CODE STANDARDS

“ ” ‘ ”
Purpose of a Fire Pump
To protect lives and properties against fire
by supplying an adequate water supply to
automatic sprinklers or standpipe systems
To meet building codes and insurance
requirements of water demand to fire
protection systems
 Fire Pump Functions
The main function of a fire pump is to
increase the pressure of the water that flows
through it.
- Inadequate or nonexistent municipal water –
supply system
-Sprinkler systems and standpipe systems –

Fire Pumps 4-6

 Flow rate = 250 Gpm

Flow rate = 300 Gpm

Flow rate = 450 Gpm

Static Pressure = 175 psi

Residual Pressure = 160 psi

Flow rate = 500 Gpm

Flow rate = 500 Gpm

How Sprinkler Works

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 Codes and Standards
National Fire Protection Association –
NFPA
Fire Code of the Phils. 2019 RIRR
 Common Fire Pump Types
Split-case pumps
Vertically mounted Horizontal Split

Fire Pumps 4-12

HSC Fire Pumps
BENFITS DRAWBACKS
– Available in a wide – Large floor space
flow and head range requirement
– Serviceable without – Restricts mechanical
disturbing piping or room layout due to
driver direction of rotation
– Available in electric
or diesel drive
End Suction Fire Pumps
BENFITS DRAWBACKS
– Moderate floor space – Only available up to
requirement 1500gpm
– Flexibility in
mechanical room
layout
– Available in electric
or diesel drive
– Serviceable
Vertical Inline Fire Pumps
BENEFITS DRAWBACKS
– Compact – Only available up to
– Serviceable 1500GPM
– Reliable – Electric Drive Only
– Cost Effective
 Common Fire Pump Types
Vertical shaft turbine pumps

Fire Pumps 4-16

Used where a
flooded suction
cannot be
maintained
Underground water
sources or below
ground tanks with
above ground pump
room
Vertical Turbine Fire
Pumps
BENFITS DRAWBACKS
– Will operate under – More costly
suction lift – More difficult to
– Available in electric service and install
or diesel drive
– Available over wide
flow and head range
 Pump Controllers
Govern pump operation
Controllers for electric
motor-driven pumps
Switches –
Status/Function indicators –
Manual shutdown –

Fire Pumps 4-19

 Pump Controllers
Separate visible indicators and a common audible fire pump alarm capable
of being heard while the engine is running and operable in all positions of
the main switch except the off position shall be provided to immediately
indicate the following conditions:

(1) Critically low oil pressure in the

lubrication system
(2) High engine temperature
(3) Failure of engine to start
automatically
(4) Shutdown from overspeed
(5) High cooling water temperature

Fire Pumps 4-20

Types of Water Source for Fire Pumps

Aboveground Tank Underground Tank

Types of Water Source for Fire
Pumps

Elevated Water Tank Public Mains

Elevation Pressure Example
(Continued)

What is the pressure at the hydrant?

Pressure (psi) = 0.433 x Elevation (ft)

200 ft

P=?

6 ft
Elevation Pressure 2nd
Example
How high is the water?

? ft

P=47 psi

6 ft
–
Pump Requirements

%Rated Head Max Shutoff Head

140%
100%
65%

%Rated Flow
100% 150%
 Suction Static Pressure Effect
Calculations and Installation
A fire pump rated for 1500 gpm (5677 L/min) and 100 psi (6.9 bar) at
1750 rpm has a shutoff pressure of 120 psi (8.3 bar). If a maximum
of 45 psi (3.1 bar) static pressure is available from the city water
supply, what is the total pressure when the pump is running at churn at
rated speed?

Churn Pressure at Rated Speed = 120 psi (no flow condition)

120 psi + 45 psi = 165 psi maximum discharge pressure

 What if the Suction Static Pressure is erratic?
4.19.1.2
Where a diesel engine fire pump is installed and where a total of 121
percent of the net rated shutoff (churn) pressure plus the
maximum static suction pressure, adjusted for elevation, exceeds the
pressure for which the system components are rated, a pressure
relief valve shall be installed
 Diesel Engine Overspeed

Pumps that create pressures less than the pressure rating of the fire
protection system components [typically 175 psi (12.1 bar)] at
110 percent of rated speed do not need a pressure relief valve. The
example calculation that follows illustrates the procedure used
to determine if a pressure relief valve is needed. For a constant speed
diesel the net pressure is at 110 percent of rated speed

After the pump engine overspeed,

the pressure does not increase
above 175 psi and the valve remains
closed
Main Relief Valve
 Main Relief Valve Calculation

A fire pump rated for 1500 gpm (5677 L/min) and 100 psi (6.9 bar) at
1750 rpm has a shutoff pressure of 120 psi (8.3 bar). The shutoff
pressure produces 145 psi (10 bar) at 110 percent of rated speed. If a
maximum of 45 psi (3.1 bar) static pressure is available from the city
water supply, what is the the total pressure when the pump is running
at churn at 110 percent of rated speed?

- Pressure increase at 110% of rated speed: 110% speed = 121% of

churn
120 psi x 1.21 = 145 psi
145 psi +45 psi = 190 psi

In this case, a pressure relief valve (see Exhibit 4.25) is needed if the
fire protection system components are rated at 175 psi (12.1
bar). A pressure relief valve is not required if the fire protection system
components are rated for 200 psi (13.8 bar) or higher.
Main Relief Valve Calculation
Open Tank Reservoir
Removable Screen
The disadvantage of using open tank reservoir
The disadvantage of using open tank reservoir
The disadvantage of using open tank reservoir
 In sizing a Fire Pump ensure it does not exceed the
maximum suction pressure

Many requirements for the

suction pipe are intended to
minimize turbulent flow on
the suction side of the fire
pump.

