Fire Pumps and Systems: The Most Commonly Asked Questions

At its best, firefighting is a hazardous business. And without a well-designed fire protection system and a fire booster pump, it becomes even more dangerous to save assets and lives. A fire pump is an important part of your sprinkler system and is essential in buildings with levels higher than 400-500 ft.

Especially in high-rise structures, fire pumps and systems are critical in distributing water through sprinklers. This is true where water pressure from water mains can’t reach the sprinkler system. It usually happens when the fire pump intake is either connected to the public water supply or a static water source like a tank, reservoir, lake, etc.

·         What does a Fire Booster Pump do?

The role of the fire pump is to provide water flow to the sprinkler risers and hose standpipes at a higher flow. It starts when the water pressure in the fire protection system drops below a certain threshold.

The fire pump is powered either by an electric motor or a diesel engine. If a building code requires power that is free from the local electric power grid, you will need an electric motor connected via a listed transfer switch and the installation of an emergency generator.

·         When do You Need a Fire Pump?

To determine whether you need a fire booster pump, compare the fire suppression system demands with the available water supply. If the supply cannot meet the demands, you will need a fire pump. Conversely, if the water supply meets the pressure demands, you don’t need a fire pump.

·         What are the Standards Governing Fire Pumps?

Code-compliant fire pumps and systems for commercial and industrial buildings begin with the standards governing fire pumps. According to the US-based National Fire Protection Association - NFPA, the standard for installing stationary pumps is the most widely accepted standard. NFPA 20 is considered the leading code, with its many safety measures that are designed to account for all conceivable scenarios and ensure maximum fire protection.

NFPA 20 addresses everything from the fire pump room to the water source itself. The standard provides installers, designers, and manufacturers with minimum requirements for the design, manufacture, installation, and testing. It ensures that each of the individual components would perform as a whole when the system is active.

·         How Often Should You Inspect/Test Your Fire Pump?

It is likely that your building contains a sprinkler system and a fire booster pump as part of your fire protection equipment. These are automatic systems that act as the first line of defense when a fire breaks out. A vital part of your fire safety plan is to inspect your fire pump so that it can perform optimally. You may wonder how often you should inspect and test your fire pump. Well, this can be done regularly, weekly, monthly, and yearly.

·         Why You Should Install a Jockey Pump in the Fire System

Fire pumps and sprinkler systems are designed to put out fires as quickly as possible. This is done by a set of sprinklers connected to each other and to the water source. When the sprinkler system is active, it will take only a few seconds for the sprinkler to release water.

However, there is a need to maintain pressure in the pipes, so each fire sprinkler loses a small amount of pressure when it turns on. When a fire breaks out and a sprinkler turns on, there must be enough pressure in the pipes to activate the next sprinkler.

Here, installing a jockey pump could save your day. It is designed for this purpose and will turn on whenever it senses a certain amount of pressure drop in the fire protection system. It will maintain water pressure to help the fire booster pump operate without any delay.

The Bottom Line

Without a fire booster pump, your fire sprinkler system will only work until there is a prolonged water supply and pressure. This means that the system won’t be able to reach every corner of your building and put out an entire fire by itself. So, rest easy knowing that having a sensing line for fire pumps would help you ensure fire safety 24/7.

Need Help? Our pumping specialists are standing by.

Variable Speed Booster Pumps: 10 Reasons Why to Use Yaskawa

 

When planning to invest in water pressure boosters, consider variable frequency drives. This is because they are designed to save power costs, especially on large pumps, HVAC systems, and other high-horsepower industrial applications. Yaskawa is a leading name in VFD applications and adds value to water booster systems by providing extensive integration, powerful control options, and enough diversity of designs.

As a leading distributor of variable speed booster pumps in New York and surrounding areas, we know how to take care of our client’s bottom line. Our team of experts understands how to help clients avoid “extras” that may add cost. We supply domestic as well as residential water booster pumps that use the Yaskawa technology. Here are the reasons why we use Yaskawa VFDs.

1)      Excellent Support

Using Yaskawa Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) means guaranteed satisfaction. You won’t miss anything when it comes to customer support and understanding pumps inside and out. The factory personnel will always be helpful, and any troubleshooting will be handled promptly.

2)      High-Quality

Out of the box, Yaskawa VFDs are a true winner. In fact, we can’t even remember the last quality issue in the last few years. This is simply because Yaskawa spends a ridiculous amount on packaging, manufacturing, and testing, so the quality will never feel disappointing.

3)      VFD Options

Depending on the client and application, three different Yaskawa VFDs are available to meet water pressure needs. We use a robust iQ1000 VFD, which is full of features that people usually need. These features include BMS/BAS modules and digital and analog outputs to satisfy basic requirements. 

4)      Easy to Program

The parameter numbering scheme is consistent throughout the Yaskawa VFDs we use. This makes programming and troubleshooting easier than ever. And with hundreds of parameters, you can fine-tune your variable speed booster pumps over the phone. Plus, you can ably network multiple VFDs, providing you with huge savings by eliminating the PLC panel.

