Overview of Fire Pumps and Water Storage Tanks Webinar
Overview of Fire Pumps and
Water Storage Tanks
M. Steven Welsh, P.E.
Registered FPE
Koffel Associates, Inc.
www.koffel.com
swelsh@koffel.com
Expertly Engineering Safety From Fire
Outline
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Introduction
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Fire Pump Design
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Water Tank Design

Coordinating with other trades

Deficiencies
Koffel Services

Consulting

Design

Construction Period
Services
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Overview of Fire Pumps and Water Storage Tanks Webinar
My Background
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Graduated with Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection
Engineering from the University of Maryland at College
Park in 2002.
Worked in the United Kingdom.
Worked for sprinkler contractor.
Employed with Koffel for 9 years.
Registered engineer (DE and MD)
Standards
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NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of
Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection,
2013 Edition
NFPA 22: Standard for Water Tanks for
Private Fire Protection, 2013 Edition
Typical Arrangement
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Typical Arrangement
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Exterior Fire Pump House and Tank
Typical Arrangement
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Electric Centrifugal (horizontal split-case)
Typical Arrangement
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Centrifugal Cutaway: pressure is developed principally
by an action away from center.
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Typical Arrangement
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Parts of Packing
Typical Arrangement
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Vertical In-line
Typical Arrangement
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Diesel
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Typical Arrangement
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Vertical Turbine
Typical Arrangement
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Vertical Turbine Cutaway
Typical Arrangement
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Packaged System
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Typical Arrangement
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Bolted Steel
Typical Arrangement
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Bolted Steel
Typical Arrangement
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Pressure Tank
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Typical Arrangement
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Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Tanks
New vs. Existing
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New Work
Existing
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Document existing conditions
Check servicing
Sizing Pumps and Tanks
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Sprinklers
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Standpipes
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Special hazards
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Firefighting
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Sizing Pumps and Tanks
Sizing Pumps and Tanks
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The performance of the pump when applied at capacities
over 140 percent of rated capacity can be adversely
affected by the suction conditions.
Application of the pump at capacities less than 90
percent of the rated capacity is not recommended.
Fire Pump Design
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Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
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Bypass: Where the suction supply is of sufficient
pressure to be of material value without the pump, the
pump shall be installed with a bypass [4.14.4.1]
Fire Pump Design
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Elbows and tees with a centerline plane parallel to a
horizontal split-case pump shaft must 10 times the suction
pipe diameter away from the pump’s suction flange
[4.14.6.3]
X
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Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design

Elbows and tees with a centerline plane perpendicular to the
horizontal split-case pump shaft are permitted at any location
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Fire Pump Design
X
Fire Pump Design
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Strain Relief: where the pump and its suction supply are
on separate foundations with rigid interconnecting pipe,
the pipe must be provided with strain relief [4.14.6.5]
Fire Pump Design

Valves: outside screw and yoke (OS&Y) gate valve must
be installed in the suction pipe [4.14.5]
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Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
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Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
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Eccentric tapered reducer or increaser required at pump
suction to avoid air pockets [4.14.6.4 ]
Fire Pump Design

Eccentric tapered reducer
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Fire Pump Design
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Eccentric tapered reducer
Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design
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No requirement at pump discharge, typically concentric
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Fire Pump Design
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Pressure gauges [4.10]
Fire Pump Design
Fire Pump Design

Circulation Relief Valve: installed on the discharge side
of the pump before the discharge check valve, valve
shall provide flow of sufficient water to prevent the pump
from overheating when operating with no discharge,
nominal size of 0.75 inch(19 mm) [4.11]
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Fire Pump Design
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Circulation Relief Valve:
Fire Pump Design

Check Valve: required in the pump discharge assembly.
[4.15.6]
Fire Pump Design

Gate or butterfly valve: required in the pump discharge
assembly. [4.15.7]
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Fire Pump Design
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Pressure Maintenance Pumps: sized to replenish the fire
protection system pressure due to allowable leakage and
normal drops in pressure, no listing required [4.25]
Fire Pump Design
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The jockey pump stop point should equal the pump
churn pressure plus the minimum static supply pressure.
The jockey pump start point should be at least 10 psi
(0.68 bar) less than the jockey pump stop point.
The fire pump start point should be 5 psi (0.34 bar) less
than the jockey pump start point.
Fire Pump Design
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100 psi pump at churn, 50 psi minimum from city
Jockey pump stop = 100 psi + 50 psi = 150 psi
Jockey pump start = 150 psi − 10 psi = 140 psi
Fire pump start = 140 psi − 5 psi = 135 psi
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Fire Pump Design
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Fire Department Connection
Fire Pump Design
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Fire Department Connection
Fire Pump Design
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Test Header
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Fire Pump Design
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Fire Department Connection and Test Header
Fire Pump Design
Maximum Pressure for Centrifugal Pumps [4.7.7]

The net pump shutoff (churn) pressure plus the
maximum static suction pressure, adjusted for elevation,
must not exceed the pressure for which the system
components are rated.
Fire Pump Design
Maximum Pressure for Centrifugal Pumps [4.7.7]