Turbulent flow at suction will

result to pump cavitation
Pressure Maintenance Pump (Jockey Pump)

Every system has a

normal leakage rate that
will result in a pressure
drop
Jockey Pump will maintain
the pressure in the system
This will prevent the main
fire pump from starting for
minor leaks
 Jockey Pumps Facts
Jockey (pressure
maintenance) pumps
and jockey controllers Listed
need not be listed for
fire protection service.
But the Jockey Pump
Controller shall be listed

“The primary or standby

fire pump shall not be Non- Listed
used as a pressure
maintenance pump.”
 Jockey Pump Sizing – Underground Piping
Jockey pumps on fire
protection systems that
serve large underground
mains need to be larger than
pressure maintenance
pumps that serve small
aboveground fire protection
systems. Underground
mains are permitted by
NFPA 24 to have some
leakage (see
10.10.2.2.6 of NFPA 24),
 Jockey Pump Sizing – Underground Piping
Sample Computation
An 8 inches pipe diameter underground fire mains with a total
length of 8500 ft. that supplies Fire Hydrant to development with
a demand of 100 psi at 1500 GPM, what is the assumed jockey
pump capacity
=( 0.076 gph / 100 ft) x 8500 ft

= 6.46 gph x 1 hr /60 min

= 0.11 gpm < 1% of pump flow

Use 15 GPM
 Jockey Pump Sizing – Aboveground Piping
For situations where the pressure
maintenance pump serves only
aboveground piping for fire
sprinkler and standpipe systems,
the pressure maintenance pump
should be sized to provide a flow
less than a single fire sprinkler.
The main fire pump should start
and run (providing a pump running
signal) for any waterflow situation
where a sprinkler has opened,
which will not happen if the
pressure maintenance pump is too
large
Fire Pump Operation
Stop Point
System gradually looses Pump shutoff
psi pressure

110
100
95
boost 90
Jockey start
Fire Pump start
50
Time period
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
REQUIRED - NPSHR
NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
REQUIRED (NPSHR) - In order to
get the NET discharge pressure
(discharge minus suction pressure)
the pump needs a certain amount of
suction pressure to supply it. The
more water out of the pump, the
more supply it needs. Low NPSHa
(available) is what can cause low
discharge pressure readings and
pumps pulling a vacuum on the
suction at the higher flow rates.
NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
REQUIRED - NPSHR
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
REQUIRED - NPSHR

7.2.2.2.3 The required

submergence shall be
obtained from the pump
manufacturer.

7.2.2.2.2
For pumps with rated capacities
of 2000 gpm (7570 L/min) or
greater, additional
submergence is required to
prevent the formation of
vortices and to provide required
net positive suction head
(NPSH) in order to prevent
excessive cavitation
Pump Suction Compliance –Eccentric Reducer
Pump Suction Compliance - Elbow
Pump Suction Compliance - Tees
Is this correct suction?
Is this correct installation

Technical Committee on Fire Pumps prefers

that backflow preventers be installed on the
discharge side of the pump.
 Suction Lift – Not allowed for Centrifugal Fire Pumps

A centrifugal pump is not self-priming —

that is, it will not pump unless water
covers the impeller. Once primed, a
centrifugal pump
can theoretically operate with a suction
lift up to atmospheric pressure. Earlier
editions of NFPA 20 allowed centrifugal
pumps to
operate under suction lift when they
were provided with a tank of priming
water. This arrangement did not prove to
be reliable and
was removed from the standard
beginning with the 1974 edition.
(Problems included leaky foot valves that
caused the loss of
priming water.)
Suction Lift – Not allowed for Centrifugal Fire Pump Data
Fire Pump Room/House Requirements
Sensing Line
Sensing Line
 Fire Pump Room/House Protection Requirements

4.13.1.4 Fire Pump Buildings or Rooms with

Electric Drivers.
For buildings that are required to be sprinklered,
fire pump buildings or rooms enclosing electric
fire pump drivers shall be protected with an
automatic sprinkler system installed in
accordance with NFPA 13 as an Ordinary Hazard
Group 1 occupancy.

4.13.1.3 Fire Pump Buildings or Rooms with

Diesel Engines.
Fire pump buildings or rooms enclosing diesel
engine pump drivers and day tanks shall be
protected with an automatic sprinkler system
installed in accordance with NFPA 13 as an Extra
Hazard Group 2 occupancy.
 Fire Pump Diesel Engine Rating

° ° °
°

Note: The correction equation is as follows:

Corrected engine horsepower = (CA + CT –
1)  listed engine horsepower
where:
CA = derate factor for elevation
CT = derate factor for temperature
 Fire Pump Diesel Engine Rating Calculation

The engine rated at 302 bhp at sea level is at an elevation of 7000 ft (2134 m) and
a temperature of 105 F (49.5 C). What is the derated rating of the engine?

Note: The correction equation is as follows:

Corrected engine horsepower = (CA + CT – 1 )  listed
engine horsepower
where:
CA = derate factor for elevation
CT = derate factor for temperature

Corrected engine horsepower = (0.8 + 0.973 – 1 ) (302)

Corrected engine horsepower = 233.5 bhp
 Pump Sizing
Pump Design Flow
Head

100%

Pump Rated Flow

Flow
90% 100% 150%
Fire Pump Sizing – Sample Pump at 750 GPM