Standard for the installation of stationary pumps for fire protection

This edition of NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, was prepared by the Technical Committee on Fire Pumps and acted on by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., at its May Meeting held May 17-20, 1999, in Baltimore, MD. It was issued by the Standards Council on July 22, 1999, with an effective date of August 13, 1999, and supersedes all previous editions.

Changes other than editorial are indicated by a vertical rule in the margin of the pages on which they appear. These lines are included as an aid to the user in identifying changes from the previous edition.

This edition of NFPA 20 was approved as an American National Standard on August 13, 1999.

Origin and Development of NFPA 20

The first National Fire Protection Association standard for automatic sprinklers was published in 1896 and contained paragraphs on steam and rotary fire pumps.

The Committee on Fire Pumps was organized in 1899 with five members from underwriter associations. Today the committee membership includes representatives of Underwriters Laboratories of both the United States and Canada, Insurance Services Offices, Factory Mutual, Industrial Risk Insurers, national trade associations, state government, engineering organizations, and private individuals.

Early fire pumps were only secondary supplies for sprinklers, standpipes, and hydrants, and were started manually. Today, fire pumps have greatly increased in number and in applications — many are the major or only water supply, and almost all are started automatically. Early pumps usually took suction by lift from standing or flowing water supplies because the famed National Standard Steam Fire Pump and rotary types suited that service. Ascendancy of the centrifugal pump resulted in positive head supply to horizontal shaft pumps from public water supplies and aboveground tanks. Later, vertical shaft turbine-type pumps were lowered into wells or into wet pits supplied from ponds or other belowground sources of water.

Gasoline engine-driven pumps first appeared in this standard in 1913. From an early status of relative unreliability and of supplementary use only, first spark-ignited gasoline engines and then compression ignition diesels have steadily developed engine-driven pumps to a place alongside electric-driven units for total reliability.

Fire protection now calls for larger pumps, higher pressures, and more varied units for a wide range of systems protecting both life and property. Hydraulically calculated and designed sprinkler and special fire protection systems have changed concepts of water supply completely.

Since the formation of this Committee, each edition of NFPA 20 has incorporated appropriate provisions to cover new developments and has omitted obsolete provisions. NFPA action on successive editions has been taken in the following years — 1907, 1910-13, 1915, 1918-21, 1923-29, 1931-33, 1937, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1946-48, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959-72, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, and 1999.

The 1990 edition included several amendments with regard to some of the key components associated with electric-driven fire pumps. In addition, amendments were made to allow the document to conform more closely to the NFPA Manual of Style.

The 1993 edition included significant revisions to Chapters 6 and 7 with regard to the arrangement of the power supply to electric-driven fire pumps. These clarifications were intended to provide the necessary requirements in order to make the system as reliable as possible.

The 1996 edition continued the changes initiated in the 1993 edition as Chapters 6 and 7, which addressed electric drives and controllers, underwent significant revision. New information was also added regarding engine-cooling provisions, earthquake protection, and backflow preventers. Chapter 5, which addressed provisions for high-rise buildings, was removed, as were capacity limitations on in-line and end-suction pumps. Additionally, provisions regarding suction pipe fittings were updated.

The 1999 edition of the standard includes requirements for positive displacement pumps for both water mist and foam systems. The document title was revised to reflect this change, since the standard now addresses requirements for pumps other than centrifugal. Enforceable language was added, particularly regarding protection of equipment.

Technical Committee on Fire Pumps

Thomas W. Jaeger, Chair

Gage-Babcock & Assoc. Inc., VA [SE]

John R. Bell, U.S. Dept. of Energy — Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc., WA [U]

Rep. U.S. Dept. of Energy

Kerry M. Bell, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., IL [RT]

Harold D. Brandes, Jr., Duke Power Co., NC [U] Rep. Edison Electric Inst.

Pat D. Brock, Oklahoma State University, OK [SE] Walter A. Damon, Schirmer Engr Corp., IL [SE] Phillip A. Davis, Kemper Nat"l Insurance Cos., IL [I] Manuel J. DeLerno, S-P-D Industries Inc., IL [M]

Rep. Illinois Fire Prevention Assn.

David Dixon, Security Fire Protection, TN [IM] Rep. Nat"l Fire Sprinkler Assn.

