test)

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Section 14.1.3
The installing contractor shall furnish a certificate for flushing and hydrostatic test prior to the start of the fire pump field acceptance test.

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Section A.5.24
In part A jockey pump should be sized to make up the allowable leakage rate within 10 minutes or 3.8L/min (1 GPM), whichever is larger.

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Questions ?

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