BOOSTER PUMP NFPA GUIDANCE?

[DTR]

Hi all,

I have a requirement for a pressure booster Pump, I am protecting a large Tank Farm on a Power Plant with Foam Monitors and I require about 10 Bar at the Monitor. By the time I work out the losses I need about 13 Bar at the inlet of the Foam Proportioning Skid (I am using a FireDos Water Turbine Proportioning Skid)the existing Fire Pumps at site will only give me around 9 Bar so my customer has requested a booster pump. I have sized the pump to match the Flow Rate of my system requirements, a flow of around 7000 litres per Min (1850 USGPM) and I have got my Pump Vendor to size the pump to give me the extra pressure I require.

I know we have issues with the Pressure exceeding the 175 PSI, but all my system components are rated with a Working Pressure of 16 Bar, my customer has accepted this.

The Pump I have proposed will be Manually Started because the Monitors have Manual Valves only, again my customer has accepted this.

However, my customer has stated it has to be in accordance with NFPA.

I have tried to find guidance in NFPA 20 but I am unable to find anything on using a Fire Pump in this application, does anything exist that prevents me from going ahead with my proposal above?

Also do I need a Stand By Pump? My customer has requested one but I am trying to use good Fire Engineering Pracice in the absence of any Code directions.

Your comments would be greatly appreciated, thank you all.

Regards

DTR

 

[stookeyfpe]

DTR:

Why don't you want the pump to start automatically when a demand condition is created? If it was my tank farm, I would the fire pump to start once I opened the monitor water supply valve.

Regardless, NFPA 20 does allow the arrangement you described. The 2003 edition states:

5.2.1 Stationary pumps shall be selected based on the conditions under which they are to be installed and used.

and

5.2.4 Each pump, driver, controlling equipment, power supply and arrangement, and liquid supply shall be approved by the authority having jurisdiction for the specific field conditions encountered.

If you are in the US, you will ne the approval of the local or state fire marshal.

As to if a standby pump is required, are you asking if a second, redundant pump is required? That depends on the type of driver, the reliability of the power source, and the potential loss in the event the fire pump does not start.