Alan A. Dorini, Gulfstream Pump & Equipment Co., FL [IM] Robert C. Duncan, Reedy Creek Improvement District, FL [E] George W. Flach, Flach Consultants, LA [SE]

Randall Jarrett, Patterson Pump Co., GA [M] Rep. Hydraulics Inst.

John D. Jensen, Fire Protection Consultants, ID [SE] Timothy S. Killion, Peerless Pump Co., IN [M] Clément Leclerc, Armstrong Darling Inc., Canada [M] R. T. Leicht, Delaware Fire Marshal"s Office, DE [E]

Rep. Int"l Fire Marshals Assn.

Maurice Marvi, Insurance Services Office, Inc., NY [I]

Bernard McNamee, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, Canada [RT]

Jack A. Medovich, East Coast Fire Protection, Inc., MD [IM] Rep. American Fire Sprinkler Assn. Inc.

David S. Mowrer, HSB Professional Loss Control, TN [I]

Howard W. Packer, The DuPont Co., DE [U] Rep. NFPA Industrial Fire Protection Section

John F. Priddis, Cummins Engine Co., Inc., IN [M] Rep. Engine Mfrs. Assn.

Tom Reser, Edwards Mfg. Inc., OR [M]

Richard Schneider, Joslyn Clark Controls, SC [M] Rep. Nat"l Electrical Mfrs. Assn.

Lee Ulm, ITT Corp., OH [M]

Lawrence J. Wenzel, HSB Industrial Risk Insurers, CT [I]

Bruce Wilber, Cigna Property and Casualty Co., CA [I] Rep. American Insurance Services Group

William E. Wilcox, Factory Mutual Research Corp., MA [I]

Alternates

Antonio C. M. Braga, Factory Mutual Research Corp., CA [I] (Alt. to W. E. Wilcox)

Phillip A. Brown, American Fire Sprinkler Assn., Inc., TX [IM] (Alt. to J. A. Medovich)

Salvatore A. Chines, HSB Industrial Risk Insurers, CT [I] (Alt. to L. J. Wenzel)

Michael Albert Fischer, CIGNA Loss Control Services, OK [I] (Alt. to B. Wilber)

Dennis N. Gage, Insurance Services Office, Inc., NY [I] (Alt. to M. Marvi)

Scott Grieb, Kemper Nat"l Insurance Cos., IL [I] (Alt. to P. A. Davis)

Kenneth E. Isman, Nat"l Fire Sprinkler Assn., NY [IM]

(Alt. to D. Dixon)

John R. Kovacik, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., IL [RT] (Alt. to K. M. Bell)

Terence A. Manning, Manning Electrical Systems, Inc., IL [IM] (Alt. to M. J. DeLerno)

William N. Matthews, Jr., Duke Power Co., NC [U] (Alt. to H. D. Brandes, Jr.)

Bruce V. Peabody, Gage-Babock & Assoc. Inc., GA [SE] (Alt. to T. W. Jaeger)

T. Gayle Pennel, Schirmer Engr Corp., IL [SE] (Alt. to W. A. Damon)

Jeffrey L. Robinson, Westinghouse Savannah River Co., SC [U] (Alt. to J. R. Bell)

William F. Stelter, Master Control Systems, Inc., IL [M] (Alt. to R. Schneider)

Hansford Stewart, ITT A-C Pump, OH [M] (Alt. to L. Ulm)

John T. Whitney, Clarke Detroit Diesel — Allison, OH [M] (Alt. to J. F. Priddis)

Nonvoting

Edward D. Leedy, Naperville, IL (Member Emeritus)

James W. Nolan, James W. Nolan Co., IL (Member Emeritus)

David R. Hague,

NFPA Staff Liaison

This list represents the membership at the time the Committee was balloted on the text of this edition. Since that time, changes in the membership may have occurred. A key to classifications is found at the back of this document.

NOTE: Membership on a committee shall not in and of itself constitute an endorsement of the

Association or any document developed by the committee on which the member serves.

Committee Scope: This Committee shall have primary responsibility for documents on the selection and installation of stationary pumps supplying water or special additives including but not limited to foam concentrates for private fire protection, including suction piping, valves and auxiliary equipment, electric drive and control equipment, and internal combustion engine drive and control equipment.

