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FIRE PUMP ESSENTIALS
Chamco Industries
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FOUR TYPES/STYLES OF FIRE PUMPS
Horizontal, split case. (250 usgpm - 5000 usgpm)
Vertical Turbine. ( 250 usgpm - 5000 usgpm )
End Suction. ( commercial )
Vertical Inline. ( commercial )
THE FIRE PUMPS
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FIRE PUMP TYPES
ELECTRIC DRIVEN HORIZONTAL
DIESEL DRIVEN HORIZONTAL
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FIRE PUMP TYPES
JOCKEY PUMP
VERTICAL TURBINE FIRE PUMP & ENGINE
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ENGINES
Engines are UL or FM approved for Fire Service,
and built by:
Caterpillar ( full range, mostly above 200hp ) Cummins ( limited range, 100 - 300hp ) Clarke Engine ( best range, 50 - 700 hp )
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RIGHT ANGLE GEAR DRIVES
Right Angle Gear Drives are FM approved for
Fire Service, and built by:
Randolph Manufacturing Amarillo Gear Johnson Gear
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FIRE PUMP CONTROLLERS
Pump Control panels, for Electric and Diesel
drives are UL or FM or ULC approved for Fire
Service, and built by:
Cutler Hammer Firetrol Metron
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FIRE PUMP CONTROLLERS
Control panels for Diesel drives and Jockey Pumps:
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NFPA 20 Does not specify when or if a
fire pump must be installed
Specifies: How, Components,
Equipment, Power Sourceare acceptable to use
Provides the minimum
requirements needed for
satisfactory operation of
listed fire pumps NFPA 20 covers every type of
listed fire pump
Most common is centrifugal
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Equivalency
1.5 1.5.2
NFPA 20 is not intended to prevent the use of
systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or
superior quality, strength, fire resistance,
effectiveness, durability, and safety over those
prescribed in this standard.
AHJ has the final call
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NFPA 20 Terms Shall
Mandatory requirement
Should
Indicates a
recommendation that is
advised but not required
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What Makes a Pump a Fire Pump
4.2
Stationary pumps shall be selected based on the
conditions under which they are to be installed and
used
Capacities are based on calculated system demand, and
pressures are based on available pressure from the water
supply
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What Makes a Pump a Fire Pump 4.4.1 Unit Responsibility
One supplier for pump, driver, controls
Typically falls on the pump manufacturer
SHOULDwas used not Shall Recommendation, having unit responsibility helps ensure that all
components are compatible
4.5 Certified Shop Test Needs to be furnished from the pump manufacturer to the
purchaser, and must include head capacity and BHP
Why? To verify that the fire pump was tested by themanufacturer prior to shipment and met the conditions.
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What Makes a Pump a Fire Pump
4.6.5 Head
The Head available from a water supply shall be
figured on the basis of a flow for 150% rated
capacity. (EG: 1000GPM pump shall be able to reach
a capacity of 1500GPM)
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What Makes a Pump a Fire Pump 4.7 Pumps, Drivers, and Controllers
4.7.3
A Pump shall not be equipped with more than one driver
4.7.4
Each pump shall have its own dedicated driver
4.7.5
Each driver shall have its own dedicated controller
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What Makes a Pump a Fire Pump 4.7.7 Maximum Pressure for Centrifugal Pumps
4.7.7.1 The net pump shutoff pressure plus the maximum static
suction pressure adjusted for elevation shall not exceed the
pressure for which the system components are rated Ex: 1000Gpm @ 145psi, shut off pressure is 168psi, and suction
pressure is 30psi. You need to have 250# fittings on the
discharge side of the system.
Dont over design the pump and use a throttle device to
regulate pressure!!
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NFPA 204.8 Centrifugal Pump Capacities
Ref.: Copyright 2006 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Automatic (circulation) Relief Valve
4.11.1.3 The valve shall provide flow of sufficient water to
prevent the pump form overheating when operating at shutoff. Up to
2500GPM the nominal size shall be 3000GPM and higher shall be1
Ref.: Copyright 2006 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Devices in Suction Piping
4.14.9 Devices in Suction Piping.
4.14.9.1 No device or assembly, unless identified in 4.14.9.2 that will stop,
restrict the starting, or restrict the discharge of a fire pump or pump
driver shall be installed in the suction piping. The purpose is to prohibit anything in the
suction that would cause excess turbulence, friciton loss, or cut off the flow to the pump
while running at 150% capacity. Cutting off the supply would cause catastrophic failure to the
pump.
Ref.: Copyright 2006 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Water Flow Test DevicesEvery fire pump needs a method for performing the acceptance test.
1) Test Header Flows readings are usually taken with a Pitot tube
3) Flowmeter A special pipe is run for the discharge back to the water
supply with a flowmeter, control valve, and check valve in the line.
4.20.1.1 A fire pump installation shall be arranged to allow the test of the pump
at its rated conditions as well as the suction supply at the maximum
flow available from the fire pump.
Two objectives:
1) To make sure the pump itself will function correctly
2) Make sure the water supply can deliver the correct amount
Under no circumstance may a fire pump be placed into service without an
acceptance test!!!
