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natural gas fire pump

natural gas fire pump

natural gas fire pump

(OP)
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?

RE: natural gas fire pump

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

RE: natural gas fire pump

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

RE: natural gas fire pump

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.

RE: natural gas fire pump

(OP)
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.

RE: natural gas fire pump

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.

RE: natural gas fire pump

(OP)
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.

RE: natural gas fire pump

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.

RE: natural gas fire pump

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

  

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