NFPA 20

Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection

1999 Edition

NOTICE: An asterisk (*) following the number or letter designating a paragraph indicates that explanatory material on the paragraph can be found in Appendix A.

A reference in parentheses () at the end of a section or paragraph indicates that the material has been extracted from another NFPA document. The bold number in parentheses indicates the document number and is followed by the section number where the extracted material can be found in that document. The complete title and current edition of an extracted document can be found in the chapter on referenced publications.

Information on referenced publications can be found in Chapter 12 and Appendix C.

Chapter 1

Introduction

1-1* Scope.

This standard deals with the selection and installation of pumps supplying water for private fire protection. Items considered include water supplies; suction, discharge, and auxiliary equipment; power supplies; electric drive and control; internal combustion engine drive and control; steam turbine drive and control; and acceptance tests and operation. This standard does not cover system water supply capacity and pressure requirements (see A-2-1.1), nor does it cover requirements for periodic inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire pump systems. This standard does not cover the requirements for installation wiring of fire pump units.

1-2 Purpose.

1-2.1

The purpose of this standard is to provide a reasonable degree of protection for life and property from fire through installation requirements for stationary pumps for fire protection based upon sound engineering principles, test data, and field experience. This standard includes single-stage and multistage pumps of horizontal or vertical shaft design. Requirements are established for the design and installation of these pumps, pump drivers, and associated equipment. The standard endeavors to continue the excellent record that has been established by stationary pump installations and to meet the needs of changing technology. Nothing in this standard is intended to restrict new technologies or alternate arrangements provided the level of safety prescribed by the standard is not lowered.

1-2.2 Existing Installations.

Where existing pump installations meet the provisions of the standard in effect at the time of purchase, they shall be permitted to remain in use provided they do not constitute a distinct hazard to life or adjoining property.

1-3 Other Pumps.

Pumps other than those specified in this standard and having different design features shall be permitted to be installed where such pumps are listed by a testing laboratory. They shall be limited to capacities of less than 500 gpm (1892 L/min).

1-4* Approval Required.

1-4.1

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

1-4.2

The pump manufacturer or its designated representative shall be given complete information concerning the water and power supply characteristics.

1-4.3

A complete plan and detailed data describing pump, driver, controller, power supply, fittings, suction and discharge connections, and water supply conditions shall be prepared for approval. Each pump, driver, controlling equipment, power supply and arrangement, and water supply shall be approved by the authority having jurisdiction for the specific field conditions encountered.

1-5 Pump Operation.

In the event of fire pump operation, qualified personnel shall respond to the fire pump location to determine that the fire pump is operating in a satisfactory manner.

1-6 Unit Performance.

1-6.1*

The unit, consisting of a pump, driver, and controller, shall perform in compliance with this standard as an entire unit when installed or when components have been replaced.

1-6.2

The complete unit shall be field acceptance tested for proper performance in accordance with the provisions of this standard. (See Section 11-2.)

1-7 Certified Shop Test.

Certified shop test curves showing head capacity and brake horsepower of the pump shall be furnished by the manufacturer to the purchaser. The purchaser shall furnish this data to the authority having jurisdiction.

1-8 Definitions.

Additive. A liquid such as foam concentrates, emulsifiers, and hazardous vapor suppression liquids and foaming agents intended to be injected into the water stream at or above the water pressure.

Approved.* Acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction.

Aquifer. An underground formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water.

Aquifer Performance Analysis. A test designed to determine the amount of underground water available in a given field and proper well spacing to avoid interference in that field. Basically, test results provide information concerning transmissibility and storage coefficient (available volume of water) of the aquifer.

Authority Having Jurisdiction.* The organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure.

Automatic Transfer Switch. Self-acting equipment for transferring one or more load conductor connections from one power source to another.

Branch Circuit. The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the utilization equipment.

Can Pump. A vertical shaft turbine-type pump in a can (suction vessel) for installation in a pipeline to raise water pressure.

Centrifugal Pump. A pump in which the pressure is developed principally by the action of centrifugal force.

Corrosion-Resistant Material. Materials such as brass, copper, monel, stainless steel, or other equivalent corrosion-resistant materials.

