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TH While having a fully optimised, effective and well maintained fire pump system is an absolute must for any building size, it’s key to ensure that every component is fully compliant with a range of fire safety standards both local and international.
In this blog we take a look at some of the main fire safety standards that all fire pump systems must adhere. Without full compliance, property owners risk failure to meet standards which in turn could lead to not only legal ramifications, but serious cases of negligence, particularly in the event of a fire emergency. With lives at stake, there’s no excuse for any fire pump system not to comply.
UL, FM & NFPA – Understanding the Standards in Safety
Common terms seen throughout hardware related to fire pump safety is whether they’re UL listed, have FM approval and are NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) compliant. In fact, NFPA has over 300 consensus codes, all created to minimise the possibility and effects of fire emergencies, and in this blog will be paying attention to NFPA 20 and 25 in particular.
UL Listed & FM Approved
Key components in fire pump systems undergo a range of testing, pushing each component to the limit to ensure it meets the highest demands that may occur in an emergency. It is only the components that pass all of these tests that can be said to meet the standards UL and FM Global.
There is however some confusion at times as to what these mean. The word ‘approval’ is often used a lot in terms of UL and FM listed components, when in fact this isn’t exactly the case. UL and FM don’t actually approve the components, the components simply meet the standards of UL and FM as explained above. This is due to the fact that it is the responsibility of the third party installing the components to actually approve them based on the criteria and outcome of the tests.
The list of components in a fire pump system that can be UL listed and FM approved is vast, but includes:
- Fire pumps
- Pipes
- Check valves
- Gateways
- Sprinkler heads
NFPA Codes & Standards
With over 300 codes and standards, NFPA has a rigorous and highly detailed level of standard to ensure optimum safety not only for fire safety, but all related hazards. Here we focus in on NFPA 20 and NFPA 25 to understand more about what they are and why they’re important.
NFPA 20 is the ‘standard for the installation of stationary pumps for fire protection’. Not only does it focus on proper installation, it sets the standard for the correct selection of fire pumps and ensuring it meets the demands to deliver adequate and reliable water supplies in the case of a fire emergency.
NFPA 25 is the ‘standard for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems’. This is focused on ensuring fire pump systems are always ready to operate at the intended output without failure, in a fast and effective manner.
Maintaining Compliance & Your Fire Pump System
While maintenance of your fire pump system is a must, it’s also required in order to ensure listings and compliance are not compromised. NFPA 25 already sets the standards for inspection, testing and maintenance, however repairs and/or modifications to a fire pump system as a result of inspections may mean some components lose their listing and approval if not done correctly.
It’s therefore crucial to make sure that your fire pump system is installed and maintained by certified engineers that know the complete ins and outs of these fire safety standards so that you are fully protected both in saving lives and potential liabilities.
One of the many services Firepump.AI offers is inspection and maintenance of fire pump systems in compliance with NFPA 25. In order to always maintain that level of compliance, our engineers will ensure that every component of your system is listed and approved, even if it wasn’t before in the case of older pump systems.
Firepump.AI Ensures You’re Always Compliant
Compliance is not optional. Every fire pump and its entire system must maintain strict standards. Should they fall short, there’s a very serious risk to lives and the safety of your building. That’s why Firepump.AI offers a complete service in upgrading and maintaining compliance for any fire pump system, whether old or new.
Our pre-audits are conducted via a thorough checklist of variables, from the pump room size and location, to the area and height of the building in question. From there, our engineers are able to provide a detailed analysis of exactly the equipment required not only for compliance, but the very highest in safety standards.
Once your fire pump system is up and running, we also provide a full subscription service, meaning we’ll take care of every aspect of your system, ensuring it always meets every international standard and that your listing and approvals are never lost.
If you’d like to learn more about the services we offer or to consult with an engineer about the current state of your fire pump system, contact us today – we’re always on hand to help optimise your safety.
