fire protection & diesel driven fire pumps

[mechanicaldup]

application: air craft hangar
fire protection: wet sprinklers and foam suppression system

Question: is a diesel driven fire pumps a requirement?

 

[LCREP]

Question: is a diesel driven fire pumps a requirement?


If the electric supply is not reliable OR the insurance company wants a diesel pump.

 

[mechanicaldup]

Thks LCREP

Do NFPA does not require a diesel driven pump as well?

 

[stookeyfpe]

NFPA 20 does not specify the energy source for the driver. One can select either a diesel or electric driver. In my own humble opinion I prefer an electric pump because the reliability data I've reviewed indicates they have a higher percentage of availability upon demand.

 

[LCREP]

NFPA 20/70 requires a dedicated electric line from the utility connection i.e. the pole on the street, to the fire pump room. Given this, the cost is about the same for a diesel pump when you figure in a dedicated electric line from the utility pole connection to the pump particularly if you add a transformer to the cost. Reliability of power is key, anyone remember the blackout in USA in August of 2004??, can it happen again, SURE.

 

[mk3223]

You may have pump driven by either diesel engine, motor, or steam turbine per NFPA 20.
For using an electrical driven fire pump, it's possible needs a emergency back up power or a backup diesel pump.
For using a diesel pump, you need to review the local environmental (EPA) requirements before purchase.

 

[DavidCR]

Other points to consider:

-are there good maintenance personnel to take care of an diesel driven pump, I agree with stookey, diesel are not so reliable if they are not well maintained?
-if there is a good existing backup power system, an electric engineer that is aware of the NFPA 20 requirements for the tranference should be consulted to think of an electric pump connected to the existing backup power system.