natural gas fire pump

[mungerUEI]

My understanding is that NFPA 20 does not allow fire pumps to be powered by natural gas. Is this true for a municipal fire pump in a booster pumping station?

 

[stookeyfpe]

A municipal water supply pump is not a fire pump and is not regulated by NFPA 20.

 

[mungerUEI]

So any high flow booster pump will do as long as it's rated to provide required fire flows?

 

[MJCronin]

mung...

Check this document by the Hartford Insurance people..

http://www.nfsa.org/info/ContractorBulletins/FirePumpsAnOverview.doc

Natural gas, gasoline and LP gas have been prohibited as fuels sources since 1974

http://www.answers.com/topic/fire-pump

http://www.thehartford.com/corporate/losscontrol/TIPS/680-035.pdf

-MJC

 

[stookeyfpe]

Your installation as described is not regulated by NFPA 20.

And I agree with MJ: Unless you build it yourself or do extensive modifications, you cannot purchase a fire pump operated using natural gas as a fuel. All new fire pumps use either electric or diesel drivers.

 

[mungerUEI]

Thank you all for your quick responses.
Let me see if I understand you correctly:
*Because my application is a municipal booster station designed to provide high flow to a pressure zone for firefighting, NFPA does not apply, so I could use natural gas as a fuel source.
*However, the question is moot because no one (except maybe Marrioff in Sweden) makes natural gas-powered pumps.
Is that correct? Thanks.

 

[stookeyfpe]

Munger:

NFPA 20 is not applicable because fire pumps listed for these applications are used on private property. Your speaking to a municipal water supply.

Interestingly I checked the AWWA website and they have no standards for pumps. After thinking about that I concluded that pump selection for a municipal water supply has a greater number of design variables. In other words, engineer the pump design.

NFPA 20 is designed for delivery of fire protection water, which is different than a potable water supply.

I think we have answered your questions.

 

[mungerUEI]

Yes, you have answered my question. Thank you for your assistance.
By the way, the one AWWA resource I found on the topic is the manual of practice on Distribution System Requirements for Fire Protection (M31), but it doesn't address the fuel issue.

 

[ChrisConley]

Sort of off topic, but why doesn't NFPA 20 allow natural gas or gasoline pumps?

What would the difference be if you have an electricity driven pump with a natural gas-fired genset?

In a previous position we frequently used engine-driven pumps, natural gas and diesel, for municipal service. We usually called them 'emergency' pumps rather than fire pumps.

 

[MJCronin]

Chris,

There is no straight answer to your question....

We can only guess at the reasons why the NFPA people did not include natural gas fueled drivers in thier NFPA-20 standard.

I am guessing here, but I suppose that it may have something to do with the reliability of the fuel supply. Somehow a tank full of distilate is more reliable than a gas main.

When NFPA codes and rules apply to a project, they must be taken, "in toto"... the picking and selecting of rules is not permitted.

-My opinion only

-MJC