Fire Pump Systems and Safety

• Fire pumps are activated by electric automatic controllers and must be constantly monitored to ensure the availability of electrical power.
• Supervisory devices on pumps alert the Certificate of Fitness holder and/or a central monitoring station during electrical power failure.
• When steam turbines or internal combustion engines are used, similar supervisory devices signal problems with controlling equipment.

Fire Pump Location

• Fire pumps should be in fire-resistant, noncombustible rooms.
• The pump room should be close to the fire protection system, kept clean, and accessible.
• The fire pump, driver, and controller should be protected against service interruptions.
• Pump room temperature should always be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent water freezing.
• The pump room's only use is for fire protection; no storage is allowed.

Hanging, Bracing, and Restraint of Sprinkler System Piping

• The structural support of the sprinkler system is vital for reliability.
• Missing or defective pipe hangers can cause system failure via ruptures or leaks.
• Adequacy of structural support should be carefully evaluated.
• Piping should be supported according to NYC Code and NFPA 13 (2007 edition).
• Annual visual inspection of hanging components and bracing can be difficult.
• NFPA#13 Chapter 9 details hanger design/installation and should be used as a reference for inspections.
• Deficiencies include disturbed system supports, building structure deflection, and excessive loads on components.
• Unapproved hangers like perforated strapping or bailing wire are prohibited.
• Nails can't fasten the system to the building structure.
• Hangers for plastic piping must be listed for use with the piping material.

Pump Activation

• Fire, booster, or special service pumps for fire sprinklers start automatically when system water pressure drops.
• Minor pressure drops are maintained by a pressure maintenance pump.
• If the pressure drop exceeds the maintenance pump's capacity, the main pump activates.

Manually Activated Fill Pumps

• Can be used with gravity or pressure tanks.
• Designed to operate when there is a pressure drop in the fire sprinkler system.
• Supervisory devices send a signal to a local alarm and may alert a central monitoring company.
• After alarms, the Certificate of Fitness holder must manually refill the gravity and/or pressure tanks.
• Remote push buttons start the pump, but do not stop it.

Fire Pump Controllers

• Many controllers have timers that automatically turn the pump OFF at an upper pressure limit.
• These timers must be disabled for all automatic fire pumps in NYC.

Pressure Maintenance Pumps (Jockey Pumps)

• Frequently installed on sprinkler systems.
• Designed to automatically operate when there is a slight drop in pressure due to leakage.
• The jockey pump restores pressure to the desired level.
• The main fire pump activates should the pressure continue dropping.
• Jockey pumps do not require inspection, testing, or maintenance as per NFPA 25 or the NYC Fire Code.

Booster Pumps

• Used in sprinkler systems and are typically in the basement.
• Used when water pressure at the highest sprinkler head is insufficient.
• They increase the water pressure in the sprinkler system until it reaches acceptable levels.
• Maintained according to NFPA 25 standard for fire pumps.

Special Service Pumps

• Sometimes used in sprinkler and standpipe systems.
• These are small with limited power, taking suction from gravity tanks.
• Used when available water pressure doesn't meet system needs.
• They increase water pressure and volume in the sprinkler/standpipe system until it reaches acceptable levels.
• Maintained according to NFPA 25 standard for fire pumps.

Water Tank Usage

• Water tanks may be used in tandem with a pump, if the tank supplies the pump due to gravity.
• This type of water tank is called a suction tank.

Centrifugal Pumps

• Depending on the model, pumps are capable of discharging water from 25 gpm up to 5,000 gpm.
• Most centrifugal pumps have a single impeller and are therefore commonly called single stage fire pumps.

Vertical Turbine Pump

• Has the capability to draw water from streams, ponds, wells, etc.
• Does not need the suction supply to be under pressure for it to operate.

Vertical Turbine Pump vs Wells

• Although a vertical turbine pump is capable of drawing water from wells it is generally not recommended to use a well as the main water supply source because it may dry up without warning.
• Better to draw water from the well and to fill a water storage tank, where a fire pump should then be attached as a more reliable supply source.

