Fire Pump Sizing - Water Supplied from Pond

[MattYEG]

Hi Everyone,
I am working on a project that has no municipal water supply, only a large pond on site (which is sufficient in volume).

There is a new building being built linking the two buildings together to make one large building (no firewalls). I plan to add six hydrants surrounding the buildings in a loop (6" pipe), and from the loop, I've added Class III standpipes in the building for adequate coverage (max 100' hose + 30' spray). There are 5 standpipe locations in all, each one connected directly to the loop.

Can someone tell me what criteria is needed to size the Fire Pump? Should I use the standpipe system, the hydrant system or both? It will be a diesel vertical turbine fire pump.

One other question I have is regarding obtaining water from the pond. Is there a construction standard or some sort of standard detail available to show best practice for minimizing sediment and debris when pumping from a pond?

Any help or comments would be appreciated.

Matt

 

[NightME]

NFPA 20 had pretty strict requirements for pumps pulling from a raw water source. Pay special attention to the filter/screen requirements. As for standard best practice details, I don't think they exist on google, maybe check with the various pump manufacturers.

 

[cdafd]

So what is the total sq ft of the entire building??

You do not say anything about fire sprinklers


Where were you planning to locate the fdc?

Sounds like you need a fire protection engineer to design this

 

[MattYEG]

Thanks for the replies.
CDAFD, it is an unsprinklered building, total SF is 47,462sf.

 

[cdafd]

Is this in the U.S.?

Sounds like the standpipes might be useless

Do you know what process and storage the building will be used for?

 

[TravisMack]

The calculations are INDEPENDENT. It is likely the pump flow will be determined by site fire flow and the pump pressure by your standpipes.

You may need a 2000 gpm @ 40 psi pump for the hydrants, and you may need a 1000 gpm pump at 120 psi for the standpipes. If that is the case, then you would need a 2000 gpm @ 120 psi pump for the site.

These numbers are just examples and are not meant to imply specifics for your site.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

"Follow" us at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692

 

[stookeyfpe]

cdafd (Specifier/Regulator)27 Jul 15 14:09
Is this in the U.S.?

Sounds like the standpipes might be useless

Do you know what process and storage the building will be used for?

I agree. I'm still wanting to understand why standpipe system is being specified. More importantly, who is going to use the standpipes? Firefighters, plant workers? For a building this size, sprinkler protection alone would offer much more protection, unless it's an acetylene charging plant, propellant processor or a process using combustible metals.

The good news it is unlikely in my jurisdiction.

 

[MattYEG]

Thanks again for all the replies.

CFAFD & stookeyfpe, it is in Alberta, Canada. Standpipes are required in this case but an FDC is not required. Standpipes are going to be piped from the main hydrant line to each area in the building. Standpipes will cover 100' hose length + 30'. Hoses in cabinets will be supplied for trained staff. This is rural Alberta and the nearest fire department is 25 miles away.
The occupancy is a manufacturing plant that bags peat moss.

Thanks TravisMack, That makes sense.
I do know I do require (according to the Alberta Building Code) 750gpm at 100psi for the standpipes.
For a private hydrant system, I'm not sure what dictates flow and spacing. The building code says hydrant spacing is by AHJ but I'm not sure what flow is required. It does say that we are required to have a minimum 6" water supply with 6" connections to each hydrant.

 

[skdesigner]

I figured YEG was in reference to Edmonton. We are an FPE firm with an office just outside Edmonton. If you'd like, you can contact us by clicking on the website in my signature.

R M Arsenault Engineering Inc.

http://www.rmae.ca

 

[TravisMack]

Yeah...check with Steve, he may be the best for the standards in your area.

If you are under the I-codes, then you will want to look at the IFC appendix B for site fire flow requirements.

Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

"Follow" us at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692

 

[MattYEG]

skdesigner,
I'll give you a call tomorrow.

To all, thanks for all the help.

Matt