Diesel Engine. An internal combustion engine in which the fuel is ignited entirely by the heat resulting from the compression of the air supplied for combustion. The oil-diesel engine, which operates on fuel oil injected after compression is practically completed, is the type usually used as a fire pump driver.

Disconnecting Means. A device, group of devices, or other means (e.g., the circuit breaker in the fire pump controller) by which the conductors of a circuit can be disconnected from their source of supply.

Drawdown. The vertical difference between the pumping water level and the static water level.

Dripproof Guarded Motor. A dripproof machine whose ventilating openings are guarded in accordance with the definition for dripproof motor.

Dripproof Motor. An open motor in which the ventilating openings are so constructed that successful operation is not interfered with when drops of liquid or solid particles strike or enter the enclosure at any angle from 0 to 15 degrees downward from the vertical.

Dust-Ignition-Proof Motor. A totally enclosed motor whose enclosure is designed and constructed in a manner that will exclude ignitable amounts of dust or amounts that might affect performance or rating and that will not permit arcs, sparks, or heat otherwise generated or liberated inside of the enclosure to cause ignition of exterior accumulations or atmospheric suspensions of a specific dust on or in the vicinity of the enclosure.

Electric Motors. Motors that are classified according to mechanical protection and methods of cooling.

End Suction Pump. A single suction pump having its suction nozzle on the opposite side of the casing from the stuffing box and having the face of the suction nozzle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Explosionproof Motor. A totally enclosed motor whose enclosure is designed and constructed to withstand an explosion of a specified gas or vapor that could occur within it and to prevent the ignition of the specified gas or vapor surrounding the motor by sparks, flashes, or explosions of the specified gas or vapor that could occur within the motor casing.

Feeder. All circuit conductors between the service equipment or the source of a separately derived system and the final branch-circuit overcurrent device.

Fire Pump Controller. A group of devices that serve to govern, in some predetermined manner, the starting and stopping of the fire pump driver as well as monitoring and signaling the status and condition of the fire pump unit.

Fire Pump Unit. An assembled unit consisting of a fire pump, driver, controller, and accessories.

Flexible Connecting Shaft. A device that incorporates two flexible joints and a telescoping element.

Flexible Coupling. A device used to connect the shafts or other torque-transmitting components from a driver to the pump, and that permits minor angular and parallel misalignment as restricted by both the pump and coupling manufacturers.

Flooded Suction. The condition where water flows from an atmospheric vented source to the pump without the average pressure at the pump inlet flange dropping below atmospheric pressure with the pump operating at 150 percent of its rated capacity.

Flow Unloader Valve. A valve that is designed to relieve excess flow below pump capacity at set pump pressure.

Groundwater. That water that is available from a well, driven into water-bearing subsurface strata (aquifer).

Guarded Motor. An open motor in which all openings giving direct access to live metal or rotating parts (except smooth rotating surfaces) are limited in size by the structural parts or by screens, baffles, grilles, expanded metal, or other means to prevent accidental contact with hazardous parts. Openings giving direct access to such live or rotating parts shall not permit the passage of a cylindrical rod 0.75 in. (19 mm) in diameter.

Head.* A quantity used to express a form (or combination of forms) of the energy content of water per unit weight of the water referred to any arbitrary datum.

Horizontal Pump. A pump with the shaft normally in a horizontal position.

Horizontal Split-Case Pump. A centrifugal pump characterized by a housing that is split parallel to the shaft.

Internal Combustion Engine. Any engine in which the working medium consists of the products of combustion of the air and fuel supplied. This combustion usually is effected within the working cylinder but can take place in an external chamber.

Isolating Switch. A switch intended for isolating an electric circuit from its source of power. It has no interrupting rating and it is intended to be operated only after the circuit has been opened by some other means.

Listed.* Equipment, materials, or services included in a list published by an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with evaluation of products or services, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials or periodic evaluation of services, and whose listing states that either the equipment, material, or service meets appropriate designated standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.

Manual Transfer Switch. A switch operated by direct manpower for transferring one or more load conductor connection from one power source to another.

Maximum Pump Brake Horsepower. The maximum brake horsepower required to drive the pump at rated speed. The pump manufacturer determines this by shop test under expected suction and discharge conditions. Actual field conditions can vary from shop conditions.

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