Variable speed pressure limiting control drivers, as
defined in this Standard, shall be acceptable to limit
system pressure.
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Fire Pump Design
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Pressure Regulating
Devices: No pressure
regulating devices must
be installed in the
discharge pipe [4.15.10]
Exceptions
Fire Pump Design
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Pressure Regulating Devices, exceptions:
Where a diesel engine fire pump is installed and where a
total of 121 percent of the net rated shutoff (churn)
exceeds system rating
Where an electric variable speed pressure limiting
controller or a diesel pressure limiting driver is installed
Fire Pump Design

Nameplate [4.9]
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Fire Pump Design - Diesel
Fire Pump Design - Diesel
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Requires sprinkler protection [4.12.1.3]
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Enclosing diesel engine pump drivers and day tanks
Fire Pump Design - Diesel
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Exhaust Piping: [11.5.2]
Each pump engine must have an independent exhaust
system.
A flexible connection with a section of stainless steel, not
less than 12 in. (305 mm) in length must be made
between the engine exhaust outlet and exhaust pipe.
The exhaust pipe shall be covered with hightemperature insulation or otherwise guarded to protect
personnel from injury.
Exhaust pipes passing directly through combustible
roofs or walls must be guarded at the point of passage
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Fire Pump Design - Diesel
Fire Pump Design - Diesel
Exhaust Discharge Location: [11.5.3]
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Exhaust from the engine shall be piped to a safe point
outside the pump room and arranged to exclude water.
Exhaust gases shall not be discharged where they will
affect persons or endanger buildings.
Fire Pump Design
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Flow Meter
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Fire Pump Design
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Vertical Turbine Pump:
Fire Pump Design
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Suction Screening: where the water supply is obtained
from an open source such as a pond or wet pit, the
passage of materials that might clog the pump shall be
obstructed [4.14.8.1]
Tank Design
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Tank Design
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OSHA-compliant (29 CFR 1910) standard railing shall be
placed around the roof manholes and other accessories
that require access [4.14.1.1]
Tank Design
Tank Design

Where the steel roof is essentially airtight, there must be
a substantial vent above the maximum water level
[4.15.1]
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Tank Design
Tank Design
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Water-Level Gauge: “suitable design” [14.1.8]
Tank Design
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Water-Level Gauge:
“suitable design” [14.1.8]
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Tank Design
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Controlling Valve: [14.2.12]
Tank Design
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Anti-Vortex Plate Assembly [14.2.13]
Tank Design
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A permanent pipe connected to a water supply shall be
provided to fill the tank [14.4.1]
The means to fill the tank shall be sized to fill the tank in
a maximum time of 8 hours [14.4.2]
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Tank Design
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Overflow: the overflow pipe shall be of adequate
capacity for the operating conditions and shall be of not
less than 3 inches (75 mm) [14.6]
Tank Design
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Tank Riser Drain: A drain pipe of at least 2 inch (50 mm)
must be connected into the tank discharge pipe near its
base [14.7.4]
Tank Design - Heating
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
Tanks that are subject to freezing shall be heated
[16.1.1]
The heating system must be of such capacity that the
temperature of the coldest water in the tank or tank riser,
or both, is maintained at or above 42°F (5.6°C) during
the coldest weather
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Tank Design - Heating
Coordination with Other Trades
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Fire-Resistive Construction [NFPA 20, 4.12]
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2-hour
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High-rise building
Not full sprinkler protected.
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Outdoor: 50 feet (15.3 m) away from any fire exposures
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Otherwise, 1-hour
Coordination with Other Trades
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Ventilation for diesel fire pumps shall be provided for the
following functions: [11.3.2.1]
To control the maximum temperature to 120°F (49°C) at
the combustion air cleaner inlet with engine running at
rated load
To supply air for engine combustion
To remove any hazardous vapors
To supply and exhaust air as necessary for radiator
cooling of the engine when required
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Coordination with Other Trades
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Fire alarm must monitor for the following supervisory
signals: [NFPA 20, 10.4.7.2.2]
Fire Pump Running
Loss of Phase
Phase Reversal
Connected to alternate source (if applicable)
Nothing else is required to be supervised
Jockey Pump running should not be monitored
Coordination with Other Trades
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Power [NFPA 20, 9.2]
A normal source of power from a continually available
source
Must be reliable
Dedicated source
Identifiable and remote disconnecting means
Coordination with Other Trades
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Structural for tanks
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Dead Load
Live
Wind
Snow
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Coordination with Other Trades
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Drainage [NFPA 20, 4.12.7]
Floors must be pitched for adequate drainage of
escaping water away from critical equipment such as the
pump, driver, controller, and so forth.
Must discharge to a frost-free location.
Fire Pump Design
Deficiencies
Corrosion and damage packing
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Deficiencies
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Parts of Packing
Deficiencies
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Damaged packing and improper packing drainage
Deficiencies

Fire pump based not secure
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Deficiencies
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Fire pump is dirty
Deficiencies
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Fire pump is dirty
Deficiencies
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No drain for circulation
relief valve
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Deficiencies
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Rock in impeller
Deficiencies
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No service clearance for controller, 3 feet [NFPA 70]
Future Questions….

Join our LinkedIn Discussion Groups
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
Life Safety Code
 People can join the group and submit their questions or
 People can email linkedin@koffel.com and submit
anonymously
Smoke Management
Proposed Changes to the IBC
Ask the Expert

FAQ.Koffel.com
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Thank You
M. Steven Welsh, P.E.
Registered Fire Protection Engineer
www.koffel.com
swelsh@koffel.com
410-750-2246
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