Fire Protection Equipment Pressure Rating 1

[pootong]

Our fire water system pressure is 17 Bar.g, we have some problems of selecting fire protection equipment such as deluge valve, fire hose etc. Let say fire hose, it is stated in technical data that maximum working pressure is 12 Bar.g but burst pressure is more than 30 Bar.g. The question is can we use this fire hose in our system? Problem is the same with deluge valve, it is also stated in the technical data that maximum working pressure is 12 Bar.g but test pressure is much more. What is the recommended practice for equipment pressure rating selection.

 

[stookeyfpe]

If your in the US, you have an issue. 17 Bar.g. (I hope correctly calculated the conversion) equals 250 PSI. For sprinkler valves and piping, NFPA 13 limits the operating pressure to 175 PSIG. US manufactured water based fire protection systems (excluding water mist systems) are generally limited to 175 PSIG.

To solve this problem you can install pressure reducing valves. Again, if in the US, this valve is required by NFPA standards to be listed for fire protection service.

The NFPA standard for fire hose (NFPA 1961) allows higher pressure. For attack lines it requires a minimum design pressure of 20.7 bar (300 PSI) and supply line a design pressure of 200 PSI. The standard does not establish a pressure limit because stationary US fire pumps typically are designed for pressures up to 175-250 PSI. Fire pumps on mobile apparatus can be rated up to 300 PSI.