Suction Supply Source

• Important to ensure the water intake hose, foot valve, and screens are inspected regularly.
• Mud, gravel, leaves, and other debris may cause damage to the pump or obstruct the sprinkler system piping.

Gravity Tanks

• Must have a full water supply to ensure sprinkler system works correctly during a fire.
• Keeping a full tank also prevents wooden tanks from shrinking and keeps steel tanks from rusting.
• Should be constantly monitored to ensure the tank and its parts are working.
• Electrical supervision devices monitor the water temperature and the water level in the gravity tank.
• Devices send signals to an approved central station company, who then contact the owner.
• Called high and low alarms since they also sends audible signals to alert of a problem.
• Failures often are due to insufficient water in the tank.

Freezing in Gravity Tanks

• Ice should not be allowed to build-up.
• Weights from ice might weaken the supports of the tank, causing it to collapse.
• Falling icicles may cause damage or injury.
• Essential to properly heat, insulate, and carefully maintain the tank.

Centrifugal Fire Pump

• The standard pump currently used in fire protection systems.
• Reliable, compact, requires low maintenance, and can be powered by electric motors, diesel engines, and steam turbines.
• Water available to the centrifugal pump must always be under pressure because the pump is not designed to lift water for the supply source.

Water Storage Gravity Tanks

• Made of wood, steel, concrete, or fiberglass.
• Gravity tanks are used as a primary or secondary water supply source for sprinkler systems.
• Delivers water from the tank through the sprinkler system without pumping equipment.

Gravity Tank Height

• Should be at least 25 feet above the highest line of sprinkler heads it supplies.
• Tanks may be located on the tops of buildings or raised on tall supporting towers.

Gravity Tank Pressure

• Water pressure depends on the tank's elevation.
• For every 1 foot the tank is above the discharge outlet 0.433 psi of water pressure is generated.
• The higher the tank, the greater the water pressure.
• The gravity tank is reliably.
• Doesn't depend on the operation of mechanical equipment.

Automatic Fill Pumps

• Supply the water to most gravity tanks.
• Fill the tank at a rate of 65 gpm or more.
• Floats turn on the fill pump when the water in the tank is too low.
• The floats shut off the pump when the desired water level is reached.
• Makes sure the gravity tank always has the right amount of water to supply the sprinkler system.

Gravity Tank Overflow

• All gravity tanks have an overflow pipe that drains off excess water in the tank.
• This happens if the floats do not turn off the fill pump.
• This pump is not necessary if city water main is able to keep the tank filled.

Gravity Tank Temperature

• Exposed to very low temperatures.
• All parts of the gravity tank must be insulated or heated to keep the water from freezing.
• Several methods used to heat: Hot water is circulated by gravity, Steam is discharged directly into the tank, Steam coils placed inside tanks, and/or Heat from the sun is used.

Certificate of Fitness

• The Certificate of Fitness holder can check the water temperature with a thermometer near the heating device.

Pressure Tanks

• Primary water supply tanks are equipped with two high and low alarm systems that monitor the high and low air pressure and water levels.
• System automatically monitors the air-to-water volume ratio, which should always be 1 (air) to 2 (water).
• The Certificate of Fitness holder or Central Station operator is signaled when the water level or the air pressure is too high or too low.

The Pressure Tank May Be Supervised

• By an approved central station company which monitors the entire sprinkler system.
• These devices alert the central station company when there is a problem with the tank's water level, air pressure, and water temperature.
• The devices also alert the central station company when water has been discharged from the tank.
• When sprinkler heads have fused and water has been discharged from the tank, the borough dispatcher is notified.
• The central station company notifies the owner or the impairment coordinator when a problem is caused by an equipment failure.

Sprinkler Temperature Rating

• Sprinklers should have colored frame arms, deflector, coating material, or liquid bulb.
• Includes a temperature ratings classifications and color coding chart.