5)      High Demand

Yaskawa VFDs are high in demand because of their powerful and feature-loaded designs. They are designed specifically for water pressure boosters. Plus, it’s not surprising that clients are increasingly investing in water-boosting solutions.

6)      Scalable Control

From basic 10 HP systems to medium 16,000 HP, Yaskawa offers energy-saving and control-enhancing systems that are standard for many new facilities. When existing facilities are being upgraded, Yaskawa VFDs not only allow better operational control, but also maximize the integration of diverse systems under standardized network control.

7)      Software and Networking

Yaskawa VFDs integrate well with industry-standard networking protocols, such as Fieldbus and Industrial Ethernet-based systems. They come with device programming, energy savings prediction, and harmonics estimation software that will help you profile a company's operations and configure control systems. Also, auxiliary power may keep drivers linked while the main power is off.

8)      Wide Applications

VFD applications from Yaskawa provide users with options to integrate plant-wide solutions for HVAC systems, motion control, pumps, and fans. These solutions are designed for both domestic and industrial applications. In fact, you can convert existing installations to variable speed and variable torque VFD systems that will allow modernized production lines and energy savings.

9)      Optimized Control Systems

Yaskawa systems are able to monitor and optimize motor temperatures and offer improved braking technologies. This provides fast-acting current and voltage limits to keep the system operating during periods of high-demand. From induction types to permanent magnets, Yaskawa VFDs are available for many motor types.

10  History and Experience

Yaskawa is a world-renowned company with 100+ years of experience and rich history. Their products are the result of extensive research, making them the industry standard for a wide variety of applications. In addition to that, Yaskawa offers both AC and DC converters to supply power for multi-drive residential water booster pumps.

The Sum Up

Yaskawa iQ1000 is designed with pump service operators and owners in mind, offering ease of setup, network, and operation. The integrated pump software parameters allow you to program control values for a wide range of applications. Bypass options are also provided to address a variety of environmental conditions. Plus, the pump drive will automatically adjust pump operating conditions when the process variables change. We carefully select, design, assemble, and program domestic water booster pumps and use Yaskawa iQ1000 on every system that we supply.

For variable speed booster pumps, talk to us directly.

A Guide on How to Calculate Jockey Pump Capacity

 Our customers often ask us about jockey pumps and how to calculate their capacity and size. This is crucial because it ensures there is enough water pressure to control a fire. Before we answer this question, it would be best to understand what a jockey pump is and how it functions in electric or diesel fire pumps.

Jockey Pumps

Also known as a pressure maintenance pump, a jockey pump is a key component of fire pumps. It is a small apparatus that works in conjunction with the fire pump as part of a fire protection system. Designed to keep the pressure elevated, a jockey pump prevents the main fire pump from running unless absolutely necessary.

Unwanted pressure drops, water leaks, and temperature changes often fool the fire pump into starting without any requirement. Using a jockey pump, which is electric motor-driven, you can control the pump and switch it on and off periodically to maintain the main pressure at high levels. Jockey pumps are preferred to be centrifugal pumps and must be properly approved.

Jockey Pump Sizing

The size of your jockey pump determines whether it is able to maintain the fire protection system pressure, allowable leakage, or any pressure drops. Make sure it is the size you need to maintain the desired fire protection system pressure. Keep these things in mind:

·         The sizing of the jockey pump should be done in such a way that it provides a flow less than a single fire sprinkler. This is true when the jockey pump serves only above-ground piping for fire sprinklers.

·         The fire pump should start and run for water flow situations where a sprinkler is open. Keep in mind that this won’t happen if the jockey pump is too large.

·         Select a jockey pump that makes up the allowable leakage rate in 10 minutes or 1 GPM (whichever is larger).

·         The water pressure of the jockey pump should be greater than the pressure of the main fire pump by a minimum of 10 psi. This will avoid the false starting of the main fire pump.

·         A good rule of thumb for sizing a jockey pump is to utilize 1% of the fire pump rated capacity.

·         The pump is not required to have alternate or standby power.

Jockey Pump Capacity

A simple rule for sizing is that the jockey pump capacity should be around 5-10% of the main fire pump. Based on NFPA 20 Standard, jockey pumps should have rated capacities not less than normal leakage rates. They should have discharge pressure sufficient to maintain the desired sprinkler system pressure. So, the first thing is to calculate the normal leakage rate and know how to size a fire pump. You need to take into account the net positive suction pressure available and the effect of rising to shutoff the system.

Additionally…

There are valves required for diesel fire pumps and jockey pumps. For instance, an isolation valve should be installed on the suction of the jockey pump, so that it will isolate the pump for repair. Also, a check valve and isolation valve should be in the discharge pipe of the jockey pump. That’s it!

To learn more about jockey pumps, get in touch with us.