Ref.: Copyright 2006 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Automatic Air Release
6.3.3 Automatic Air Release.
6.3.3.1 Unless the requirements of 6.3.3.2 are met, pumps that are
automatically controlled shall be provided with a listed float-operated
air release valve having a normal 0.50 in. (12.7 mm) minimum
diameter discharge to atmosphere.
Air in the impeller can cause cavitation, dmage the impeller, and negatively
impact pump perfomance!
Ref.: Copyright 2006 National Fire Protection Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Listed Fire Pump Controllers
10.1.2.1
All controllers and transfer switches shall be
specifically listed for electric motor driven Fire
Pump Service
12.1.3.1
All controllers shall be specifically listed for diesel
engine-driven fire pump
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Field Acceptance Testing 14.2.4 .1
A copy of the manufacturers certified pump test
characteristics curve shall be available for comparison of the
results of the field acceptance test
14.2.5.2.1
The fire pump shall perform at minimum, rated, and peak loads
without objectionable overheating of any component
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NFPA 20
14.5.2.1
Whenever a critical path component in a piece of
centrifugal pump equipment is replaced, changed,
or modified, a field/on-site retest shall be
performed
Table 14.5.2.4
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TESTING METHODS
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Courtesy of Proctor & Gamble, Cincinnati, OH
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Two hydrants are normally required to
conduct a flow test of the water supply.
This is the flow hydrant, the second hydrant
will only have a pressure gauge and will be
used to obtain a static (no flow) and residualpressure reading (while water is flowing).
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PUMP FLOWDETERMINATION
WITH ( UL / FM )
FLOW METER
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Short Play Pipe
Underwriters Play Pipe
1 Nozzle
1 1/8 Nozzle
PitotTube
1
Nozzle
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Maintenance
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Owner / Operators trained in required
maintenance, weekly operation, required
testing, and record keeping ?
Did the pump distrbutor provide the required
instruction manuals and a weekly check list for the
required weekly testing, maintenance, and
inspections of the pump, driver, and controller ?
NFPA 20 14.3 NFPA 25 4.1 - 4.3
If not, he is not doing his job!!!Weekly Check list should include those items required
by NFPA 25 Chapter 8.
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Review ALL Required Weekly/Annual Maintenance
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NOTE: Clean GreaseForced out of theDrain hole with
PLUG REMOVED !!
Check ForExcessGrease
Review ALL Required Weekly/Annual Maintenance
Annual
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AFTER alignment hasbeen re-checked(ANNUALLY) thecoupling should belubricated and re-assembled. Be sureto check the setscrews for tightness
AnnualAlignment
Check
EMERGENCY
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# 1 C OOL IN G
W A TE R
# 2F UEL# 3
C R A N K
NOTE !
SET at 120 % ofRated RPM **
EMERGENCYMANUALSTARTINGPROCEDURE
(11.6.6)
BE SURE THAT YOUKNOW WHERE THEOVERSPEED RESETIS ON EVERY TYPEOF ENGINE THAT
YOU SELL !!
CUMMINS
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Develop a check listof your own forboth electric anddiesel Fire
Pumps.-OR-
Make a copy of
NFPA 25, Chapter 8for use as a guideforweekly checks.
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HAVE
THESEFOLKS
BEEN
PROPERLYTRAINED?
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?This is the ONLY WM case relief valveon record, that always had a tight shut offwith NO nuisance leakage - until the fire
pump overheated and was destroyed !!
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Motor HP and current
li it lti li d b
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NOTE: Automatic air release
NFPA 20 (7.3.5.2.3) SHALL BE Located between the fire pump andthe discharge check valve. *
limits, multiplied by
the service factor,
must not be exceeded
under any condition of
pump load . CHECK
!
NFPA 20 (9.5.2)*
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NOTE: Automatic air release SHALL BE
Located in the highest point in the discharge
line, between the fire pump and the discharge
check valve. NFPA 20 (7.3.5.2.3) *
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NFPA 20( 7.4.3.7.2 )
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One degree of off-set is the preferredangle, per drive shaft manufacturers!!
NFPA 20 (7.5.1.8.2)*
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NFPA 20 (7.6.1.3)*
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Top Shaft Nut is
used to raise
shaft and
impellers
approximately
1/8 inch. (seeinstruction
book)
NFPA 20 (7.6.1.3)
NFPA 20 2007
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Water Vel,2/sec Max
Water Vel.
1/sec Max
Screen openings equal to 1sq. in. for every GPM(pump capacity at 150%)(at LOWEST Water LEVEL)NFPA 20 (5.14.8)*
Confirm propersubmergence(Pump Length) *
(7.2.2.2)
NFPA 20 (A.7.2.2.2) (5.14.8)
#12*
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Removable screens NFPA 20 (5.14.8.3)
Intake size NFPA 20 (5.14.8.4)*
With a vertical turbine fire
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NFPA 20 2003
Zebra Mussel Infestation
(5.14.8.12)
pump a plugged screen will
affect the water level in the
sump and a plugged basket
strainer on the bottom of thepump will reduce the total
pump performance as the
flow increases.
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VTFP INTAKE
PROBLEMS..
Removable screens NFPA 20 (5.14.8.3)Intake size ??? NFPA 20 (5.14.8.4)
2 ft/sec and 1
Sq. Inch per
GPM at 150%
Flow ?
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Pond
Maintenance
-OR-Lack of !!!
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