Diesel pump place without sprinklers

[jor1492]

Hi all.

I am aware about the rule, that if I have a diesel pump, I will need to install sprinklers above the storage fuel area as per NFPA 20. This is a common practice.
But in the particular project that I am working ( A copper process plant in a copper mine) we have the fire pumps at outdoor with a zinc roof for weather protection. But we dont have sprinklers system where this diesel pumps are placed.

So I want to ask if there is a rule or exception, for the installation of diesel pumps without protection by sprinklers?

Regards

 

[stookeyfpe]

No exception exists in NFPA 20 Section 4.12.1.3 (2013 edition) to eliminate the sprinkler protection in a pump building housing a fire pump fueled with diesel.

NFPA 20 Section 1.5 allows for equivalent methods of compliance. You may be able to justify to the approving authority (government jurisdiction or plant management) some method of protection if you have no water supply, i.e., fire-resistance-rated fuel storage tank and a fuel piping design that complies with NFPA 20 and is assembled using a method that reduces the risk of a release of diesel fuel.

 

[chicopee]

Now this is interesting because I envisioned that in the event of diesel fuel fire where a pool of diesel fuel has developed then water from the sprinkler would spread the diesel pool and allow the fire to spread. Now firemen will try to extinguish a pools of fuel fire with water if the firemen can create a very fine spray of water, a spray almost similar to a fog, otherwise a spray similar to that from sprinkler heads will not do the job.

 

[LCREP]

If you add the sprinklers take into consideration the location of the sprinkler and the diesel engine and the heat it generates, consult NFPA 13. A standard response sprinkler may go off during the acceptance test of the pump, do not ask how I know about that....lol.