Fire pump

A fire pump usually refers to a pressure-increasing

component of the water supply for fixed-place fire
suppression systems such as fire sprinklers, standpipes,
and foam systems. Fire pumps are also a critical
component integrated into fire trucks and fire boats,
and serve a similar purpose boosting water supplies for
firefighting hose operations. Fire pumps are used to
increase the pressure of water sourced from a
municipal underground water supply piping network,
or a static supply (e.g., tank, reservoir, lake). A fire
pump is a centrifugal- or positive displacement- pump
that has been tested and listed by a third-party testing
and listing agency, such as UL or FM Global
specifically for fire service use. The main standard that A vertical turbine type fire pump with a diesel
engine attached on the right
governs fire pump fixed-place installations in North
America is the National Fire Protection Association's
NFPA 20 Standard for the Installation of Stationary
Fire Pumps for Fire Protection.[1]

Fire pumps are powered most commonly by an electric

motor or a diesel engine, or, occasionally a steam
turbine. If the governing model building code requires
backup power independent of the local electric power
grid, a fire pump using an electric motor may utilize an
emergency generator when connected via a listed
transfer switch. Fire pumps installed on fire trucks and
boats are powered by the engine of the vehicle/vessel.

Utilizing a control panel with pressure sensors, fire

pumps automatically start when the pressure in the fire Antique Japanese Fire pump
sprinkler system drops below a pre-designated
threshold. Given the incompressibility of water, fire
suppression system pressures drops significantly and quickly when
one or more outlets open. Examples would be fused (opened) fire
sprinklers, fire hose valves connected to a standpipe, or automatic
control valves opened by release panels.

Fire pumps are utilized when determined by hydraulic calculations

that the existing water supply cannot provide sufficient pressure to
meet the hydraulic design requirements of the suppression system.
This usually occurs if the building is very tall, such as in high-rise
buildings (to overcome hydraulic head losses created from
elevation differences), in systems that require a relatively high Horse-drawn fire pump given to
terminal pressure at the fire suppression outlets (to provide Brockhampton Estate in 1818
sufficient water droplet penetration of a fire plume), or in systems
that require a large discharge of water (such as storage
warehouses). Fire pumps are also needed if fire protection water supply is provided from a static source
which provides little or no pressure. Some situations may be compounded by all of these factors, requiring
large water supplies and powerful fire pumps.

Common types of fire pumps used for fire service include: horizontal split case, vertical split case, vertical
inline, vertical turbine, and end suction.

Contents
Fire pumps, circulation relief valve
Jockey pump
In the U.S.
In India
Portable Home Fire Pump
References

Fire pumps, circulation relief valve

Each pump shall have a circulation relief valve listed for the fire pump service installed and set below the
shutoff pressure at minimum expected suction pressure. Exception: This rule shall not apply to engine-
driven pumps for which engine cooling water is taken from the pump discharge.[2]

Jockey pump
A jockey pump, also known as a pressure-maintenance pump, is a small pump connected to a fire
suppression system near the fire pump and is intended to maintain pressure in a fire protection piping
system. These pumps recover pressures lost from gradual, slow pressure declines in a system due to
temperature changes, trapped air escapement, or very small leaks. The jockey pump is essentially a portion
of the fire pump's control system. A jockey pump is sized for a flow less than one sprinkler in order to
ensure a system pressure drop significant enough to start the main fire pump. Jockey pumps are typically
small multistage centrifugal pumps, and do not have to be listed or certified for fire system application. The
control equipment for jockey pumps may however carry approvals. Jockey pumps should be sized for 3%
of the flow of the main fire pump and to provide 10psi more pressure than the main fire pump (As per Code
IS 15105 : 2002)

In the U.S.

The application of a jockey pump in a fire protection system is provided by NFPA 20. They are inspected
per NFPA 25 "Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems".

In India

In India, the pump manufacturers generally adhere to the TAC (Tariff Advisory Committee) guidelines,
although pump manufacturers also obtain listings with UL or FM Global. For the purpose of installation &
maintenance of fire-fighting pumps, Bureau of Indian Standards has published IS 15301 (http://www.stand
ardsbis.in/Gemini/search/BasicSearch.action) which is being followed throughout India.
Portable Home Fire Pump
Portable Fire Pump and hose systems are being used by fire departments and homeowners to defend homes
from burning down in a wildfire. These portable gas powered fire pumps use a suction hose that draws
water from a water source such as a swimming pool, water tank, or lake. The fire hose that is connected to
the fire pump is used to spray down structures on the property and surrounding brush. [3]

References
1. "NFPA 20: Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection" (http://www.n
fpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=20). Nfpa.org. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
2. https://www.fmglobal.com/assets/pdf/fmapprovals/1319.pdf FM Global, Standards for Fire
Pumps
3. "Home Wildfire Protection Systems" (https://www.jjsfiresupply.com/productlistcategory.asp?u
rll=Home_Wildfire_Protection_Systems&category=21). Retrieved 2020-10-08.

"Chapter 9 - Fire Protection Systems" (https://web.archive.org/web/20151103093122/http://publicecodes.c

yberregs.com/icod/ibc/2012/icod_ibc_2012_9_sec013.htm). International Code Council. Archived from the
original (http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2012/icod_ibc_2012_9_sec013.htm) on 3 November
2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

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This page was last edited on 12 November 2021, at 20:52 (UTC).

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