Build Up from Foreign Material on Sprinkler Heads

• Sometimes conditions exist which cause a build-up of foreign material on sprinkler heads.
• This may prevent the sprinkler head from working properly, otherwise called loading.
• The build-up of foreign material insulates the sprinkler head and prevents the sprinkler from opening at the desired temperature.
• Should the build up be hard, it may prevent the sprinkler from opening.
• If deposits are hard, attempts to clean the heads are likely to damage them, preventing the sprinkler heads from working properly and possibly causing the sprinkler head to leak.
• Light dust is less serious than hard deposits, only delaying the operation of the sprinkler head.

Spare Sprinkler Heads

• Sprinklers for emergency replacement must represent the sprinklers installed along with proper wrenches within the spare head cabinet.
• Sprinklers that are replaced during an emergency by unlicensed individuals require the devices used have been verified appropriate for the protected area by a Master Fire Suppression Piping Contractor.
• After activation by fire, sprinkler heads in close proximity to the affected area should be visually inspected and replaced, if required.
• A stock of spare sprinklers (not less than 6) shall be kept on the premise where the temperature does not exceed 100 Degrees F and shall include all types and ratings installed in the protected facility and provided as follows:
• Under 300 sprinklers six.
• 301 - 1000 sprinklers twelve.
• Over 1000 sprinklers twenty four.

Pressure Tanks

• Enclosed water tanks of limited size that use air pressure to forcefully discharge water into a sprinkler system.
• A pressure tank may be used as a primary or secondary water supply for a sprinkler system.
• Pressure tanks are to be maintained at approximately two-thirds full of water and one-third full of pressurized air with a minimum acceptable air pressure of 75 psi.
• Air pressure in the tank may be automatically maintained by an air compressor.
• The maximum gross capacity of pressure tanks is 9,000 gallons and some systems require more than 6,000 gallons of water.

Sprinkler Heads

• Standard Response Sprinkler Heads have a response time index (RTI) of 80 or more.
• Quick Response Sprinkler Heads have a RTI of 50 or less.
• Quick Response Sprinkler Heads are typically found in light hazard occupancies and may reduce or eliminate the requirements for smoke detection in certain light hazard occupancies.

Sprinkler Head Differences

• Quick response sprinklers got their name from their slightly faster response time when compared to standard response sprinklers.
• The only physical difference is the bulb size-- the standard response sprinkler has a 5 mm glass bulb and the quick response sprinkler has a 3 mm glass bulb.

Sprinkler Head Types

• Large drop sprinkler heads are special sprinklers designed to discharge water from the head to break through the strong updrafts of high challenge fires.
• Concealed sprinkler head activation: Cover plate falls, deflector drops, and bulb shatters when exposed.
• The best way to put out a fire is to spray the water from the sprinkler head downward and horizontally, which is determined by the umbrella shaped space pattern.
• Common head installations include: pendent, upright, and sidewall.

Sprinkler Heads in Special Situations

• Some sprinkler heads are designed to be used in special situations.
• Exposed to corrosive conditions are often covered with a protective coat of wax, or lead.
• Corrosive vapors are likely to make automatic sprinklers inoperative or slow down the speed of operation.
• Four sprinkler heads types:
• Pendent sprinklers are designed to be positioned where the water stream is directed downward against the deflector.
• Upright fire sprinklers spray water upward to a concave deflector to cover specific areas and to prevent ice and debris from collecting in the head.
• Sidewall fire sprinklers install along walls or beneath beams where ceiling piping might be unavailable and are most commonly used for protecting in smaller spaces.
• Concealed Models are installed in walls or ceilings and fully cover a pendent or sidewall sprinkler head using a concealed fire sprinkler cover plate.

Sprinkler Head Components

• Major sprinkler heads are made of metal, that are screwed in with standard valves.

Sprinkler System

• Employ automatic sprinklers that are attached to a piping system containing air or nitrogen under pressure.
• Water maintenance and regulation is key to avoiding flooding the facility accidentally.

Sprinkler Inspections

• There are multiple system types, including waterflow and the water source itself.
• The Certificate of Fitness, gravity and pressuring readings, and any modifications and malfunctions should be inspected upon.